You won’t be able to mistake the American artist MonoNeon. It’s not just because of his bright neon outfit or his bass guitar decorated with neon tape or a sock on its head. First and foremost, he’s a damn good musician who was even invited to collaborate with Prince.
MonoNeon (born Dywane Thomas Jr.) was born in Memphis in 1990. He started playing bass at the age of four and by the time he was eleven he was playing with the legendary funky band The Bar-Kays. He spent a short time at Berklee College of Music, but then went his own way. His particular style comes from playing the reverse bass – as a right-handed player, he plays an instrument designed for left-handed players without reversing the strings. His music reflects the influences of Indian musicality and deliberately works with an element of chance – what would be a mistake for other musicians is just another unexpected step for MonoNeon.
He also worked with Judith Hill in Prince’s studios and has played with Mac Miller, Jamiroquai keyboardist Matt Johnson, electronic duo Knower and American rapper Nas. His solo discography, which includes around thirty titles, shows his more experimental side. MonoNeon draws on radio art and conceptual art, and is sometimes compared to avant-garde music legends such as John Cage.
