Annie Hardy and Stony Sugarskull Discuss Art, Music, and Creativity

Annie Hardy, founder of the rock band Giant Drag, and Stony Sugarskull, the musical project of Monika Demmler, share their definitions of art and music in an interview. Hardy, born in San Clemente in 1981, was voted one of the "50 coolest people" by NME in 2005. She formed Giant Drag in Los Angeles in 2003 with drummer Micah Calabrese, signing with Interscope Records/Polydor UK. The duo performed at festivals like Reading, Leeds, Glastonbury, and Coachella. In 2019, they toured Europe with Collin Deatherage replacing Calabrese. Hardy released her debut solo album in 2017, produced by Joe Cardamone, addressing the deaths of her infant son and partner Cadalack Ron. A new EP is forthcoming. Stony Sugarskull was founded in 2015 by Monika Demmler after her PhD on the healing functions of music in African American literature, studied in London, New Orleans, and Berlin. In 2018, she toured California and Europe. Her debut album, blending psychedelia, punk rock, and krautrock, was released in 2020. Her style is influenced by My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, and Mazzy Star. Both artists reflect on art as spiritual energy and truth, and music as a universal language.