MonkeyRat

About MonkeyRat

Anna Iachino from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, of Italian descent is a songwriter, vocalist, rapper, spoken word artist, poet, electronic music composer, dancer, and storyteller with a comical bent. Arnold Ludvig from the Faroe Islands is the composer, arranger, and award-winning virtuoso bass player. Together, they are a dynamic husband and wife team and the creators of MonkeyRat founded in 2006, in the Faroe Islands. MonkeyRat delivers multi-genre music rooted mainly in Funk. The band was formed in Copenhagen, Denmark with award-winning guitarist, Alain Apaloo from Togo, Africa, and superb Danish drummer Jens Stoklund.

MonkeyRat released their 2010 debut album, “Fuck The Jante Law” followed by “Sunshine” in 2012 with great reviews and many #1 hits. In 2016, 4 funky digital singles were released with The Hentze Horns and received international radio airplay. Get into The Light, MonkeyRat’s first hip-hop/gospel collaboration with Debbie Cameron, Deborah Herbert, and Joanita Zachariasen was released in 2018 with resounding success. “Get Into the Light” was mastered by Randy Merrill, a master at mastering Grammy-winning albums and singles by artists such as Mark Ronson’s,
smash single, “Uptown Funk”.

On March 20, 2020, MonkeyRat started the year with their hit single, “Good Morning Reykjavík”, a super funky dance number with a comical spin on the infectious chorus. “U Gotta Love Being U ft. Alain Apaloo” with Deborah’s soulful vocals on the chorus is MonkeyRat’s first pop/singer-songwriter/soul, single and Anna’s first co-written song with Hans Andrias Jacobsen and Beinir Troest Rasmussen. In these dark and uncertain times, “U Gotta Love Being U” lifts the spirit and raises the vibration spreading a message of positivity and love.

On March 18th, 2022, MonkeyRat released “The Child”, their 1st bedroom-pop / dream-pop / neo-soul single, recorded and mixed by Arnold Ludvig. Additional mix by Kurt Uenala and mastered by Kurt Uenala, Grammy award-nominated producer of Depeche Mode. “The Child” is sung by up-and-coming rising star, Anna Sofía Skoradal from the Faroe Islands.

MonkeyRat released their critically acclaimed “Isolation” EP on April 15th, 2022, a powerful poem set to 70’s Psychedelic Jazz Rock / Art Rock.

On June 24th, 2022, Anna Iachino received a master’s in music at Iceland University of The Arts.

On April 25th, 2024, MonkeyRat released, “Niels Uni Dam”, their funky smash hit single & funny YouTube video featuring international cosplay artist Kii Aagre. On May 10th, MonkeyRat blasted into overdrive and reversed to the psychedelic rock sounds of 1969, with 2 spectacular guitar solos by virtuoso Alain Apaloo on “What A Crazy World”. On this track, u can hear why he was chosen to play with Kurt Rosenwinkel and Eric Clapton at Eric Clapton’s 2023 Crossroad Guitar Festival. On June 14th, MonkeyRat released a message to the world diving into African funky beats & vocals with Ayi Soloman featured guest rapper, dancer, & percussionist extraordinaire, on “Where’s The Peace?”.

What a Crazy World – Official Music Video: