Nicky Romero is back in 2023 as his alter ego Monocule with “Only For The Night,” for which he teamed up with Protocol‘s Australian veteran Marcus Santoro and startup artist duo Higher Lane. The new track fits perfectly into Monocule‘s underground aesthetic, with ethereal female vocals opening into a steady build-up to a deep, groovy drop with a rolling bassline and progressive melodies. “Only For The Night” pairs nicely with tropical surroundings, strong cocktails, sexy strangers, and dark dance floors, so look out for it in Nicky Romero‘s and Protocol artists’ forthcoming festival, club sets, and on the radio airwaves. “Only For The Night” follows Monocule‘s “Stargazing” with Leo Stannard and is a strong first release of the new year.
Monocule
After taking the world by storm with early hits such as “Legacy” with Krewella and the #1 single “I Could Be The One” with Avicii, Nicky Romero quickly proved that his talent is ever-evolving and here to stay. After launching his Protocol Recordings imprint in 2012, the renowned performer, producer, and label head continued his personal successes with a string of high-profile releases, ranging from collaborations with Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, W&W, Timmy Trumpet and Steve Aoki to remixes for the likes of Robin Schulz, Kygo, Rita Ora, Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix, Jess Glynne and more. While showcasing his label’s roster via his weekly Protocol Radio show, Nicky Romero continues to innovate and evolve, and with his annual “Nicky Romero & Friends” ADE showcase and the launch of Monocule alter-ego, he keeps proving his ability to turn into gold everything he touches.
Marcus Santoro
Marcus Santoro joined Protocol Recordings in 2019 with his remix of Nicky Romero‘s “My Way,” followed by the first single release “Shine,” in collaboration with Sentinel. His career got a massive kickstart when his single “There Is Only You” topped the Beatport trance charts and received a phenomenal three plays in a row from Above & Beyond on their Group Therapy radio show – landing Marcus a guest appearance on the show a few weeks later. Afterward, his remix for Shapov & Trouze‘s “The Way” on Axtone gained traction from artists and fans alike, leading to more releases on Enhanced Recordings, Armada Music, and Flashover. Since then, on Protocol, Santoro has put out many successful releases, including “Out of My Head” together with Faderx, “Faces” and “Blackout” ft. Lauren L’aimant, “A New Day EP,” or “Salvation” with 88Birds.