Following a huge reaction over the past few months, Monki’s first solo record since 2021 Feels Darker (Feel It) feat. lau.ra lands huge appeal via her own &Friends label, marking a stellar return for the revered producer as it continues to grow.
The release has been heavily championed over the past few months by BBC Radio 1’s Danny Howard, Arielle Free, Jeremiah Asiamah’s Soundsystem Party, Clara Amfo, Jaguar, Katie Thisleton, Pete Tong, Fatboy Slim, Dusky, Effy, Shanti Celeste, DJ EZ, Elkka, Patrick Topping, Charlie Boon, Barry Can’t Swim, Phantoms, and many others.
Leading a life centred around her passions, Monki is an established DJ-producer, label head, broadcaster, and football ambassador who’s made a permanent mark on both the music and sports industry for over a decade. Initially launching her career at Rinse FM, Monki soon made history joining BBC Radio 1 as the first East Asian female presenter on the station. Following six years at the BBC, she hosted her fortnightly Defected radio show that received millions of downloads worldwide, and became a signature mainstay of the brand to this day.
After earning tastemaker recognition releasing on imprints like Universal Music, Pets Recordings, Hot Creations, Nervous Records, Sony Music, Toolroom, Jamie Jones’ Hottrax, and Defected, Monki launched her own label &Friends in 2018 to support emerging talent that is now home to releases from Melle Brown, Liam Doc, Little Fritter, Big Miz, DART, NANCY Live, Dalfie, David Jackson, Flaurese, as well as her own.
Meanwhile off the decks and on the pitch, Monki has juggled an equally successful football career alongside music. Whilst playing right wing for Dulwich Hamlet Women, Monki has also been on the ambassador team for both BT Sport alongside Peter Crouch to support the Women’s Super League in the UK, and to announce the Lionesses squad for the Women’s World Cup in France alongside the likes of David Beckham and Prince William. Continuing to add multiple strings to her bow, Monki has also curated INMOTION, a creative agency for women by women, who aim to expand the conversation around women’s sport.
“Feels Darker (Feel It)” takes the 90s summer of love rave sounds and brings it to 2023 that sits perfectly alongside Lau.ra’s angelic euphoric vocals. It’s a spectacular return to the scene for renaissance woman Monki.
