By Angelo De Guzman
Japanese twin DJs Sachi and Chika have spent the past few years shaping MONOCHROME through melodic techno, progressive house and a cinematic approach to performance. On Sunday, 11 October, that vision reaches a new stage as the Tokyo-based duo make their Formula 1 debut at the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix.
MONOCHROME will play the Waterside stage in Zone 4 from 3.45pm to 4.45pm, arriving in Singapore amid a growing run of international bookings and their busiest stretch of new music yet. For anyone encountering the twins for the first time during race weekend, they already have a clear idea of how they want to introduce themselves.
“We’re so excited for the opportunity to be part of this beyond-world experience in such an amazing city, alongside so many talented artists. We plan to play some of our greatest hits, along with some upcoming music that we may be playing in public for the first time. We’ll also bring music that we think the crowd will really connect with and enjoy,” MONOCHROME shares with Angelo De Guzman for NYLON Singapore.
The Road To F1 Singapore
By 2024, MONOCHROME were translating their sound into a distinct identity across records and live performances. Sachi and Chika released early originals including Rumble and Distraction, while filmed sets against cinematic landscapes established a visual language around their melodic sound. Their synchronised presence behind the decks soon became part of it too.
Their bookings soon widened beyond Japan. MONOCHROME appeared at Ultra Hong Kong before playing Ultra Japan’s Resistance stage the following day, joining a programme that also featured Massano, Miss Monique and Hot Since 82. They later supported Argy at ZEROTOKYO, while Untold, Zamna and Sunburn added further festival appearances to their schedule.
Those experiences have given Sachi and Chika different spaces and crowds to work with, something they now carry into Singapore.
“We’ve been lucky to play some massive stages around the world, and this will be our first time playing at F1. We’ve played in Singapore before, but F1 Singapore gives us a unique opportunity to design our set around the experience and bring the kind of individual charm we try to give every show.”
Their 2026 releases have also pushed MONOCHROME in several directions. Puzzles arrived through Fankee in March, reinforcing their melodic techno foundations, while June’s TOCO TOCO brought Japanese musical elements together with Latin melodic house and Japanese and Spanish vocals.
Their next release, Monk, lands through Fankee on 2 October, nine days before they step onto the Waterside stage. Its timing makes F1 Singapore one of the first opportunities to bring their latest studio work into a live setting.
“We’ve recorded a lot of new music over the past year, so we’re excited to tease some of it to our F1 fans. We also have special edits and remixes that we can’t wait to play. Our new track will be out the week before the show, so we’re really excited to bring that into our set too.”
Building An Hour For F1
Waterside brings its own character to the performance. Set among Zone 4’s black-and-white colonial bungalows, the stage forms part of an entertainment programme spread across 10 stages and themed precincts throughout the Circuit Park. The physical setting has become another consideration in how Sachi and Chika are constructing their set.
“This stage feels completely different from a club or festival show. F1 is its own world, and being chosen to be part of it is such an honour. We considered the stage design when building our set and created what we think will be a unique and exciting hour.”
The Grand Prix also places MONOCHROME in front of a crowd shaped by the wider race weekend. It is something DJ Snake also considered while preparing for his return to Singapore, testing different combinations for an audience moving between the race and live music. For Sachi and Chika, that mix opens their selection to their own tracks alongside records from producers they respect.
“Music is universal, as everyone always says, and right now we’re in a very electronic phase. We’re so happy that people can enjoy what we play and create. From our own tracks to records by producers we really respect, we’re excited to bring all of that into our set.”
Leaving Their Mark
Asked what they hope people carry with them after the set, Sachi and Chika bring the conversation back to their original music.
“There’s so much happening during F1, and we really appreciate that. Of course, we hope our original tracks leave a lasting impression to our fans and everyone who sees us at F1 Singapore. We’re so happy to be part of it, and we can’t wait for show day. Come check us out.”
For Sachi and Chika, the songs remain at the centre of MONOCHROME. Their time on stage may be limited to an hour, but what people take away from it can last much longer. Come Sunday, they will find out what stays.
MONOCHROME will perform at the Waterside stage in Zone 4 at the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, 11 October 2026, from 3.45pm to 4.45pm.
