When We Dip: John Monkman 'Trace' on Kompakt Records

London based producer and Beesemyer Music founder John Monkman returns to the legendary Kompakt with ‘Trace’, a single that captures everything that makes his sound instantly recognisable. With years of dynamic live shows and a studio catalogue stretching across imprints such as Ellum, Anjunadeep, Last Night On Earth, Crosstown Rebels and his own Beesemyer Music, Monkman has earned a reputation as both a true live music pioneer and a meticulous sound designer.

‘Trace’ is built on the kind of immaculate precision that defines his output, blending crisp percussive detail with deep, yearning emotional weight. Melodic textures float over a propulsive low end, while every element sits exactly where it needs to be, designed for the kind of moment on a dancefloor where the room collectively leans in. It is melodic techno made with restraint and intent, a track aimed straight at discerning dancefloors that lingers long after the final loop fades out.

The release lands on Kompakt, the Cologne institution founded in 1993 by Wolfgang Voigt, Jürgen Paape, Reinhard Voigt, Jörg Burger and Michael Mayer. Over three decades, the label has shaped the global conversation around minimal, melodic and ambient electronic music, and it continues to serve as a home for forward thinking artists pushing the genre into new territory. Adding ‘Trace’ to that catalogue feels like a natural fit, extending Monkman’s long standing relationship with the label that previously hosted his celebrated ‘Siren’ and his Pete Tong collaboration ‘PHØENIX’.

For Monkman, this single is another step in a creative arc that keeps moving forward. The future has begun. Again.

You can now listen to the full premiere of ‘Trace’ exclusively on When We Dip. Enjoy!