d'monk: shine
Francisco Espregueira
Released last friday via Touching Bass, Shine is the debut EP from the talented London-based multi-instrumentalist, producer and selector D'Monk (pronounced ‘duhmunk’) - blending with ease warm-n-fuzzy electro textures, London broken beat, beatdown, and the soulful dance rhythms of Detroit. Beyond the genres that he touches on the record, this is filled with musicality and impeccable sonic choices that make it one of the debuts of the year.
D'Monk and his crew have been fostering a community that values groove and soulful sounds over the more robotic beats often associated with the German capital. Through their ‘Shush’ party and upcoming label, they are creating a space for music lovers who appreciate a more organic and soulful approach to electronic music. Interesting stuff. His experience as a multi-instrumentalist and producer comes alive through in this beautiful six-tracker, also reflected in two live-instrumentations… live-n-direct from the show to this record. This facet was recognized by the Touching People folks (very tasteful people) when they joined in for a party in 2022 - which was precisely D’Monk’s first ever live showcase.
The full EP was built in the past few years, including collaborations with renowned musicians like Yoofee, Ziggy Zeitgeist, and JAB, adding further depth and richness to these tracks. Shine sees the light of the day and is another beautiful example of the total mixture of genres, approaches and tastes of our generation - available on vinyl. We’re impressed, once again. Watch out for D’Monk and watch out for Touching Bass’s releases. They are always cooking something.