NYC-based indie collective Monotronic has released a new single titled “Kids of Summer.” Accompanying this new single is a music video filmed throughout Manhattan in 2020.
Guitarist Ramsey Elkholy founded the enigmatic group Monotronic in 2016. Rather than a consistent band, Monotronic acts as a collective of boundary-breaking artists. It features a rotating cast of musicians, including collaborators of Dweezil Zappa, the Spin Doctors, and more.
Elkoly sits at the creative helm of Monotronic’s musical stylings. Holding a doctorate in Anthropology, he draws influences from the world’s diverse musical stylings. With Monotronic, Elkholy has imbued electronic indie, with influences from Indian classical and traditional Indonesian music, among others.
Since their start, the band has made a name for themselves through their indie singles. On tracks like “Sun Song” and “Buy Yourself a Dream,” they have built a dreamy brand of catchy indie pop. Off the back of singles like these, Monotronic has played venues across NYC and the East Coast. On top of individual shows, they have also appeared at festivals like Disc Jam and Meeting of the Minds.
Now, Monotronic has released a reworked version of their 2020 single “Kids of Summer.” The single was originally released in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time of its release, “Kids of Summer” premiered at #1 on VEVO’s Incoming Indie playlist.
The track’s lyrics discuss the limitless freedom of youth, and the courage needed to approach it. Matching these lyrics are dreamy warbling synths that drive the song forward. As the song progresses, booming drums, distorted synths, and backing vocals all join the fray. The end result is an anthemic indie pop jam for the summer.
Now four years after its original release, Monotronic has re-released an updated version of the song. Featured on this new recording is Grammy-nominated drummer Omar Hakim. Prior to his work with Monotronic, Hakim has worked with legends in practically every genre. David Bowie, Daft Punk, and Miles Davis are only a few of his past collaborators.
Monotronic has also released a music video to accompany this new release. The “Kids of Summer” music video is a love letter to New York City Summers. Filmed with a go-pro in Manhattan’s streets and parks, the video captures the liveliness of the city’s outdoors. The video features skateboarders and breakdancers backed by Manhattan cityscapes and psychedelic backgrounds. Through this video, Monotronic manages to capture both the energy of Manhattan and “Kids of Summer.”
This single releases in the leadup to Monotronic’s sophomore record Waiting For You. This album is the band’s first full length release since their self-titled debut in 2019. The record will feature “Kids of Summer” and “Sun Song” among other songs. Monotronic currently plans to release the album in early 2025. For more information on “Kids of Summer” and Waiting For You, visit Monotronic’s website here.
Comments are closed.