ARTISTMonde UFO

Monde UFO is a Los Angeles duo comprising Ray Monde and Kris Chau. The project began with songs Ray started writing in a downtown Los Angeles warehouse. Using an organ as a bass alongside keyboards and a drum machine, he made demos on a four-track cassette recorder, adding vocals and guitar to the organ parts. While living in Skid Row, he explored both haunting and optimistic sounds as a one-man band. His influences included musician Sandy Bull, and his work occupied a space between worldly jazz and psych folk. The themes he explored were primarily meditation and UFO lore.

Ray later brought Kris Chau into the project. At home, the two listened exclusively to jazz, ambient and new age music, despite having little overlap in their musical tastes. Chau, who had no previous musical experience, played a singing bowl miked through various guitar pedals and sang. Her contribution brought an added emphasis on simplicity and innocence.