Saucy Monky sign US deal

As exclusively predicted by Hot Press, Irish-LA hopefuls Saucy Monky have signed a deal for the United States with 429 Records. 429 is a recently established rock-focussed division of the powerful Savoy Label Group (SLG), whose catalogue includes jazz greats of the calibre of John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, amongst numerous others.

The deal will see the release of the band’s acclaimed Turbulence album, which received a comprehensive thumbs-up from Hot Press on its Irish release in 2004. The title track ‘Turbulence’ has been slotted in as the first US single. Other acts signed to the new label include the Warren Brothers and the Scottish outfit Cosmic Rough Riders, whose Too Close To See Far album has sold over 150,000 copies in the UK.

Saucy Monky, who are fronted by songwriters Annmarie Cullen from Dublin and Cynthia Catania from New Jersey, have also confirmed their ties with new manager Keith Cunningham, whose background as a radio programmer may well prove vital in assisting the band to garner the radio play essential to establishing a beach-head in the hugely competitive US market. SM are currently in the throes of an intensive stint of gigging that takes them through three western states, culminating in a date at San Francisco’s Hotel Utah on Sunday 6th.

In a note to hotpress.com, Annmarie and Cynthia said (in harmony, no doubt): "429 represents the perfect opportunity for Saucy Monky. It's an indie label at heart, with major label brains and significant resources to draw upon once the ball gets rolling. They're focused on artist development and not just a one single, make or break, style of doing business. We're not only optimistic about this new opportunity, but we're extremely thankful for all the support Hot Press and our Irish fans have given Saucy Monky, which certainly played a role in our ability to land a U.S. deal with 429 Records. We'll get back to Ireland to thank everyone in person as soon as possible!"

"We couldn't be more excited about launching Saucy Monky in the US," Sheila Volpe, Senior Director of Marketing and A&R at 429 Records enthused. “Their talent is so blaringly obvious, there was just no way we could pass on this gorgeous release.”

SLG has just completed a deal with Warner Music, that will see 429 being handled by Warner’s highly-rated distribution set-up, beginning in May 2005. An SLG spokesman commented: “As one of Billboard’s top 4 labels in Classical music, and having just notched a record 27 chart positions across the Classical, Jazz and New Age charts last week, I think I can safely say WEA has picked a perfect moment to join forces with us.”

Meanwhile, interest in Saucy Monky in the UK and Europe has also intensified, with a number of labels keen to sign the band and to build on their momentum, which has been growing in both Ireland and the US. There is no word yet on Irish dates in 2005, with the band likely to concentrate their energies on the US market for the coming months – though appearances at selected summer festivals here has not yet been ruled out.