In a genre often defined by excess, Close To Monday are carving a different path. Their new single “Pray” doesn’t aim for the main stage or the playlist algorithm. Instead, it lingers in the quiet spaces, offering a brooding and cinematic take on electronic music that feels both deeply personal and refreshingly unhurried.
The duo’s sound design is central to this shift. Alexander leans into analogue-styled synths that throb with an almost organic pulse, while the percussion keeps time like a slow heartbeat. The sparseness isn’t an absence—it’s an invitation to listen closely. Each element emerges with precision, and over repeated plays, new textures reveal themselves like secrets tucked into the mix.
Ann’s vocals make those secrets worth seeking. Her delivery is hushed, almost conspiratorial, as though the listener has stumbled into her private thoughts. The repetition in her phrasing becomes a hypnotic loop, blurring the line between pop structure and ritual chant. It’s the kind of performance that sneaks under the skin rather than demanding attention.
What’s most striking is the song’s refusal to conform to typical electronic tropes. There’s no towering hook, no euphoric release. Instead, “Pray” lives in tension, a track that asks its audience to embrace uncertainty. In doing so, it captures something rarely expressed in dance music: the resilience it takes to keep going without all the answers.
This ethos sets Close To Monday apart in today’s scene. At a time when many electronic acts chase immediacy, “Pray” dares to linger, to breathe, to unfold at its own pace. It’s less a single than a mood—a piece of music meant for late-night reflections rather than peak-hour revelry.
With “Pray,” Close To Monday solidify themselves as outliers worth watching. They’re not interested in fleeting trends; they’re interested in permanence, in crafting songs that feel lived-in. If the future of electronic music lies in intimacy rather than spectacle, this duo are already charting the course.
