To celebrate the release of his ‘Frolic’ EP, Mun Sing shares five tracks that have significantly influenced his latest work, enveloping themes of countryside frolicking, deep reflection, and the consequences of indulgence. The EP unfolds like a surreal, twisted fairytale, where joy comes at a cost, manifested by a sinister blue-faced scarecrow—a modern boogeyman symbolizing guilt that lurks over our indulgent choices.
‘Frolic’ navigates a narrative arc from euphoric highs found in tracks like ‘Frolic’ and ‘Didn’t Need U Anyway’ to the reflective depths of ‘Scrolling’ and ‘The Hypocrite’. The scarecrow makes his haunting entrance during the breakdown of ‘Somersault’, delivering the biting line: “You plead a pregnant passage yet frolic and frot without consequence!?” This encapsulates the EP’s essence. Drawing inspiration from the grandeur of stadium pop concerts, ‘Frolic’ showcases Mun Sing’s shift from the grief-laden tones of his debut album, ‘Inflatable Gravestone’, towards a more euphoric soundscape aimed at audience engagement.
As Mun Sing launches this record under his Illegal Data label—home to diverse artists like Sarahsson and Ship Sket—he continues to define his artistic journey. With a resumé that includes support from notable names like Björk’, his upcoming shows promise an exciting debut of live performances, featuring him as the blue-faced scarecrow, blending madness and exhilaration.
1. XTC – Millions
“The artist that has probably had the biggest influence on me for this EP. I love pretty much everything XTC have done, in particular the ways in which each instrument seems to be in conversation with another, taking turns to ask and answer questions. I try to have these dialogues in my own music all the time. I also liked how you can hear they’re from the South West btw haha”
Frolic style: Pear cider bop
2. Operating Theatre – Spring Is Coming With A Strawberry In The Mouth
“Paint the picture in blood and butter. Holy water, fire in the sky”
“My friend Zoee showed me Roger Doyle’s work years ago and I’ve enjoyed pretty much all of it. From his terrifying avant garde pieces to his work in the (every so slightly) less terrifying Irish new wave band Operating Theatre. This track is beautiful in a kind of really sad way. You can dance AND cry to it. #PERFECT!”
Frolic style: Ketamin Pixie
3. bel canto – Dewy Fields
“The melodies in their tracks sound so effortless yet also so difficult to write at the same time. Also super minimal which I think can be really difficult to achieve effectively. It’s inspiring yet kind of frustrating too..like a lot of great art i suppose!?”
Frolic style: Solo frolic. You wouldn’t get it.
4. Ship Sket & seychelles – Scroll Nuen 5
“CROW SOUNDS! Enough said. Perhaps my favourite/the best producer around at the moment. this whole record in collab with seychelles is so sick.”
Frolic style: Anti-Spotify Pro-Bandcamp anarchy shoulder popping.
5. Wild Beasts – Through The Iron Gate
“Pair of welly boots, the crows in cahoots, the eggs on the hob, the corns on their cob. He’d let out little sob”
“Went down a massive wormhole revisiting Wild Beasts and their singer Hayden Thorpe’s solo material whilst on tour in Asia. It provided a lot of comfort to me when so far from home. They have such brilliant storytelling and strong visuals in the lyrics, and always supported by super interesting and awkward instrumentation and delivery.”
Frolic style: Barefoot, “has anyone seen my moleskin?”
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Frolic is out now: https://munsing.bandcamp.com/album/frolic-ep
