Kieran Monaghan is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, writer, recording artist and sound engineer based in Te Whanganui-A-Tara. He is a prolific creative and organiser, with an irrepressible DIY ethic, known for his experimental and innovative approach to performance and sound making.
skirted Records website, Bandcamp, Instagram, Facebook
Experience:
- Multi-instrumentalist and sound maker: Drums, percussion, bass, guitar, electronics, voice with extensive experience across multiple genres
- Composer and lyricist
- Session musician
- Live, improvised sound for experimental theatre productions
- Improviser and collaborator
- Record label co-founder
- Tour, festival and event organiser
- Recording artist and engineer
- Graphic designer
- Writer and visual artist
Projects and performance groups:
- Vegetable.machine.animal – founder and performer, interspecies trio (2022-current)
- mr sterile – solo, low-fi noise rock – multiple instruments, voice, found sounds (1997-current)
- mr sterile Assembly – founder and performer, outsider math rock punk band (2001-2024)
- Ditzy Squall – drummer, math rock band (2002 – 2007)
- Squidboat – solo guitar project (2019 – ongoing)
- SMEs-21: Sound art collaboration with Dr Emit Snakebeings – multiple instruments, voice, found sounds, dada approach to sound construction (Fiji and Taiwan) (2021)
- Kieran Monaghan – solo performance and experimental sonic collaborations – drummer, multiple instruments, voice, found sounds (ongoing)
- sSendam Rawkustra – massive mental health music ensemble – co-founder – multiple instruments (2007 – ongoing)
- Alan Brunton and the Free Word Band: a music presentation of the poetry of A Brunton – (1996 – 1998)
- Loosehead – founder (1991 – 2001)
- Morepork (1999 – 2000)
- Moral Fibre (1988 – 1991)
Indicators of Peer Esteem [awards/prizes]:
- Creative New Zealand/NZSM/Toi Pōneke Sonic Artist-in-Residence, Wellington, 12 Weeks, Sept -Dec 2024
- Invited to compose for Lichen Exhibition with Hannah Simpson, late 2025
- Mundane Utopia – Sound installation, Audio Foundation, 13 June- 14 July, 2024
- Artist-in-Residence, Driving Creek Railway, Coromandel, 4 weeks, November 2023
- Artist-in-Residence, Audio Foundation, Auckland. 30 July- 6 August 2023
- Invited to contribute drumming tracks to David Long recording I’ll Hum the First Few Bars, 2022
- Audio Culture, Iwi Waiata: 10 Great New Zealand Rhythm Section by Nick Bollinger May 2022
- Commision from Pyramid Club, sound work and essay, 2020
- P-Club, Pyramid Club artist talk, 2019
- “Creating culture” – presentation at the International Conference on Thinking, 2013
- Profiles in book Erewhon Calling, Experimental Sound in New Zealand. 2012
- Interviewed for OralHistories Project, Audio Foundation, 2010
- CNZ Recording Grant, 2010
- Whyt, the Show: Dunedin Fringe Festival, Best Music and Best Set Design awards, 2008
Festival Inclusion:
vegetable.machine.animal:
- Jogja Noise Bombing, 2024
- Malang Noise Festival, 2024
- Malang Sub-Noise Fest, 2024
- Compassionfest, Island Bay, Wellington, 2023
mr sterile Assembly:
- Boskovice, Czechia, 2019
- She Shreds, Wellington Museum, Te Whanganui-a-Tara 2019
- Tora! Tora! Tora! Festival 2016
- Remember the Peacemakers, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 2015
- Up the Punks, 35 years of punk in the capital, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 2012
- Hamilton Fringe Festival, 2012
- Fredstock, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 2010
- Borderline Festival, 2009
- Om the Space, 2008
- Whyt, Dunedin Fringe Festival 2008
- Meatwaters noise festival (2001-2004)
International tours:
Vegetable.machine.animal
- Java (6 shows) 2024
mr sterile Assembly:
- OrangeTime tour (33 shows) in Czech, UK, Thailand, Malaysia, Java, China, South Korea, and Japan, 2019
- HELLo tour (7 shows) in Tokyo and Seoul, 2018
- It’s All Over tour (22 shows) in China, Italy, UK, Finland, Czech, Malaysia and Singapore, 2016
- London plus tour (6 shows) in London and Czech, 2014
- Southeast Asia tour #2 (12 shows) Malaysia, Java, Singapore 2011
- Southeast Asia tour #1 (11 shows) Malaysia, Java, Singapore, 2007
- Central Europe tour (8 shows) Czech, Slovakia, Poland, 2006
Discography (albums):
vegetable.machine.animal:
- My Daughter the Spider 2023
mr sterile Assembly:
- Goodbye 2023
- HELLo 2023
- Run Peter Run 2022
- Hūrrē 2020
- It’s All Over 2015
- Transit 2011
- Bug my Ride 2009
- 15 Minute Crib 2006
- Hulagu 2004
mr sterile:
- Never Mind the Threat, Here’s the Distraction 2022
- Speaking in Dungs 2022
- You are not a Fire 2021
- Candor and Reason in Chat 2021
- Suppository [remastered – originally released 1998] 2020
- The Rejects Usually respect your Defects 2019
- Haters, Wreckers and Other Friends 2018
- The General Pathetic 2017
- Setting Fire to Bob 2011
- Get Fucked Wellington!!! 2004
- Pregnant Boy 2004
- Hanging out the Washing 1999
mr sterile et al:
- Slip: A Bogan-Opera-Not in 3 parts, 2022
- Intl. Welder et al, 2020
SquidBoat:
- The trees are alive but not as animals are alive 2019
Kieran Monaghan:
- History Wringing 2002
Ditzy Squall:
- Skirt 2004
SMEs-21:
- Ba-Umf 2021
- Open to Suggestion 2021
sSendam Rawkustra:
- Who’s Mad: Greatest Hits, 2013
Alan Brunton and the Free Word Band:
- 33 Perfumes of Pleasure 1997
Publications
- Sound Off, mr sterile Assembly 2001 – 2024
- Whyt, 2008
Residencies:
- Creative New Zealand/NZSM/Toi Pōneke Sonic Artist-in-Residence, Wellington, 12 Weeks, Sept -Dec 2024
- Driving Creek Railways, Coromandel, One month, November 2023
- Audio Foundation, Auckland, One week, May 2023
Exhibitions/installations:
- Mundane Utopia, Audio Foundation, Auckland, June 2024
- No Evidence of the Future, Pyramid Club, Wellington, August, 2024
skirted Records 