M0n0 Jay on L.L.L. (ATH Remix): Candy Gym When Lights Go Dark
Punk Head: You describe this as “Candy Gym after hours.” What actually changes when the lights go out?
m0n0 jay: When the lights go out, the bright neon gloss disappears, and you are left with pure physical friction. The original track was high-camp, 128 BPM pop, sweaty but colorful. The after-hours version accelerates past 135 BPM and relies entirely on audio brutalism. We stripped away the bouncy layers and leaned into heavy, menacing warehouse basslines and acoustic foley, like the literal sound of a 45cm giant lollipop being crushed over an iron barbell. It’s the same gym, but it's 3:00 AM, the doors are locked, and it’s just you and the iron.
Punk Head: This remix ditches pop structure almost entirely. Was that freeing or slightly terrifying?
m0n0 jay: It was incredibly freeing. I gave French producer ATH a very ruthless creative brief and specifically told him to treat my vocal stems like a sample library. I wanted him to completely disregard the original pop arrangement. As a self-funded independent artist, I don't have to answer to major label executives who demand a radio chorus every 45 seconds. Handing over the stems and saying "chop this up and make it dangerous" allowed us to build a hypnotic, driving groove that serves the club, not the algorithm. He was so inspired, we had a first version within 24 hrs. I then had to ask him to make it 20 % darker!
Punk Head: There’s a clear rejection of transformation narratives in your writing. No before and after, no glow-up arc. How does that philosophy shape the way you build a track, especially one that’s so repetitive and endurance-based like this?
m0n0 jay: The fitness and entertainment industries are obsessed with the "after" photo. I reject that completely because strength is a lifelong, continuous process. You don't wait until some mythical finish line to celebrate your body. Musically, this translates into repetition and endurance. There is no traditional "climactic pop resolution" or glow-up in this track; it’s a relentless, pounding loop. It forces you to stay entirely in the present moment, embracing the sweat, the heavy breathing, and the friction of exactly where you are right now.
Punk Head: The decision to let ATH isolate your soprano and place it in a much harsher environment creates a really stark contrast. What did you discover about your own voice when you heard it stripped of its original pop context?
m0n0 jay: I had one strict rule for this remix: no pitching my vocals down into a generic, deep club "growl." I wanted my natural, high tone to stay completely intact. Hearing it isolated over that abrasive, heavy techno bassline was a revelation. I discovered that a clean, high-frequency vocal doesn't get swallowed by industrial darkness—it actually cuts through it like glass. The sheer violence of that contrast makes the vocal sound infinitely more commanding and slightly unhinged than it ever did in a traditional pop setting. Recorded on Austrian OC818, and girl, you can hear it!
Punk Head: Why was it important for this to land on SoundCloud first instead of going straight to streaming platforms?
m0n0 jay: Pop music lives on streaming platforms, but true club culture breathes on SoundCloud. This is an Extended Club Mix, designed specifically as a tool for underground DJs to beat-match into their live warehouse sets. I wanted to drop it behind the velvet rope first, giving tastemakers, DJs, and the electronic community a chance to actually play it in dark basements and let it earn its credibility on the dancefloor. I was totally blown away by the reactions and traction! Also I really appreciate that SoundClound is not anonymous - I can have a direct dialogue with my fans and hear what works for them.
A big bonus learning? TikTok live DJ sets actually are such an amazing community. I made so many direct connections through finding amazing curators and showing up every day. Everything from song reviews, through industry advice, audio engineering feedback, to even an honest prayer when I needed it the most.