Deadline at the Fringe are interviewing performers across the month, putting 20 questions to them – both as an artist and as their stage or performance alter ego.
Australian DJ Monski Mouse, the alter ego of Monica Corduff Gonzalez hosts a show where all the family can boogie together. Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall is aimed at 0-5’s and their parents/carers.
Monica Corduff Gonzalez
- First impressions of our fair city and, why are you here?
I first came to Edinburgh in 2016 to DJ the Club at the Famous Spiegeltent and the Bongo Club as my alter ego Monski Mouse, and since then I have adored the cities magical qualities.
I am here to perform in my early childhood show, Monski Mouse’s baby Disco dance hall and make as many connections with other artists, presenters, venues and media as I can.
2. Does your time here bring on joy or dread?
Joy at being here, dread at the anxiety of putting on my show in this incredible market. I mean I’m only up against THE Julia Donaldson of The Gruffaolo fame, who is on at the same time in the venue next door.
3. Are you a happy soul or do the occasionally dreich elements make you morose?
I seem to be happy when the sun shines and somewhat morose when clouds descend, understanding the soul is an ongoing process.
4 . Where will you visit on your day off and why?
As a parent and producer there are no real days off, Edinburgh is full blast of go, go, go.
5. Do you ever get jealous of other performers?
I do, but jealousy isn’t a very helpful emotion, so you have to move past it.
6. Did you have a happy childhood?
I had a quite insecure childhood growing up with isolated migrant parents, who fought a lot, but we lived somewhere beautiful and I found much solace in the calm of trees and sky, art and music.
7. What does success and failure mean to you?
Success for me is making something beautiful, beautifully, and outside validation is always nice when it comes.
Failure is giving up.
8. Are you superstitious when it comes to performing?
Not really.
9. What is your biggest fear before going on stage?
That I forget what I am meant to be doing.
10. What is your favourite saying?
Better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.
11. What is your worst habit?
I’m disorganised until a deadline looms.
12. What do you love/hate about the festival?
I love seeing audiences embracing new work, and I hate festival flu.
13. Tell me about your most passionate embrace.
I do my best to embrace life each day.
14. Do you wear knickers under your kilt?
I couldn’t possibly share that information.
15. Most embarrassing moment?
Going on tour without my costume… I had to get a friend to post it to me.
16. Where is your favourite place in the world and why?
Paris, because it is much like Edinburgh, magic.
17. Who would you be if you were not you?
Barbara Streisand.
18. What Scottish delicacies do you enjoy and, do any of them fill you with fear?
Oh no… you’ve uncovered my fear of haggis! Is a scotch egg scottish? I love those.
19. What is your greatest ambition?
To keep creating till I drop dead.
20. How can we bring world peace?
Put people before profit.
Monski Mouse
- First impressions of our fair city and, why are you here?
Edinburgh is a truly amazing and beautiful city, like an Escher carved from stone. I love it!
I am here to get as many wee children and their favourite adults bopping together on the dance-floor in a spectacular display of musical enthusiasm.
2. Does your time here bring on joy or dread?
Mostly absolute joy. I do dread getting caught in the bucketing Edinburgh rain that often descends. It’s a brilliant walking city full of interesting nooks and crannies.
3. Are you a happy soul or do the occasionally dreich elements make you morose?
Monski Mouse is a happy soul, dancing does that to you.
4. Where will you visit on your day off and why?
Edinburgh Zoo with my two mini-disco kids, its such a great spot.
5. Do you ever get jealous of other performers?
Yes! But we all have foibles best not to dwell, and be the best Mouse you can be.
6. Did you have a happy childhood?
Growing up in Mouse-land we ate cheese every day and danced every night.
7. What does success and failure mean to you?
Success is a dance-floor full of humans letting themselves go to a track I have laid down.
Failure is giving up.
8. Are you superstitious when it comes to performing?
I always make sure I have my lucky diamond choker on.
9. What is your biggest fear before going on stage?
That my audience won’t turn up.
10. What is your favourite saying?
How much can a koala bare.
11. What is your worst habit?
Playing dodgey vinyl.
12. What do you love/hate about the festival?
I love the energy created by getting that many artists together in the one place
I hate that some of the brilliant artists don’t manage to get the audiences they deserve and loose too much money.
13. Tell me about your most passionate embrace.
Gosh, getting very personal there! I passionately embrace the dance floor at any chance.
14. Do you wear knickers under your kilt?
Frilly big knickers.
14. Most embarrassing moment?
These happen daily but I embrace the embarrassment.
15. Where is your favourite place in the world and why?
Belair National Park in the Adelaide Hills, it’s blissful bush heaven.
16. Who would you be if you were not you?
Eddie Cantor.
18. What scottish delicacies do you enjoy and, do any of them fill you with fear?
Oh no.. you’ve uncovered my fear of haggis! Is a scotch egg scottish? I love those.
19. What is your greatest ambition?
My own TV show and Monski Mouse the Movie, starring Madonna and Barbra Streisand as my fairy godmother.
20. How can we bring world peace?
Put people before profit.
