Monolink – The Beauty Of It All

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Most of the music I listen to is electronic in nature – created from a combination of samples from other songs plus and beeps and boops created on a synth or computer and often backed by a steady but frenetic percussive rhythm. Like the run-on sentence I just used to describe it, this is not a style for everybody.

Andrew refers to most of the musical choices as “Stressno” – or “Stressful Techno”. The songs I put on at the shop frequently agitate him and make it difficult for him to think straight. I take pride in my musical selections annoying Andrew, though that is just a fun byproduct. For me, they put me in my happy place, calm me down, and put me in a groove.

Electronic music cannot be pigeon-hold into one style or type. There are sub-genres that even I find to be solely hyperactive noise. There are also styles that lean so far into pure, airy ambience that I have difficulty finding the point to them. Monolink straddles the fence between these sub-genres and a few others, making tracks that feel both organic and melodic while still providing the backing beat that many expect from techno and trance music.

Monolink is Steffen Link – a German performer who creates his own tracks and provides his own vocals (something not so often seen or heard in electronic music). Style wise, I would say he is something akin to an electronic version of Beck(Another artist with a penchant for Panama style hats), or a less minimalist pop version of Ed Sheeran. I also see Monolink as similar to Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp, with less of a reliance on guest vocalists. I fully admit that neither comparison does any of these artists’ justice – and I include Monolink in this.

You should probably listen to Monolink’s 2025 album – titled The Beauty Of It All – and find out what his music is like for yourself.

What I enjoy about this album is its combination of laid-back, mellow and melodic tracks that match well with Monolink’s style of low-key, subdued vocal style. The way the most tracks are mixed to flow into each other makes the entire album great for straight play-throughs.

After you listen to the album, give some of Monolink’s live performances a view on YouTube. The combination of backing tracks and loops, plus live guitar or piano along with the vocals, make for an enticing combination.

Cheers,
Evan

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Bonus Link: Monolink live at Cercle Odyssey, Paris, France 2025