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Monokino (alias for Dutch composer George van Wetering) is a protean artist of sorts. Refusing to be placed in a box, his music slips and slides between sonic pallettes and tropes, transcending genre and creating an entirely new sonic landscape of its own. And his art has not gone unnoticed. His latest single “Bend or Break” made a splash internationally, getting airplay on BBC, NCB, exilefm, The Netherlands Kingfm, Pinguin Radio, and more.
Describing who this artist is, Yack Magazine notes: “If Adam Curtis made music instead of documentaries Monokino would be the sound, his latest release ‘𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘖𝘳 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬’ dives into how social media and misinformation can consume the unwary, the soundscape is suitably odd and unnerving with little solid ground to feel steady on but the sonic journey is an unforgettable one.”
If this hasn’t intrigued you yet, then wait until you hear his upcoming single. Today, Monokino is teaming up with VENTS for the release of his new cross-genre single “Your Underground,” an edgy track with a hyperpop/alt rock flavor. The gritty, electric track explores Monokino’s pent up frustrations towards the music industry and his feelings of anxiety, angst, and imposter syndrome within the so-called “underground scene.” Opening with a majestic choir of synths and harmonies, the song quickly dives into a dancefloor beat, complete with pulsing bass, electrowave textures, and rapid fire lyricism. Simultaneously cathartic and energetic, you could imagine “Your Underground” pulsing from the depths of a grungey basement rave.
On the track, Monokino shares: “‘Your Underground’ goes a bit further in the sense that now an entire (music) scene is trying to proclaim what is right or wrong. Although the industry is seen by some as more democratic (‘everyone can be an artist, just upload a song, create your own scene’), that scene is valued by a system that is very similar to how everything used to be: new music is promoted and liked through the lens of a Spotify playlist and its streams measure its importance.”
On the production behind the track, he adds: “Your Underground’s music was first written as a classical piece for an orchestra, but once I finished the lyrics it quickly became an electronic rock song. The song was finalized when I got in touch with producer J. Laser / Jordan Lawlor – formerly a bass player for M83 and he provided the song with acoustic bass (replacing the synth bass). His help with the production of the song was very valuable because I immediately realized that he, just like me, wants to continue the tradition of songwriting, but is not afraid of weird musical ideas even if it ends up as less a pop-song than it used to be.”
