April 7, 2026

Margarita Monet - Edge Of Paradise - Interview

Derek and John recently spent some time with Edge Of Paradise’s singer, pianist and visionary Margarita Monet. Most artists channel their inner sci-fi visionary by dreaming of a full-fledged movie based on their album — but Margarita Monet of Edge of Paradise is already on her way. She’s blending heavy riffs, cinematic visuals, the realities and wishes for AI, consciousness, and what it truly means to be human into her band's art and ambitions.

Apple Podcasts podcast player badge
Spotify podcast player badge
Amazon Music podcast player badge
YouTube podcast player badge
PocketCasts podcast player badge
iHeartRadio podcast player badge
Overcast podcast player badge
Deezer podcast player badge
RSS Feed podcast player badge
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconAmazon Music podcast player iconYouTube podcast player iconPocketCasts podcast player iconiHeartRadio podcast player iconOvercast podcast player iconDeezer podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player icon
Season 4

In this exclusive interview with Sh!t Talk Reviews, Margarita Monet, the visionary frontwoman and pianist of Edge of Paradise, explores the intersection of heavy metal, artificial intelligence, and cinematic storytelling. As the band prepares for their upcoming tour, Monet details the creative process behind their latest album, The Prophecy.

Edge of Paradise image is courtesy of Jeremy Saffer

Unlike traditional metal acts, Edge of Paradise functions as a multimedia project, incorporating graphic novels, high-concept music videos (including underwater cinematography), and a sci-fi narrative that tackles the evolution of human consciousness in a digital age. Monet, alongside guitarist Dave Bates, continues to push the boundaries of the genre by blending industrial riffs with symphonic elements, creating a "cinematic metal" experience that explores staying human amidst a technological dystopia.

BIO

Edge of Paradise is an American cinematic heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 2011 by singer/pianist Margarita Monet and guitarist Dave Bates. Known for their industrial-tinged sound and sci-fi aesthetic, the band has released acclaimed albums such as Universe, The Unknown, and Hologram. Currently signed to Napalm Records, Edge of Paradise is recognized for its high-production visual art, merging the worlds of theater, science fiction, and heavy rock. The band's lineup features a multicultural background, contributing to their unique international appeal and futuristic storytelling.

WATCH


LISTEN

STR COMICS

Edge of Paradise is a wildly cinematic, heavy band based out of Los Angeles.
4 seconds
With 15 years and six albums behind them, they've carved out a niche for themselves by blending heavy riff guitars with symphonic textures and
12 seconds
slivers of electronica. Margarita Monae is not only the band's singer and pianist, she's also a visual artist,
18 seconds
director, and visual architect for the band. And we're lucky enough to have her with us today. Hey Margarita, thanks for joining us. How are you today?
26 seconds
I'm I'm doing good, thank you. Thank you for having Good. Where where in the planet do we find you? Are you uh in Los Angeles? I am right now. I'm actually in Anaheim.
34 seconds
So, but you're not at Disneyland. Like, what are you doing? No, no, just some errands.
43 seconds
We have um you know, picking up some stuff for our tour. So, I'm always kind of running around this month.
49 seconds
Yeah. What do What do you take out on tour? What are the things that you need to get? Indulge us. Uh, well, I'm picking up some merch items, but yeah,
57 seconds
we're usually I mean, where do I start,
1 minute, 1 second
you know, from all the gear to, you know, the merch, um, some lighting, but mostly gear.
1 minute, 8 seconds
Yeah, we don't travel life, let's put it that way. My sister and my wife and I were uh going through some videos and
1 minute, 16 seconds
and whatnot last night and they were both fairly enamored with your wardrobe,
1 minute, 20 seconds
your tour wardrobe and your video wardrobe. And I was I was asked where they can pick up the gold number, the
1 minute, 29 seconds
gold chest plate. Uh we're going to need I think two of those. So if you could just uh send send those over, that'd be great.
1 minute, 36 seconds
They I don't advise uh you might get injured wearing that stuff. Um it Yeah, it doesn't look very comfortable.
1 minute, 45 seconds
Yeah, that one was made from uh I guess it's made from plastic, but yeah, I used it in a music video and it kind of um
1 minute, 53 seconds
yeah, it jabs into you. You gota um yeah, I don't know. But I have to say,
2 minutes
you know, they they do say beauty is pain. Um, but you know, for the music video, it's okay. But live, there's so
2 minutes, 8 seconds
many great designers out there. Uh, you can connect with them on the internet,
2 minutes, 11 seconds
but I also make a lot of my own clothing, too.
2 minutes, 14 seconds
Oh, that's fantastic. Yeah. I wanted to ask about the sort of artistic direction that you have set up for the band over
2 minutes, 23 seconds
the years because you're largely the the architect of the the the visual as well as the the musical. Is that right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, how much time?
2 minutes, 32 seconds
That's always been important to me.
2 minutes, 34 seconds
Yeah. How much time how do you split the time between the the visual aspect of what the band's doing and the musical aspect?
2 minutes, 41 seconds
I think it goes hand in hand. Um, for me, one thing inspires the other thing.
2 minutes, 46 seconds
Like when I'm working on a song, I always that's why um I incorporate art and visual art and you know, kind of
2 minutes, 54 seconds
inspires the music videos and what the stage is going to look like. So for me it's kind of always been I mean my
3 minutes, 3 seconds
background is in theater and you know not not too much metal my background. So I think it kind of made its way like
3 minutes, 12 seconds
just my you know passion for theater and for visual art. I've always um incorporated that in the band. You know
3 minutes, 20 seconds
as we grow I want to um build on that even more you know with our stage show and music video productions. Maybe one
3 minutes, 28 seconds
day we'll have a full-on movie. You know, you never know.
3 minutes, 32 seconds
Yeah. What's the What's the impossible movie that you uh would make given unlimited time and resources?
3 minutes, 39 seconds
Well, I have a graphic novel that's based on our album Hologram. So, the graphic novel is called Hologram and Slaves to Forever. Kind of a sci-fi
3 minutes, 48 seconds
thriller um of, you know, consciousness going up against artificial intelligence. and it's kind of a
3 minutes, 56 seconds
philosophical story that's really based in, you know, what's what makes us human and um there's a lot of layers to that.
4 minutes, 5 seconds
So, I think for that I actually was working on a kind of like an adaptation of what the film script would look like.
4 minutes, 14 seconds
problem with that is that you probably need quite a bit of a budget to make something like that because I don't want
4 minutes, 21 seconds
to rely on AI, you know, and we'll have to build a spaceship and all that kind of stuff. So, I think I'll have to wait a few years to make that.
4 minutes, 30 seconds
Edge of Paradise's Prophecy is out on Napal Records. And so, Prophecy is a little bit of a warning about AI. Do you want to touch on that a little bit?
4 minutes, 40 seconds
Yeah. Um, so I've been kind of building on this idea since our album Universe.
4 minutes, 46 seconds
Um, and it's interesting to kind of see how uh, real life because when I started
4 minutes, 54 seconds
talking about it, AI wasn't as prevalent and then with our album, you know, the unknown and then hologram, it's just AI
5 minutes, 1 second
became such a big part of everyday life and now it's becoming kind of threatening a lot of fields. um it's
5 minutes, 9 seconds
coming for a lot of people's jobs. I mean it also I guess it's a matter of perspective like anything in life but it
5 minutes, 16 seconds
is a fact that you know it's taking over a lot of different fields that was previously you know handled by humans solely. Mhm.
5 minutes, 24 seconds
Um so with every album I kind of painted these scenarios and um talked about implications but also talked about you
5 minutes, 33 seconds
know the good side like maybe like for example our song digital paradise now maybe it's our answer to living forever
5 minutes, 40 seconds
but prophecy is the first time that I kind of take my own stance. I kind of fight for humanity. Um, and I think the
5 minutes, 49 seconds
big biggest threat of AI is to kind of dim our own spirits, to dim our will, to
5 minutes, 56 seconds
want to explore, to want to invent, to want to create, because if we're just like, well, you know, AI is going to take over everything, it really kind of
6 minutes, 4 seconds
discouraging. And I think that's one of the main dangers of, you know,
6 minutes, 8 seconds
artificial intelligence. A after spending so much time in the sort of the AI head space, do you view it now with
6 minutes, 16 seconds
more caution or is has some optimism in terms of the availability AI made its way into into your consciousness?
6 minutes, 24 seconds
You know, it's if I it depends it depends on my mood a little bit
6 minutes, 32 seconds
honestly because if I focus too much on the negative, I think it's anything like that in life. If you choose to focus on
6 minutes, 40 seconds
the negative, if you choose to lead with fear, then you start seeing all the
6 minutes, 46 seconds
negatives in whatever um you know issue you're thinking about. If you are um
6 minutes, 53 seconds
sort of let your inspiration guide or what you want to do in life or you know what makes you happy, you tend to start
7 minutes, 1 second
finding things that oh maybe I can use that as a tool you know like for example for me I really enjoy making songs. I
7 minutes, 10 seconds
enjoy to create stuff make stuff in my own hands. So I'm not going to just press a button and let AI make a song
7 minutes, 17 seconds
for me. Uh so I don't choose to focus on well you know AI can just do it better or do whatever because I really enjoy it
7 minutes, 26 seconds
makes me happy. So I focus on well maybe I can use AI to like I don't know scan
7 minutes, 33 seconds
contract that will take me like you know three hours to really analyze. So, I will use AI to help me save time so I
7 minutes, 42 seconds
can focus on something that really makes me happy and makes me feel like I'm growing as a human, you know? So, I
7 minutes, 50 seconds
think it's just important to really have the right focus.
7 minutes, 53 seconds
Well, yeah, you just kind of answered my next question, which is where where do you draw the line between using that technological tool and
8 minutes, 3 seconds
letting it do the work for you? And I think it's, correct me if I'm wrong, but your answer is if you're not using it in an ultra creative place, it's a safe tool to use. That keeps you human,
8 minutes, 14 seconds
right? Is that do I have that right?
8 minutes, 16 seconds
I think so. Yes. And I I think you know initially that's probably the main reason for people to really push for you
8 minutes, 24 seconds
know create all these well I mean I don't know there's a lot of different alternative motives of these companies right that kind of govern
8 minutes, 33 seconds
the world in a way I mean that's a whole different topic but I mean I think the tool of you know artificial intelligence
8 minutes, 42 seconds
and robots to do the jobs that maybe people, you know, don't enjoy doing or it takes too much time. So to make more
8 minutes, 52 seconds
efficient so you know we can be more efficient, you know, humans can um sort
8 minutes, 57 seconds
of progress in our own um you know path in life. But it's just I mean I think
9 minutes, 5 seconds
it's I guess whatever we create there's always going to be something negative.
9 minutes, 10 seconds
There's always going to be something that is turned to negative, right? So I just think it's important to do
9 minutes, 18 seconds
do do you do you feel like we are on the precipice of either going down a path of a utopia or a dystopia based on where we are with AI and the world today?
9 minutes, 29 seconds
You know I wish I could say we're going into the utopia but I mean I myself I'm
9 minutes, 36 seconds
a I feel like I'm a positive person. So for my reality that I can create, I always going to push for, you know,
9 minutes, 44 seconds
utopia. That's always my number one message with the music as well. You know, I I'd love to explore like these fun dark moments, trauma, and you know,
9 minutes, 55 seconds
whatever. But ultimately, the message is always positive and but that's my own reality. Now, I
10 minutes, 2 seconds
think the world unfortunately there's a lot of forces, you know, at hand and uh
10 minutes, 9 seconds
just kind of seeing and uh listening to people that are in the field. Um it's kind of a little bit scary.
10 minutes, 18 seconds
How close are you to being over AI? Like over AI? Just over it. I'm just like done it.
10 minutes, 26 seconds
Well, I I am over it and done with it,
10 minutes, 28 seconds
honestly. Like I don't you know okay to be honest I just you know when you go to
10 minutes, 36 seconds
social media or YouTube sometimes it's just kind of really annoying to see AI video after AI video AI image after AI
10 minutes, 45 seconds
image and you don't really know what to believe anymore.
10 minutes, 48 seconds
So it's it's a little bit annoying. Do do you hate do you hate John and I because we just created a comic using AI
10 minutes, 56 seconds
and we have a character that we use named gain and there is a comic I will send to you for approval to promote this
11 minutes, 3 seconds
interview but you don't hate us right no okay so that's a really that's a really good point because I think it's
11 minutes, 10 seconds
great when for example person or you know whoever you know they are doing something creative but that person may not be like a video editor or whatever,
11 minutes, 21 seconds
but they, you know, they have a passion,
11 minutes, 23 seconds
they're doing something and AI is helping them get the idea across. I I actually am all for it. Um, but I think
11 minutes, 31 seconds
it's important also to I mean, I think at this point people recognize, right,
11 minutes, 37 seconds
that, you know, AI is like wildly wildly used now and it's its own space. And like for example, and I'm not really
11 minutes, 46 seconds
talking about you specifically, but in general, like people that create art with AI, you know, it's have letting
11 minutes, 53 seconds
them express themselves. It's their imagination putting into existence. And I'm not against that. But I think it's
12 minutes, 1 second
also important to recognize that, you know, it has its own space. Like I don't like when for example people create something in a malicious way like they
12 minutes, 10 seconds
make thousands of songs in one day and upload it to Spotify and like have bought stream it and like try to
12 minutes, 17 seconds
maliciously like um you know deceive and steal money and whatever from you know
12 minutes, 24 seconds
people that are really working hard and investing everything they got into it.
12 minutes, 28 seconds
So there is a distinction and it's a fine line, but I am for people always, you know, expressing themselves and um, you know, being creative.
12 minutes, 37 seconds
Well, for the record, Don and I cannot draw. So if we did a promo and we were required to draw, you would be a stick figure and you'd probably have like a
12 minutes, 46 seconds
mohawk and and that's about so use.
12 minutes, 51 seconds
Well, let let's talk about something positive. Uh, Doug Wland, uh, you know,
12 minutes, 56 seconds
he came in in 2024. He's made things real heavy. Talk a little bit about what Doug brings to the table.
13 minutes, 2 seconds
Yeah, Doug, he he is a very he's a very creative guitar player. Um he is really
13 minutes, 10 seconds
into um you know melodic and riffs and just he's very careful about finding what
13 minutes, 17 seconds
fits the song and he he really helped us write prophecy you know from the guitar point of view
13 minutes, 25 seconds
because that sort of opened a new dimension for us. It had Dave gave him a gave his guitar because he is on the
13 minutes, 34 seconds
seventh string. So when Doug kind of um created this these heavier riffs, it d
13 minutes, 41 seconds
gave Dave a chance to get even more creative with the layers or with you know riffs that go along with them. So I
13 minutes, 48 seconds
think it's good to have these two because they're both two lead guitar players. Um so they really have to kind of push each other and you know um yeah
13 minutes, 58 seconds
they they can't get lazy because you know they're guitar players also. Ego right? day. Sure.
14 minutes, 4 seconds
I'm joking. Um, but yeah, it's I we are really happy with the addition of Doug.
14 minutes, 11 seconds
How how did the switch to seven and eight string guitars, you know, which clearly brought a heavier, darker tone.
14 minutes, 17 seconds
How did that change the way you approach writing songs? Did it change the way you you write? You know, it was an it was a
14 minutes, 24 seconds
natural thing because Doug came in playing seven string because he first was a he filled in for Dave on one of
14 minutes, 32 seconds
our tours uh for half the tour. So, he had to learn all our previous songs on the seven string. And then when um I we
14 minutes, 40 seconds
were writing songs for the next album Midian, I wrote the song um or I started the song Death Notes. And when I was
14 minutes, 48 seconds
like, well, I need some guitars. It's because we do things backwards. I kind of write the songs on the keyboard and then I go and record the vocals and then
14 minutes, 57 seconds
we rebuild this song as a band. And so when I gave the demo to Doug, he was like, "Well, this song, you know, it's
15 minutes, 5 seconds
really low. I can't even play it on the seventh string. You know, I think it'll be really cool on this eighth string."
15 minutes, 10 seconds
And um, you know, someone a company sent him um like a really cool prototype of this eight string guitar and he was
15 minutes, 17 seconds
already playing around with it. So he made the riffs and that just worked out and I think that song kind of set the tone for the rest of them. Uh so yeah,
15 minutes, 28 seconds
it was kind of a natural thing.
15 minutes, 30 seconds
Yeah. So it sounds like if anything you didn't have to change there was a shift on the back end. I think so.
15 minutes, 36 seconds
Oh, that's cool. We touched on the fact that you direct you've directed a bunch of the band's videos. Um, is there a an
15 minutes, 43 seconds
impossible visual that is you've got up here that you just you've not found a way to to to translate onto film or
15 minutes, 51 seconds
video or what have you? And if so, what is it? Yeah. What's the vision?
15 minutes, 55 seconds
Too many to too many to name. Well, you know, I I think it's doable, but I always wanted to film a video underwater. I think it would be so cool.
16 minutes, 5 seconds
So, I think we're going to have to figure out a way to do it or at least somehow just have a little bit of parts um underwater. But the thing is like I don't want it to be just like in some,
16 minutes, 15 seconds
you know, pool. I want it to be like super vast like you're going to the bottom of the ocean. Kind of like that movie The Abyss. Yes. Great movie.
16 minutes, 23 seconds
That would be very cool.
16 minutes, 25 seconds
I'm gonna switch gears. I'm gonna switch gears a little bit on you. Um, who is the person that brought out in your life, maybe, you know, the little
16 minutes, 34 seconds
version of you, a teacher or a a a parent, a sibling that brought out the artistic side in you and and and and
16 minutes, 41 seconds
just kind of helped start blooming what you are today? I think my parents had a big part in it because uh I was born in
16 minutes, 48 seconds
Armenia in the '9s and we moved to Moscow uh when I was three years old and
16 minutes, 56 seconds
I was the only child at the time. I have a sister. She is 11 years younger than me. So, congrats. That's cool.
17 minutes, 3 seconds
Yeah. Uh she's an amazing pianist, by the way. I've been trying to recruit her. Uh but she's Yeah. Um, so my mom
17 minutes, 12 seconds
was started teaching at an arts academy and she was teaching English. So no,
17 minutes, 17 seconds
there was nobody to watch me and uh she would take me to work and um I would just take every single class in that art
17 minutes, 26 seconds
academy. I would go from like ballet to singing to theater and I just did it for you know a few years and then when um
17 minutes, 35 seconds
yeah there was we I feel like yeah we moved and then you know in Russia when you are studying something you like when you're five you have to be very serious.
17 minutes, 47 seconds
So I started going to music school and ballet school and then it became you know more and more serious but I really
17 minutes, 54 seconds
I loved it and uh you know my mom would take me also like schools we would always have field trips to museums and
18 minutes, 1 second
shows and I it would just be it was such a daily part of my life and I really loved it. Now on the other hand, my dad
18 minutes, 9 seconds
is a scientist. So um you know he was always kind of introducing more science stuff and I loved that part as well. So
18 minutes, 19 seconds
I kind of I think with the band because you know a lot of themes I talk about kind of have that root scientific themes
18 minutes, 27 seconds
and roots. So I've always been interested in that but you know the arts just never let go of me.
18 minutes, 34 seconds
So neither of your parents were musically inclined? Uh well my mom plays piano. Uh my dad actually plays guitar
18 minutes, 42 seconds
but you know not not professionally. He had electric guitar and acoustic guitar.
18 minutes, 46 seconds
I remember one time I found his VHS tape of Led Zeppelin live and I watched it when they weren't home.
18 minutes, 54 seconds
I was like oh my what is that? Like I've never seen anything like it. So I was like it seemed just like a different planet you know.
19 minutes, 2 seconds
Yeah. How old were you? How old were you when you How old were you when you saw that? I think I was like 10 maybe.
19 minutes, 8 seconds
And was that your introduction to to to rock and metal or I mean that's when I knew it existed,
19 minutes, 17 seconds
but it just was such a boring world to me. I watched it once, I was like, "Oh my god." And then I just I haven't watched it again until I went to
19 minutes, 26 seconds
college. And then I started discovering like actually Symphony X was the first band that I really discovered heavy you
19 minutes, 34 seconds
know progressive metal because they had those crazy keyboard solos and I was a pianist. So it was just like mind-blowing to me. Uh and then you know
19 minutes, 42 seconds
I went through my Marilyn Manson phase and I liked K. But then when I met Dave and we started the band, he introduced
19 minutes, 50 seconds
me to Ronnie James Dio and that was like, wow. I was in love with, you know,
19 minutes, 55 seconds
his voice and everything. And that was probably my he was my biggest inspiration uh when we started the band. How old inspiration?
20 minutes, 3 seconds
Yeah. How old were you when you came to the uh to the United States? Uh I was 11. My my first day in middle school was 911 2001. Can you believe it?
20 minutes, 13 seconds
Oh jeez. Welcome to America, huh? Yeah, it was a pretty crazy day.
20 minutes, 19 seconds
When you got to LA, was that how much of a culture shock was that in terms of,
20 minutes, 24 seconds
you know, your musical your personal musical culture? Was it wild or were you already into that that head space?
20 minutes, 35 seconds
Well, we moved to Houston, Texas, and then I went to New York before coming to LA. M so um culture shock was so at the time
20 minutes, 45 seconds
when we moved Houston was still kind of like now it's such a huge more of like a metropolitan city but at the time it was
20 minutes, 53 seconds
much smaller there wasn't as much going on so it was a culture shock on many levels like I remember me and my mom were walking on the street and everybody
21 minutes, 2 seconds
like all the cars were stopping and they're like are you guys okay because nobody walks there so it was kind of
21 minutes, 9 seconds
funny Um, and you know the heat, the humidity, the heat, it was kind of crazy. But I mean I was a kid so it was
21 minutes, 18 seconds
easy for me to adjust. But I mean I I missed a lot you know my old life and constant because I it was so rich and
21 minutes, 26 seconds
like every single day we had something to do and know Houston was you I went to school and that's it. And then I started
21 minutes, 33 seconds
taking I found myself there too. Like I started taking music lessons and then I went to a performing arts high school and then I went to New York.
21 minutes, 42 seconds
I tried to kind of you know navigate what a wild journey. So Armenia, Russia, Houston, New York, and then LA.
21 minutes, 51 seconds
Yes.
21 minutes, 52 seconds
The only thing you're missing is some Midwestern uh picnics or something, I guess. Let let's talk about the unknown. Uh,
21 minutes, 59 seconds
did you on on any any of those travels,
22 minutes, 2 seconds
did you ever believe that you would be a singer in a metal band that has over a million views?
22 minutes, 7 seconds
Um, you know, I never really think that way, thought that way. I I always wanted to create something and I wanted to like
22 minutes, 14 seconds
I've always been like super um passionate and driven. So, I always kind of want to keep creating and looking
22 minutes, 23 seconds
forward. So, of course, like when you're an artist, I mean, I could lie and say,
22 minutes, 28 seconds
you know, I just do it for me, but of course, I want to share it with the world and um you know, playing shows for
22 minutes, 36 seconds
people, it just it feels so good when your music or whatever you're creating has a meaning to someone else. But mainly, I feel like,
22 minutes, 45 seconds
you know, everybody always kind of wants to have some sort of purpose in life.
22 minutes, 49 seconds
And I feel like that's my way of adding something positive to the world. So,
22 minutes, 54 seconds
I've just always been kind of inspired to do what I do because I have that need to, you know, I want to add something positive to the world.
23 minutes, 4 seconds
That's that's there's there's a lot of beauty in that. Thank you.
23 minutes, 8 seconds
Yeah. So, you said that you guys are getting ready to go on tour. You're out running errands. Tell us about the tour. Where are you guys going?
23 minutes, 15 seconds
So, we have a quick show um in a April. Quick, I mean it's one day in Vancouver,
23 minutes, 22 seconds
Canada. It's a a metal festival called Hyperspace and it's our first time in Vancouver. We've been to Canada three times, but always on the east side. Uh
23 minutes, 31 seconds
so yeah, we're excited to go to Vancouver and then after that we're going to go to Germany. Yeah. So our
23 minutes, 38 seconds
tour starts in Germany, then we hit France, Switzerland, UK, Belgium, and end in Germany again. So we're doing a little bit of a European run.
23 minutes, 49 seconds
And who are you out on tour with? just uh let everybody know.
23 minutes, 52 seconds
Yeah. Uh so half the shows are we're headlining and another half we are supporting Visions of Atlantis.
24 minutes, 1 second
When are you touring over here?
24 minutes, 3 seconds
Um yeah, we have a US tour in July and we're headlining with um band called
24 minutes, 10 seconds
Starill. So we're heading out together and that's mostly a West Coast and we
24 minutes, 16 seconds
have uh um Salt Lake City. So that's a bit of a shorter tour, but we are looking to do more East Coast dates also
24 minutes, 24 seconds
in the fall, maybe September dates. So yeah, we're working on that now. But yeah,
24 minutes, 30 seconds
well, John's in Florida and I'm up in the uh New England area, so you have friends. We will guide you and tell you guys where to eat and uh you know, we're
24 minutes, 38 seconds
we're thrilled that you've been able to join us. Um John, you want to you want to move on to your favorite part of these interviews? Yeah. Right before we
24 minutes, 46 seconds
wrap up, we always like to do some quickies. Now, these are this or that answers, and you can keep your answers as short or as long as you want. Totally up to you.
24 minutes, 55 seconds
All right. All right. First one. Day or night? Night. Okay. Instagram or YouTube?
25 minutes, 3 seconds
Uh I mean, I don't know. I have to do both,
25 minutes, 6 seconds
you know. But for me personally, I guess YouTube because I like to get into like all the like if I'm interested on a
25 minutes, 14 seconds
topic, I like to watch a video or watch some documentary, something go down the rabbit hole. Instagram is too fast. Yeah.
25 minutes, 20 seconds
Yeah. Yeah. Um, a road trip or a direct flight? Road trip.
25 minutes, 25 seconds
Road trip. Uh, endless twilight or perpetual sunrise? Twilight.
25 minutes, 31 seconds
Twilight. Okay. Uh, would you rather be the architect or be the explorer? Or what would you rather be the architect where
25 minutes, 38 seconds
you're the builder of it or the explorer where you go and find your way? Oh. Oh man. Architect.
25 minutes, 46 seconds
Architect. Okay. Um, analog static or digital silence? Analog static. Something about that.
25 minutes, 54 seconds
It's almost like a meditation, you know.
25 minutes, 57 seconds
Yeah. Uh, let's see. A beautiful lie or an ugly truth.
26 minutes, 3 seconds
Wow, that's a good one. I mean, I think ultimately ugly truth is better for me,
26 minutes, 8 seconds
but maybe a beautiful lie is nice at first. It's better on the surface, right? Yeah.
26 minutes, 14 seconds
Uh, let's see. The comfort of a simulation or the harshness of reality. Oh, I like that. Matrix style.
26 minutes, 22 seconds
Yeah.
26 minutes, 23 seconds
Yeah. I think we might have to pick reality. Yeah, it's painful, but it is real.
26 minutes, 29 seconds
Uh, and lastly, a book written in an unbreakable code or a map to a place that no longer exists.
26 minutes, 37 seconds
Unbreakable code or will I break it if I try?
26 minutes, 40 seconds
Unbreakable code. You'll you'll never understand what what is in the book. I guess a map because I I like maps. Always loves maps.
26 minutes, 48 seconds
Awesome. Well, that's quickies. And thank you so much for coming and spending some time with us today.
26 minutes, 52 seconds
Thank you. Those are really good questions. Thank you.
26 minutes, 56 seconds
We've really enjoyed your visual storytelling. And where can people see your artwork real quick before we let you go? Yeah. Yeah. So, we have a website,
27 minutes, 4 seconds
edgeofpadiseband.com, and there's a tab of Argarita's art. So,
27 minutes, 9 seconds
a lot of art is on there. Um, yeah, the graphic novel is on there as well. So, that's the easiest way to see the art.
27 minutes, 16 seconds
And where can uh where can people buy merch if they're not able to make it out and see you on tour? Uh, so it's called edgeofpadistore.com.
27 minutes, 24 seconds
It's kind of our official store. You can also get a link to that from our website educadiseband.com.
27 minutes, 31 seconds
And then also if you go to hottopic.com,
27 minutes, 34 seconds
you search for Educise. We have a t-shirt on there. So, and um yeah, it's kind of cool. I remember Hot Topic days in high school,
27 minutes, 42 seconds
middle school. Yeah.
27 minutes, 44 seconds
Awesome. Well, thank you so much. This has been a treat for us.
27 minutes, 47 seconds
Thank you. Thank you guys. Yeah, I love your show. So, thanks for having me. Oh, thank you so much. Thank you.
Sync to video time
Derek Showerhead Profile Photo
Derek Showerhead
John Staley Profile Photo
John Staley
Margarita Monet Profile Photo
Margarita Monet

Edge Of Paradise - Lead Singer, Keyboard & Sci-Fi Visionary

Margarita Monet is the captivating frontwoman, pianist, and visual architect behind the cinematic heavy metal powerhouse Edge of Paradise. Born in Moscow and relocated to the United States at a young age, Margarita’s artistic foundation began in classical piano and theater—a background that now serves as the heartbeat of her band’s symphonic and industrial-tinged sound.

Since co-founding Edge of Paradise in Los Angeles alongside guitarist Dave Bates, Margarita has redefined what it means to be a modern metal performer. She doesn't just write songs; she builds universes. From her signature "cyber-warrior" aesthetic and gold-plated iconography to her work as a graphic novelist, she bridges the gap between heavy music and high-concept science fiction.

Under her leadership, the band has soared to international recognition with albums like Universe, The Unknown, and Hologram, and their latest evolution, The Prophecy. Margarita’s lyrics often explore the intersection of human consciousness, digital evolution, and the mysteries of the cosmos. Known for her powerful vocal range and mesmerizing stage presence, she continues to push the boundaries of the genre, proving that the future of metal is as cinematic as it is heavy.