Monica and The Explosion is Monica Welander, originally from Sweden now based in London.

She is now releasing her second album SHUT UP! joined by Paul Slack on bass and Rob Baylis on drums. The album is recorded at Jigsaw Studios Peterborough, UK, April-May 2010.

Monica and The Explosion started as a solo project in May, 2005 when Monica left her old band "Lots of Pilots" to focus on writing and performing solo. The music still had a lot of "band feeling" and was described as punky rock with a lot of energy. The unique about a girl playing action-packed punk rock on acoustic guitar aroused interest all around the world, and Monica and The Explosion has been touring constantly the past couple of years.

She relaesed her debut album in 2007 on her own label, backed by by Peppe Risenberg on drums and David Persson on bass. The three of them played some shows together in Sweden that year before Monica went touring on her own.
Two music videos are released from the debut album: "Hollywood" (2007), and "Friday Night"(2008), both produced by Daniel Larsson.

In 2009 and first part of 2010 she has been touring solo in Europe, India, Australia, New Zeeland, and The U.S, but with the release of her new album SHUT UP! she will now be joined by her new band.

Gig reviews:

Andy, Icarus Club, London, UK 21.5.09
"Swedish Monica is a one-woman band who does exactly as her name suggests ! Exploding onto the Icarus stage-ette, she thrashed away on her acoustic guitar, blasting out songs with three chords and a whole lot of attitude in the proper punk tradition (i.e. before the major labels got hold of it). She plays like she means it and there were shades of early Patti Smith/Siouxsie Sioux in her four songs..."

Moose Man for Studs and Punks web Magazine, The White Horse, Pampisford, UK. 11.7.09
"...This young lady is a dynamo. Monica performs with such raw energy and clearly loves playing in front of an audience. As I have said before this is performance at its most naked. Just a guitar and a microphone, no place to hide, nowhere to run..."

Album reviews:

Alexandra Bengtsson, in Groove Magazine #3 2008:
".. With the intensity and energy-chock that comes from her on the album it is understood that this could turn out to be one of Swedens best live artists."

Tommy Granlund, in Östra Småland, 16-10-2007:
”It is an attractive sort of of acoustic punk rock that is appealing. Live it is supported by Monica's self-confident way of acting and her stage-show, but it turns out to work good on a record as well. ”