Ramsey Elkholy

Ramsey Elkholy is a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and anthropologist who founded the indietronica collective Monotronic in 2016. He describes the project as a space where instruments merge into a unified current, guided by a communal and tribal spirit that values the group over the individual. Each collaborator is encouraged to bring distinct textures and ideas, shaping music that feels organic, layered, and deeply collaborative rather than ego-driven. Elkholy holds a PhD in Anthropology and is the author of Being and Becoming: Embodiment and Experience Among the Orang Rimba of Sumatra, a study of tropical foragers in Indonesia and their relationship with the rainforest. His academic work reflects a sustained interest in embodiment, environment, and collective life. That same sensitivity to culture and shared experience informs his songwriting and production choices. Ramsey Elkholy Monotronic’s global outlook was shaped by three years of backpacking across Asia and beyond, formal study of Indian music in Calcutta, and two years of field research with the Orang Rimba in Sumatra. He often recalls falling asleep to the dense polyrhythms of the forest, describing it as a living orchestra. A native New Yorker now based in Los Angeles, he records in a home garage studio that serves as Monotronic’s creative hub. Monotronic’s latest album, Waiting for You, expands the project’s cinematic scope. The record features bassist Mohini Dey on Close Enough and legendary drummer Omar Hakim, known for work with Daft Punk and David Bowie, across the album. Several music videos, including Looking Away and Everything Moves, premiered at number one on VEVO, reinforcing the band’s growing visual and musical presence. The album blends indie rock, pop, and indietronica with reflective lyrics and polished, synth-driven arrangements. Everything Moves was filmed in a Los Angeles escape room with a high-energy aesthetic.