A few days ago I attended Amsterdam Fashion Week. I could repeat everything that was already written by a zillion fashion bloggers. However, they know much more than I do and you would have probably stopped reading by now. Also, I’m supposed to write about music.

That being said, what would fashion be without music? Just imagine gorgeous models in beautiful designs strutting down the catwalk in complete silence. Awkward, much? Designers throughout history are known for having singers, musicians and other artists as their muses. Jean-Paul Gaultier and Madonna, Frida Giannini and Florence Welch, Donatella Versace and M.I.A… the list goes on and on. We could also turn things around. Artists like Gaga, Kanye and most recently Lana del Rey depend heavily on their looks. Music and fashion are simply inseparable.

Let me introduce you to a duo that seems to know all about this. Andrew Armstrong and Ra Black (a.k.a. Andrew Kornweibel and Ra Khahn) of Monarchy combine infectious synth-pop tunes with a sophisticated sense of style and mysterious symbolism. These guys, usually dressed in smart suits, will only appear in music videos and live in concert wearing masks. According to Monarchy, this image was intended to keep the focus purely on the music. It is now a crucial part of the duo’s image. Musical influences that also like to play with the obscure –think of Daft Punk and Fever Ray– shouldn’t come as a surprise. For the design of their limited edition merch, Monarchy collaborated with British ‘hard couture’ designer Doghouse. The resulting T-shirts are quite impressive.

Not convinced yet? Check out this music video by Price James. (Feel free to dance!)

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