LOS ANGELES, CA, Jun 06, 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — In an era dominated by algorithms, short attention spans, and playlist-driven listening habits, Ramsey Elkholy is taking a different creative approach. As the founder, producer, and songwriter behind the indietronica collective Monotronic, Elkholy believes music should feel immersive, emotionally connected, and intentionally sequenced, more like a journey than a collection of disconnected tracks. That philosophy sits at the center of Monotronic’s latest album, Waiting for You, a record designed to unfold gradually and pull listeners into its evolving sonic world.

For Ramsey Elkholy, the album format still holds creative power. While streaming culture often encourages audiences to consume songs individually, he continues to view records as complete artistic statements where pacing, atmosphere, and emotional progression matter just as much as individual singles. Rather than building songs solely for immediate impact, Elkholy focuses on how each track contributes to the larger experience of the album as a whole.

“I’ve always been interested in music that takes you somewhere,” Elkholy explains. “Not just one song that grabs your attention for thirty seconds, but an entire record that changes and develops as you move through it. I think there’s something powerful about creating a listening experience where the songs interact with each other emotionally and sonically.”

That perspective heavily influenced the structure of Waiting for You. Across eleven tracks, Ramsey Elkholy and Monotronic move fluidly between indie rock, pop, indietronica, and globally inspired textures, allowing the album to shift naturally between moments of intensity, reflection, movement, and restraint. Songs like “Looking Away” establish a cinematic and emotionally layered atmosphere early in the record, while tracks such as “Everything Moves” introduce brighter rhythmic energy and momentum. Elsewhere, “Sun Song” slows the pace with a more nostalgic and introspective tone, giving the album room to breathe before evolving again.

Instead of forcing stylistic consistency, Ramsey Elkholy embraced contrast throughout the writing process. The result is a record where seemingly opposing sounds coexist without feeling disconnected. Synth-heavy production blends with organic instrumentation, while acoustic passages and atmospheric electronics move together organically. This dynamic approach reflects Elkholy’s belief that albums should evolve emotionally in the same way real experiences do.

“At first, I actually worried the songs were too different from one another,” Elkholy says. “But eventually I realized the contrast was part of the point. Life doesn’t move in one emotional direction all the time, and I wanted the album to reflect that.”

That sense of movement is also shaped by Elkholy’s global perspective. Before forming Monotronic in New York City in 2016, he spent years traveling across Asia and Southeast Asia, studying Indian music in Calcutta and conducting anthropological research in Sumatra, Indonesia. Those experiences continue to influence how he thinks about rhythm, repetition, atmosphere, and musical storytelling. Rather than approaching songs as isolated products, he sees them as environments listeners can step inside and experience over time.

Now based in Los Angeles, Ramsey Elkholy continues to write and produce music from his home studio, where much of Waiting for You was developed. Several songs were written while spending time in Tulum, Mexico, an environment that influenced the album’s pacing and reflective tone. This connection to place and atmosphere remains central to Elkholy’s creative process, helping shape music that feels immersive rather than formulaic.

Collaboration also plays an important role in Monotronic’s identity. Rather than functioning as a traditional fixed band, the project operates as an evolving collective where musicians contribute to a shared sonic vision. On Waiting for You, that includes contributions from acclaimed bassist Mohini Dey and legendary drummer Omar Hakim, whose work with artists such as Daft Punk, David Bowie, and Foo Fighters adds further depth and texture to the album’s sound.

Visual storytelling extends this immersive philosophy even further. Music videos for tracks like “Kettle Song” and “Everything Moves” expand on the atmosphere of the songs through cinematic imagery and stylized concepts. Several Monotronic videos have premiered at #1 on VEVO, reinforcing the project’s reputation for combining music and visuals into a unified artistic experience.

Since the release of Monotronic’s self-titled debut album in 2019, Ramsey Elkholy has continued to build momentum through critically recognized releases, national touring, and a growing audience drawn to the project’s genre-fluid sound. Publications including Rolling Stone, Relix, Rock Cellar, and Hype Magazine have highlighted Monotronic’s unique approach to songwriting and production, while the band’s sold-out 2025 U.S. tour demonstrated its ability to translate layered studio recordings into compelling live performances.

For Elkholy, however, the goal remains less about chasing trends and more about creating lasting emotional connection. In a music landscape increasingly shaped by fragmented listening habits, he believes there is still value in records that ask listeners to slow down, stay present, and experience music as a complete narrative.

“I still love albums that feel transportive,” Elkholy says. “The kind of records where you remember how they made you feel from beginning to end. That’s always been the experience I want to create with Monotronic.”

With Waiting for You, Ramsey Elkholy continues to push beyond conventional genre boundaries while reaffirming the importance of immersive, intentional album-making. Rather than creating music designed simply to fill playlists, he is building records meant to be lived in, explored, and revisited over time.

To learn more visit: https://ramsey-elkholy.com/

China, 6th Jun 2026 – From June 3 to 5, Money20/20 Europe, a major global fintech event, was held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. As a representative company in China’s digital payments sector, Lianlian DigiTechwas invited to appear at the Zhejiang Pavilion and deliver an on-site presentation, becoming one of the featured payment companies at the event. This showcased the innovation strength and industry influence of Chinese fintech companies in global development.

As a leading AI-driven digital payment service provider in China, Lianlian DigiTech, guided by its “AI-native + globalization” strategy, engaged in in-depth exchanges with global industry partners on topics including cross-border payment technology innovation, global payment network collaboration, and ecosystem co-building. The company also focused on exploring the innovative applications of AI technology in payment efficiency optimization, intelligent risk control, and cross-border business scenarios. Leveraging the deep integration of digital payments and intelligent technologies, Lianlian DigiTech is accelerating the construction of new global intelligent financial infrastructure, helping enterprises achieve more efficient and intelligent global fund connectivity.

According to available information, Lianlian DigiTech was founded in 2009 and was listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2024 (2598.HK). It is a leading cross-border payment service provider in China. Backed by 68 global payment licenses and related qualifications, Lianlian has established a cross-border payment network covering more than 100 countries and regions worldwide, serving over 10.4 million customers globally.

Europe is a key pillar of Lianlian’s global expansion strategy. In recent years, Lianlian has continued to strengthen its localized capabilities in Europe, establishing local operations teams and obtaining the necessary licenses, including an Authorized Payment Institution (API) license in the United Kingdom and an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license in Luxembourg.

Of particular significance is the EMI license granted by the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), which extends service coverage across the European Economic Area (EEA), encompassing 27 EU member states as well as Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. This further unlocks one-stop payment capabilities across the region.

The license supports electronic money issuance, cross-border payments, fund settlement, and multi-currency operations. It also provides a solid foundation for Lianlian to connect markets across Europe under a unified service standard and to serve cross-border e-commerce and international trade businesses throughout the region.

Building on its continuously strengthening compliance capabilities, Lianlian DigiTech is further accelerating the expansion of its business network across Europe. Leveraging its licensing framework, technological capabilities, and partner network, LianLian Europe is committed to providing local customers with efficient, secure, and compliant cross-border payment and fintech services, helping merchants and businesses expand globally with greater speed and confidence.

Currently, Lianlian has established official partnerships with multiple European cross-border e-commerce platforms and continues to enhance its local collection and payment service capabilities across the region. Taking TikTok Shop Europe local stores as an example, Lianlian has fully launched its EUR collection service, supporting unified euro account collections for sellers in Spain, Germany, Italy, France, and Ireland. This provides cross-border merchants with a more convenient, efficient, and cost-effective collection experience.

Through its long-term global expansion efforts, Lianlian has gradually established compliance capabilities as its core foundational strength. Building on this foundation, the company continues to integrate AI capabilities, driving its evolution from a payment service provider to an AI-native financial infrastructure provider. By doing so, Lianlian delivers efficient, secure, and compliant fund solutions to support businesses in their global growth.

Lianlian DigiTech stated that its participation in Money20/20 Europe represents an important opportunity to deepen local connections in Europe and engage with global industry resources. Leveraging the summit platform, Lianlian will further strengthen collaboration channels with European and global technology innovators and industry partners, while fostering industry dialogue on the future of cross-border payment services in the AI era.

Looking ahead, Lianlian will continue to advance its “AI-native + globalization” strategy, further enhancing its localized, intelligent, and compliance-driven fintech service capabilities. The company remains committed to helping more cross-border businesses build efficient global fund connectivity, supporting enterprises as they deepen their presence in the European market and expand their global growth opportunities, while working alongside partners worldwide to drive the next stage of digital transformation in global cross-border trade.

Media Contact

Organization: LianLian

Contact Person: LianLian PR Department

Website: https://www.lianlian.com/

Email: Send Email

Country:China

Release id:45789

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Florida, USA, Jun 06, 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — Former football athlete Therrian Fontenot is speaking out about the importance of discipline, mentorship and structured environments for young people, drawing from his own journey from Louisiana to Los Angeles and eventually to collegiate and professional football.

Fontenot, who earned a full scholarship to Fresno State after standing out at Leuzinger High School in Los Angeles, says organised sports helped shape his mindset and gave him direction during critical years of his life.

“Football gave me structure early,” Fontenot says. “It taught me accountability, consistency and how to stay focused on long-term goals.”

His message comes as youth participation in organised sports continues to decline across the United States. According to data from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative, fewer than 40 per cent of children between ages 6 and 12 regularly participate in team sports. Research has also shown that structured extracurricular activities can improve academic performance, social development and long-term confidence in young people.

Fontenot believes those lessons extend far beyond athletics.

“Sports teach you how to work with people, how to deal with pressure and how to stay disciplined even when things get difficult,” he says. “Those are life skills, not just football skills.”

After attending Fresno State, Fontenot left college early to pursue a professional football career. Although his time playing professionally was relatively short, he says the experience reinforced the importance of preparation and resilience.

“At that level, everybody has talent,” Fontenot explains. “The difference comes from mindset, discipline and preparation.”

Today, Fontenot continues to focus on fitness, weight training and personal development while building Help2Others, an early-stage charitable initiative centred on encouragement, growth and community support.

“I want to create something positive that helps people stay motivated,” he says. “A lot of people just need direction and support.”

According to the National Alliance for Youth Sports, around 70 per cent of children stop playing organised sports by age 13, often due to pressure, burnout or lack of access. Fontenot believes communities can help change that by creating more supportive environments for young people.

“Not everybody grows up with strong structure around them,” he says. “Sometimes having the right coach, mentor or environment can completely change somebody’s path.”

Fontenot is encouraging individuals and families to focus on practical ways to support discipline and personal growth in everyday life, including:

• Encouraging consistent routines and healthy habits

• Supporting local youth sports and mentorship programmes

• Promoting teamwork, accountability and resilience

• Staying physically active and mentally focused

• Leading by example through actions and consistency

“You don’t have to do something huge to make a difference,” Fontenot says. “Sometimes it starts with simply showing up, staying disciplined and helping somebody stay encouraged.”

As he continues building the next chapter of his life, Fontenot says the lessons from football still guide him every day.

“The biggest thing I learned is that growth takes work,” he says. “You keep showing up, keep improving and keep moving forward.”

To read the full interview, visit the website here.

About Therrian Fontenot

Therrian Fontenot is a former football athlete born in Louisiana and raised in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Leuzinger High School in 2000 before earning a full football scholarship to Fresno State and later pursuing a professional football career. Today, he focuses on fitness, personal development and building his charitable initiative, Help2Others, centred on encouragement, discipline and community support.