Ramsey Elkholy

Ramsey Elkholy is a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and anthropologist who formed Monotronic in 2016 as a collaborative indietronica collective. He conceived the project as a shared sonic landscape in which instruments fuse into a single, evolving current. Built on a communal philosophy, Monotronic emphasizes group chemistry rather than individual spotlight, encouraging each musician to contribute personality and texture in service of a unified sound.

Elkholy’s academic work deeply informs his artistry. He earned a PhD in Anthropology and authored Being and Becoming: Embodiment and Experience Among the Orang Rimba of Sumatra, which explores the lives of rainforest foragers in Indonesia. Extended fieldwork and travel throughout Asia and India broadened his creative perspective. Studying Indian music in Calcutta and living in Sumatra immersed him in intricate rhythmic systems and environmental acoustics.

Ramsey Elkholy Monotronic has described the nightly sounds of the rainforest as a vast, living orchestra filled with layered pulses and subtle shifts. That immersion in natural polyrhythm continues to influence his approach to arrangement and production. A native New Yorker now based in Los Angeles, Elkholy records from a home garage studio, blending indie rock songwriting with electronic textures and understated global tonalities.

Monotronic’s 2026 album Waiting for You captures the full scope of that vision. The record features bassist Mohini Dey on Close Enough and drummer Omar Hakim, whose credits include Daft Punk and David Bowie, performing throughout the album. Videos for Looking Away, Everything Moves, Sun Song, Photograph, and Kettle Song accompanied the release, with several reaching number one on VEVO playlists.

All material on the album was written by Elkholy, with many songs first sketched during time spent in Tulum, Mexico. Critics praised the album’s cinematic depth and genre-blending character, highlighting the reflective tone of Looking Away and the kinetic drive of Everything Moves. The combination of polished synth work, melodic hooks, and introspective lyrics defines the project’s evolving sound.

Since the 2019 self-titled debut, Monotronic has received attention from Rolling Stone, Relix, Rock Cellar, and Hype Magazine. The rotating collective has brought together musicians linked to Chic, Joe Jackson, Robert Randolph, The Spin Doctors, and Dweezil Zappa. In fall 2025, the band completed a sold-out US tour across major western cities and Texas, reinforcing its steady rise on national stages.