Monolink live for Cercle & W Hotels
at Gaatafushi Island, Maldives
Trust-fund hippies 'finding themselves' in the Maldives while swigging twenty-quid cocktails is the exact energy we're dealing with here. Digging into the Monolink Gaatafushi Island tracklist, this Monolink live set is a haven for the barefoot brigade who think a Rominimal beat and an acoustic guitar is the peak of human consciousness. Yet, isolated on a pristine white sandbank surrounded by turquoise water, the vibe is undeniably stunning, bathed in a perfect tropical sunset. Technically, Monolink delivers a deeply hypnotic performance, cruising at a steady 119.7 BPM.
Relying heavily on the 12A and 9A key progressions, his live looping and mixing style create a slow-burning energy arc, smoothly layering haunting vocals over chugging basslines. Any crate digger will respect the curation. While it's heavily focused on his own massive catalog, dropping a deep remix of 'Dua Lipa - New Rules' alongside South African cuts like 'Scotts Maphuma - AMAPHUTHA' proves his ear for a groove. The set's journey is a beautiful, sun-drenched trip.
Easing the beachgoers in with the opening track 'Tony Tinokerta - Otherside', he builds towards euphoric, singalong moments with 'Monolink - Father Ocean', before gently bringing the tempo down with the stunning, melancholic closing track 'Monolink - Falling'. A properly sorted island escape.