Ramsey Elkholy is a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and anthropologist who founded Monotronic in 2016 as an evolving indietronica collective. Rather than structuring the project as a traditional band with fixed roles and rigid hierarchy, He envisioned Monotronic as a shared creative organism. In his view, instruments should blend and flow together as a single source of sound, guided by a communal spirit that values unity over individual dominance.
Every collaborator within Monotronic is encouraged to bring forward original ideas, tonal textures, and personality. Elkholy fosters an environment where experimentation and dialogue shape the outcome. This approach results in music that feels immersive and layered, where melodies, synths, guitars, and rhythms intertwine naturally. The collective identity becomes more powerful than any single contributor, reinforcing his belief that creativity thrives in collaboration.
Elkholy’s parallel career in anthropology deeply informs his artistic worldview. He earned a PhD in Anthropology and authored Being and Becoming: Embodiment and Experience Among the Orang Rimba of Sumatra. His research focused on how tropical foragers in Indonesia understand identity, environment, and lived experience within the rainforest.
Spending two years conducting fieldwork among the Orang Rimba exposed him to a profoundly different sonic environment. Each evening, the rainforest came alive with layered rhythms of insects, wind, animals, and distant movement. Elkholy has described the forest at night as an intricate orchestra of polyrhythms, constantly shifting yet cohesive. That immersion sharpened his awareness of rhythm as something organic and collective rather than mechanical.
The influence of anthropology is not literal in his music, but philosophical. His songs often reflect themes of transformation, perception, and connection. The patience required in fieldwork parallels his process in the studio, where listening carefully to collaborators and atmosphere is essential.
Before settling into his current base in Los Angeles, Ramsey Elkholy Monotronic spent three years backpacking around the world. His travels throughout Asia and Southeast Asia expanded his understanding of culture and sound. In Calcutta, he studied Indian music, gaining insight into rhythmic cycles and tonal nuance that differ significantly from Western pop structures.
These global encounters broadened his compositional palette. Rather than adopting surface elements, Elkholy absorbed the deeper sensibilities of the music he encountered. Subtle rhythmic layering and atmospheric depth became part of Monotronic’s sonic vocabulary. His global perspective continues to inform the collective’s fusion of indie rock, pop, and electronic textures.
Originally from New York City, Elkholy now works out of a home studio he built in his Los Angeles garage. The space functions as a creative workshop where writing, recording, and production converge. It reflects his independent approach and hands-on involvement throughout the process.
In January 2026, Monotronic released Waiting for You, an album that further defines Elkholy’s expansive vision. The project was accompanied by music videos for “Looking Away,” “Everything Moves,” “Sun Song,” “Photograph,” and “Kettle Song,” with three debuting at number one on VEVO.
The album features bassist Mohini Dey on “Close Enough” and legendary drummer Omar Hakim, recognized for his work with Daft Punk and David Bowie. Hakim’s dynamic drumming shapes the record’s rhythmic backbone, adding depth and drive throughout.
The visual storytelling surrounding the album reflects its imaginative scope. “Everything Moves” unfolds inside a Los Angeles escape room, matching the song’s urgency with kinetic imagery. “Kettle Song” introduces unexpected elements, including K-pop dancers, Samurai warriors, and an oversized kettle drum that also appeared in a recent Godzilla film. These visuals amplify the album’s cinematic ambition.
Many of the songs were written by Elkholy while spending time in Tulum, Mexico. The coastal setting provided solitude and clarity, allowing reflective lyrics to emerge. Critics have praised the album’s cohesive tone, polished synth-driven production, and genre-blending character.
Monotronic’s self-titled debut album in 2019 marked the beginning of widespread recognition. The release earned praise from outlets including Rolling Stone, Relix, Rock Cellar, and Hype Magazine. Over time, the collective attracted musicians who have worked with Daft Punk, Joe Jackson, Chic, Robert Randolph, The Spin Doctors, and Dweezil Zappa.
Live performances have played a central role in building momentum. Monotronic has appeared at major New York venues and festivals, including Disc Jam, Meeting of the Minds, and MUSEXPO. In the fall of 2025, the band completed a sold-out United States tour with stops in Denver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and two cities in Texas.
After the debut album, Monotronic continued releasing singles that expanded their reach. “Kids of Summer” and “Buy Yourself a Dream” both premiered at number one on VEVO. Additional releases such as “Just Another Day,” “Livin’ in a Lie,” and “In Between,” featuring Russel Graham on vocals, further established the band’s presence.
Originally released during the pandemic, “Kids of Summer” was later reimagined with Omar Hakim. The music video captures New York City’s vibrant outdoor culture, filmed across Manhattan with skateboarders, breakdancers, and psychedelic visuals. Elkholy’s dog Snookie even makes an appearance riding a skateboard. The track debuted at number one on VEVO’s Incoming Indie playlist.
The 2024 EP Looking Away drew strong reviews, with critics highlighting its blend of indie, electronic, and world influences. Rolling Stone described the title track as having festival potential, while other publications praised the band’s reinterpretation of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” Two tracks from that EP later appeared on Waiting for You, linking past releases with the collective’s present direction.
Through academic insight, global exploration, and collaborative creativity, Ramsey Elkholy continues to shape Monotronic as a project grounded in unity, curiosity, and evolving artistic expression.
Portfolio: https://ramsey-elkholy.com/
Visit Monotronic Band's X Profile Here: https://x.com/monotronicband
Inside Monotronic's Tribal Approach to Collaborative Songwriting with Ramsey Elkholy
Ramsey Elkholy on Writing an Album Across Borders
Ramsey Elkholy on how genre-defying soundscapes navigate today’s oversaturated streaming market
Ramsey Elholy’s Monotronic ‘Waiting for You’ Lands Big for This NYC Transplant
Ramsey Elkholy and Monotronic Build a Living Soundscape on “Waiting for You”
Fifteen Questions Interview with Monotronic
Being and Becoming: Embodiment and Experience among the Orang Rimba of Sumatra
Charities/Philanthropy:
World Wildlife Fund for Nature: Consulted with WWF and the World Bank to create a buffer zone during the creation of Taman National Bukit Tiga Puluh in Sumatra, Indonesia
Publications:
Being and Becoming: Embodiment and Experience among the Orang Rimba of Sumatra