Contributing WriterJohn Monkman returns with Signal, a focused, hardware-driven release landing on Australian label Vapour Records just ahead of his appearance at Rainbow Spirit Festival on March 7.
Rather than existing as a standalone drop, Signal arrives as part of a wider arc leading into the festival performance, giving the track context within a live environment.
“This release is about connection. Not in a strategic sense, but in terms of feeling part of a scene rather than orbiting around it. There’s a lot of really strong music coming out of Australia right now, especially in the underground, and this felt like the right moment to place something there.”
Built around the Moog Voyager, Signal centres on raw analogue tone and sync-driven textures. Monkman pushed the instrument to its limits, looping the output back into itself to generate distortion directly from the hardware rather than relying on plug-ins.
“The core sounds come from the Moog Voyager, mainly using sync. I wanted to get the purest possible tone from the synth before doing anything else.”
The track was shaped from multiple takes rather than a fixed arrangement. Moments were captured, refined, and structured around tension and weight rather than instant payoff.
“Signal is tough, but it’s also deep. It’s not designed to deliver everything instantly. I spent a lot of time on the ending because I wanted people to stay with it rather than mix straight out.”
Artist: John Monkman
Title: Signal
Record Label: Vapour Records
Release Date: 27th February 2026
Tracklist:
1) Signal
