“Ask the MLT” Episode 3 – Q&A
Questions answered in this video:
00:00 – Intro
00:31 – Did you often get photographed on stage?
01:17 – What’s your favourite animal?
01:57 – Will Neve (the gosling) be adding sound effects to the new album?
02:14 – Which of you would win in a game show about knowledge on the MonaLisa Twins’ music?
02:57 – When did Michaela become your stepmum?
04:04 – What is your favourite season?
04:35 – Have you ever heard Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon”?
05:52 – Do you go and watch other Liverpool bands live?
07:05 – What do you like the most/least about living in Liverpool?
07:59 – Why did you remove the “talking to the audience” bits between songs from the Cavern Club CD?
09:26 – Would you ever consider writing with others or recording original songs from other songwriters?
10:10 – What was the source of the background scenes in the “Questionable” video?
11:25 – Did Mona and Lisa ever come to your performances?
11:51 – Will you ever come to Japan?
12:07 – How do you listen to (new) music? Do you start to analyse the music?
13:45 – How does compression work?
14:34 – How is your garden doing?
15:15 – Are you 100% Austrian or do you have ancestors from other countries?
19:20 – Fun Facts & Outro
Thanks for all the fun questions!
If you have any more you can submit them here.
We are mainly covering questions submitted during late June/July 2022 here in this video, but if your question wasn’t answered today it will likely be in the next episode. We decided to turn everything we filmed into two episodes because we know not everyone has the time to commit to watching a 40 min long video. Episode 4 will get uploaded next week! 🙂
Thank you for watching and stay groovy!
Mona & Lisa
I had often wondered about how long your step mom but was afraid to ask. You all are blessed to have such a tight knit family. I enjoy these Q&A’s so much just because it gives us an insight to who both of you really are. Obviously the members of this Club truly love both of you and appreciate how much you share of yourselves with us.
Another AWESOME Q&A! One of the special elements that draws us clubbers closer into your family circle! Loved the wedding pics. Nice to see Rudolf and Michaela haven’t aged much at all! Of course Canada Goose as a favorite, but I suspect any orphaned animal that you foster in the future could move to the top of the list (no offense to Neve meant)! I do have an issue with whoever originally named the Maned Wolf, tho. How did you not go with “Lanky Fox”!?!
It is always so cool to get to see you both just being yourselves! Thank you!
Mona, Lisa, thanks again for answering a lot of questions. Now we can start thinking about questions for the new themed Q&A.
Related to the accent: since I, as a Dutchman, have been asked in a call to translate between a Scot and an American because they could not understand each other, I state to other native English speaking people they schould not complain about my Dutch accent.
And yes sometimes the English expressions are “difficult”, but I am still learning, also from comments in the MTL club.
I don’t think you have an accent at all. It’s only when you use expressions like “we would both be pretty rubbish” that I realize you’re Brits. 😉
Enjoyed it! These QA’s are always fun.
Here’s a stringing nettle story. I was on a rough hike with a friend in the nearby mountains. The goal was a small peak that had burned a couple of years before. The burn left the ground extremely fertile and the weeds had grown very high. I was going through a tight space between a tree and a boulder and grabbed the stalk of what I thought was a bush or small tree for leverage. It was a 10 foot tall stinging nettle and the nettles there are pretty potent.
A fun British cooking history factoid: “Nettles are a historic ingredient, in fact ‘nettle pudding’ has been officially declared Britain’s oldest pudding, created round 6,000BC.”
Since you like camping and hiking, you would love the hiking and camping opportunities here in New Mexico, USA, which by the way is mostly un-nettled! Please add that to your long list of places that all of us in the club want you to visit!
As Johnnypee Parker said, we ALL have accents! Never realized that I had one until I worked for the U.S. side of the Maid of the Mist as the office manager. We would often hang out with the guys from the Canadian Maid and one evening we were talking about accents. When it got to me, our Canadian friends said that I had the worst Western New York State accent of them all.
Later, when I taught at our local University’s teachers college, many of my Canadian students said the same thing.
As an adult, I moved a mere twenty miles and my colleagues at the high school where I teach knew right away that I was from Niagara Falls. It was called a “Pine Avenue Accent”.
It all depends on locations, dialects and vowel pronunciations. And, as you said in Dreams, “it’s okay”.
We love Mona’s subtle sarcasm. “Just watch a YouTube video on how to weave nettle bracelets.” and “that’s a fun fact, getting scratched by a dog?”
Thanks to Michaela for getting the facts straight. Those wedding pics are beautiful. Rudi looks so serious. We played who’s who. Marlo got Mona and Lisa right, and I got Michaela and Rudi right.
We all have accents. Around here, we have British, Irish, German, upstate NY, downstate NY. Your accents are great, and you speak English better than a lot of people we know. Your grammar is usually right on.
Have faith, Winter is coming. Let it snow.
Thanks for sharing so much with us. These Q&A’s are fun.
Marlo & JP
Well, I’ve been asked if I’m from the Maritimes a few times because of my Ottawa Valley???????????????? and Irish Hertitage background, my Canadian-Irish accent gets prominent when I’m excited, angry, and I guess in general, but…. if I’m with UK folk, etc, I tend to adapt and start speaking not aware that I’m doing so in the their dialect-accent until it’s pointed out to me and/or get stunned looks when I’m talking ….
Good questions. Interesting answers. In regards to talking to the audience, I generally don’t want to hear it on an album. I want to hear music! However, John Sebastián has an album called “Real Live John Sebastián” where he talks to the audience and he is hilarious. I love that album. So, I guess it can work in small doses if done appropriately.
Normally though, I prefer music without chatter. But, I do enjoy listening to you talk here on “Ask the MonaLisa Twins.”
Hi Mona, hi Lisa, i want you to ask how come to play in the “Cavern Club”?
I really enjoyed this Q&A. You are so much fun to watch and listen to just being yourselves. The wedding pic of Rudi and Michaela was a a real treat. I discovered another interest we have in common; wilderness camping! Who knew? After the new album is finished perhaps you can start doing some more live shows and collaborations with other great artists. Many musicians say it helps develop their creativity in ways that they otherwise could not. Can’t wait for the new album! Almost here!
Great Questions and answers:
Thank you as always.
Hi everyone. I have to say I love listening to you talk because your both so funny. I like Q & A because I do learn a lot about you that I didn’t know like Machela and your family, so thank you for that. I am surprised no one asked, how is the new album coming? Just saying. Stay Groovy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No,no never hide the accent!! In the UK we are so rubbish at language it’s a sort o fascination how anyone can understand another language!
Greetings,
I have said it before, Mona & Lisa I love your accent. Do not try to hide it or cover it up. It’s lovely.
Also you speak English pretty darn good (or is it well? lol). English is one of the most difficult languages to learn. To read it, to speak it, to understand it, to write it.
There are words with the same spelling than might be pronounced differently or have different meanings. There are words that are spelled differently but pronounced the same. It can be rather challenging and tricky.
I give you lots of credit.
I hope you and everyone has a fun, safe, and groovy weekend.
Cheers,
Bobby S.
You looked like little dolls as kids. Bigger dolls today. I hope you never loose your accents – it’s part of your charm. If you ever do a worldwide tour, come to Dallas TX, It’s only a 21/2 hr. drive from Oklahoma City. Any way Peace be.
I never think of your accent until you mention it. Maybe it’s because I studied German in school, and spent the summer between my junior and senior high school years in Basel. When I notice, I enjoy the accents. Dank’ schön viel mal.
No, you were absolutely right, thank goodness. It’s fun to hear the talk in between songs once or twice, but after the 60th time every time you play a song, it gets old. In today’s digital age, one solution is to make those moments separate tracks that can simply be left off of playlists and not part of a song.
I love camping and outdoors, although I prefer to backpack in so that I’m as far from cars and “civilization” as possible. If you know how to make nettle bracelets, I’m sure you know that nettles make pretty good tea that has many medicinal benefits. Have you done that? When you were evaluating your teas last Christmas, you never tasted one and said “oooh…I detect some nettle in there!” I didn’t realize they can smell your fear. LOL Lisa!
Thank you so much for these videos! Even though we’ve never met in person, your videos make you feel like close friends I’ve known forever. If only.
question 1
If you got asked to tour with some band or artist which band/artist would be your favorite n if so why? n what country would you like to go ? will canada be included
I was glancing down the page without my glasses on, and for some reason (I guess the ‘ked’ at the end of “asked”) but instead of “If you got asked to tour…” what I read was “If you got naked on tour…” and I though WHAAATT?!?!? Then I put my glasses on and read it again. Thank goodness! Thanks for the laugh, though, Elias!
I always enjoy these Q and As, learn about music and your craft, and love the little insights into you both and your lives.
Wow, you took a bushcraft course, that is awesome. It’s funny I really started to get interested in bushcraft and outdoors stuff since the pandemic in the last couple years. I think for me I’ve found more appreciation for nature and survival and common sense skills as a virtue. If you ever get a chance, watch some MacGyver episodes, some humorous survival and ingenuity skills in the wild and everyday life situations. Expresses that you can do anything spirit with a little know how and thought.
That wild dog looks interesting, will have to rewind back to that part to pick up it’s name.
Loved seeing that wedding photo with all four of you in it. You all looked so adorable! Still do! 🙂
Thanks for another wonderful time!
You’ve said before that you wish you had different accents, however to me it makes you special and I love your accents – never annoying. It also makes your versions of well known songs sound unique and in your own style which many people love, primarily due to your beautiful clear singing. Sometimes I actually hear the correct lyrics for the first time when you sing them! I also think that because English is not your native language it makes what you say seem more authentic and real, compared to native English speakers who may conceal their real meanings by selective use of the language. It also shows that you really mean what you say even if you have to stop and think of the right words sometimes. This endears you to all us happy clubbers. The other great thing is your sense of humour which I really relate to, especially all the little side comments and captions on videos which is just how I think as well! Another set of great questions and don’t think I’d like large dogs much if they jumped on me and scratched my face!
Couldn’t agree more Allan. I am constantly blown away by their natural and masterful use of a non-native language. They’re better at English than most native speakers, even if there is a word here and there that is troublesome, that’s to be expected and no different than native speakers. I mean, just look at their lyrics! Genius! I also find it funny (odd) when they pronounce “Wagner” in English. Being Austrian (them), I always say and hear it correctly in my head. Sharing such a great name with the likes of Richard Wagner, they always bring Die Walküre to mind, and Mona & Lisa couldn’t make any better Valkyries. 😀
I just love these Q and A sessions. It helps us see you as 3 dimensional people and I love the interaction between you two. Never underestimate the charm of your accents and I enjoy listening to you speak German as I try to understand it. Thank you for the answer on compression, I understand it now.
Mona, since you pretty much do container gardening, have you read any books on the subject?
If I lived closer I would love to do your family tree, but it is easier when you can interview your client for as much background information you can get to start from. I enjoy researching my family tree.
The Fun Facts don’t always need to be “fun” since they are meant to add to layers of you as we know you. Since you have so many questions that you need to go to a second video, it is obvious that your fans are dying to know all about you especially things that aren’t music related , such as the bushcraft weekend. Without the Fun Fact segment, how would we ever know about it? I find it fascinating that these 2 gorgeous young musicians like to spend time primitive camping. I don’t think the Supremes ever did that????.
Love you Girls!
So today I learned that stinging nettles can sense your fear(!) I love watching you two interact, you’re so much fun to watch. Mona does seem to get a little perturbed when Lisa goes off on a tangent! You guys are so cute together!
Never be worried about your accent! It is part of who you are plus it is part of your charm and beauty.
I loved that, Awesome Qs asked, loved your replies, loved seeing the photos of Michaela & Rudi’s wedding …that was a special treat ! … Gotta say, preferring the Q&A format of “ASK MLT”, to hear/see you read out tge Qs and then the replies, the visual aspect far more entertaining and it just makes for a better all around experience to enjoy….Thankyou again for this episode, and am stoked for the next one coming up…. Keep Em Going…????????????????
Thank you Mona and Lisa for this great Ask to Mona Lisa Twins Q & A video! Just like Richard I love to hear you both talk and Laugh, it is refreshing to me! Thanks so much for answering our questions, Maddie is at summer camp now but when she comes home I will re play this for her and she will be happy to know which is your favorite animal. As you know I am retired and my boss is from England and on my bucket list is to visit England and Liverpool and he said he will be happy to help me with land marks and places to visit when I do go, can’t wait. Be so cool if by chance we run into you both! Of course you would have to help me off the ground if I do see you LOL…Just kidding but that is my dream to see and hear you both either in a conversation or seeing you both live performing Count on Me which is my favorite song off the Orange Album that I listen to all the time along with the Live Album. So a fun fact for me? I set my drums up right next to the CD Player and put on the live album and play along with you, it feels Like I am playing along with you and believe me I crank it up and play my heart out!! Thanks again and what a groovy way to start the weekend!
Take care and god bless
Bill and Maddie Isenberg Huge Fans from Pittsburgh PA USA
Hello Ladies,
Trust me you are not annoying in any way when you talk. I love listening to you speak, and you speak English very well . I know that sometimes the word or phrase you want to use is not understood clearly in the translation, but that’s the beauty of it. No one is perfect.
I really enjoy listening to you speak German/Austrian as you did with Michaela. I find it fascinating.
You all mentioned Ancestry in today’s video. I am German, Scottish, Welsh, and Cherokee Indian. That is a fun fact about me.
I for one would have loved the Cavern Club CD to have included all the talking parts, but I also understand why you cut that out. I still Love the album and Play it all the time.
Thanks for today’s video. Can’t wait to see next week’s 2nd half.
Best always
Rick Ross