Ramsey Elkholy (ramseyelkholy)
Ramsey Elkholy is a guitarist, producer, songwriter, and anthropologist who founded and fronts Monotronic, an indietronica collective established in 2016. He describes Monotronic as a collaborative project in which musicians contribute ideas, textures, and personality while putting the group above the individual. His approach to music emphasizes shared creativity and a unified sound.
Elkholy holds a PhD in Anthropology and wrote Being and Becoming: Embodiment and Experience Among the Orang Rimba of Sumatra. His academic work examines the lives of tropical foragers in Indonesia and their relationship with the rainforest environment.
Travel and cultural experiences across Asia, Southeast Asia, and India have shaped his musical perspective. He spent 3 years backpacking around the world, studied Indian music in Calcutta, and completed 2 years of anthropological research with the Orang Rimba tribe in Sumatra, Indonesia. A native New Yorker, he currently lives in Los Angeles, where he plays music and has converted his home garage into a recording studio.
Monotronic released its self-titled debut in 2019 and later continued with singles, EPs, music videos, and live performances. The group has performed at New York City venues and festivals, including Disc Jam, Meeting of the Minds, and MUSEXPO. In the fall of 2025, Monotronic completed a sold-out US tour through Denver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and two dates in Texas.
The group released its new album, Waiting for You, in January 2026. Ramsey wrote all the songs, many of them while spending time in Tulum, Mexico. The album features bassist Mohini Dey and drummer Omar Hakim. Ramsey created music videos for “Looking Away,” “Everything Moves,” “Sun Song,” “Photograph,” and “Kettle Song,” with three videos premiering at #1 on VEVO.
Outside his music, Ramsey Elkholy Monotronic continues to bring together his interests in anthropology, travel, culture, and collaborative creativity. His work with Monotronic reflects his belief that music can grow through shared contributions and varied influences.
