Bitch ’n’ Monk are beatboxing soprano and guitarist Heidi Heidelberg and experimental Colombian flautist Mauricio Velasierra, who are based in High Barnet. Amie Mulderrig catches up with them ahead of their appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.

Who are you and what do you do?

Most people know us as a music duo, prone to wild performances using animalistic vocals, electric guitar, traditional Andean flutes and effects pedals.

Who’s the Bitch and who’s the Monk?

Debatable. Depends on the day, but just to suit conventions Heidi’s the self-proclaimed Bitch and Mauricio is the Monk.

How/where/when did you both meet?

We met in a yurt at a festival back in 2011, started making music pretty much instantly, and found each other perplexing and amusing.

Who are your musical influences?

If we stick to the strict terms of your question our CD rack includes John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Led Zeppelin, Thomas Mapfumo, Oumou Sangare, Cathy Berberian, Mauritanian Sacred Music and good old Bach. But increasingly our greatest influences are non-musical. Mauricio likes to listen to animals (tiger calls are the latest obsession) and Heidi likes to eavesdrop, imitate public tannoy announcements and advert voices.

What do you sound like?

We sound like a lyre bird and a chest-beating gorilla on a day trip to the church after a night out at a warehouse rave.

What’s on your rider?

Rider? You joking? No but seriously, when we play outside of the UK no booze for the Monk and a whiskey for the lady.