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Monoclick mixes Nightclubber 212
Zoltan Budai, aka Monoclick, is a name that resonates across the underground music scenes of Budapest and San Jose, California. With roots in Hungary and a home base now shared between Europe and the US, Monoclick has cultivated a unique sound, influenced by the cultural richness of Budapest and the diverse musical tapestry of California. A co-founder of Budapest’s iconic Fine Selection and Bedroom projects, Monoclick channels his passion for underground house and minimal beats into thoughtfully curated events and magnetic DJ sets. Balancing his roles as a performer and promoter, his enthusiasm for connecting with audiences and pushing creative boundaries fuels his dynamic career.
Zoltan recently mixed Nightclubber 212, and we caught up with him to chat about this and much more.
Hey Zoltan! Great to be chatting today. You're based between San Jose and Budapest—how has splitting your time between these two cities influenced your music and creative process?
Budapest has a lot to offer in terms of culture and music, which have greatly influenced me and shaped my taste. If you’ve never visited this city, I would highly recommend it! San Jose and California bring a different kind of diversity, which has introduced me to interesting new sounds and taught me a lot.
How did you end up splitting your life between Hungary and the US?
I’m originally from Hungary and moved to San Jose, California, in 2018 because of work. However, I still miss home, so I spend three months each year in Hungary—usually one month at a time. While I’m there, I make sure to stay in touch with family and friends, and, of course, I take the opportunity to play at parties.
How do the clubbing scenes in San Jose and Budapest compare? What are the biggest differences in energy, crowd, and vibe?
I live in San Jose, but there’s not much happening here in terms of nightlife. I typically play in San Francisco, which is only an hour’s drive away. The scene there is mixed but has a growing core of people who are passionate about underground house music. The energy and vibe are fantastic, and I see a lot of potential.
Budapest, on the other hand, has a higher energy level—people really go all in for a party. It’s hard to compare the two because they’re so different. For me, home will always hold a special place. Playing in Budapest for my friends is always a unique experience.
Can you share the story of how you first got introduced to electronic music? What drew you in?
One day, my brother bought a mixtape called Techno-House Classics of ’93-’96 by a local legend, DJ Budai. We played it on repeat for months—it was unlike anything we’d heard before. I was 14 at the time and decided to sneak out one night to attend a rave where DJ Budai was playing. That night changed my life. I instantly felt that the music and the atmosphere resonated with me. It was an unforgettable experience that set me on this path.
You’re a co-founder of the Bedroom and Fine Selection projects in Budapest. How did these come about, and how have they shaped your career and the local scene?
I started these projects with two of my best friends, Electric Boutique and Lepton. The Bedroom began around 15 years ago as a night party project, and Fine Selection followed about eight years ago, focusing on daytime events. Over time, our focus shifted to daytime parties, and Fine Selection has now become our primary project.
The events take place on the legendary A38 Boat Bow Terrace in Budapest, running from May to September every Thursday evening. The venue offers stunning views of the Danube River and the city skyline. We prioritise underground house and minimal music, featuring carefully selected local and international artists who create an intimate, immersive vibe. Fine Selection has been a labour of love and has earned us a respected position in the scene over the past eight years.
And what about your work in San Francisco?
In San Francisco, I co-founded a smaller project called Near Mint with two friends, Losann and Luka K, which focuses on showcasing local talent. I’m also part of the Black & White Sound project with my good friend James Houdini. This venture is on a larger scale and features international guests.
You’re also involved in Sunday Sessions LA. How did that connection start?
I first played at Sunday Sessions about two years ago, and it went really well. I became good friends with the founders, Arthur and Pasha, who have built a remarkable community in LA. Their parties have a unique energy, and it was the first place in California where I truly felt at home.
This year, I joined their record label, and one of my tracks, Látlak, was featured on their second VA record.
Reflecting on summer 2024, what gigs or moments stood out the most for you?
The Fine Selection Season Opening in May is always a highlight for me. I flew to Budapest to play a five-hour back-to-back set with my friend Electric Boutique.
In July, I performed at Sunday Sessions in LA, which has become an annual favourite. Another standout was being invited to the first Echoes Festival in August, held in the Sequoia National Forest in California. The experience was truly magical.
You've had the chance to share the stage with big names like Shonky, D’Julz, Hamish&Toby. How do collaborations with artists like then impact your performance and growth as a DJ?
I am really grateful that I had the opportunity to play with good names from the scene. They are all humble and down to earth people that I really appreciate and I think this is one of the key thing of their success. Some of them became a close friends of mine like Lee Burton and we talk every week. I love to see these artists playing and how focused they are. This makes me motivated. I think DJ-ing is infinite learning curve and that’s the beauty about it.
You've had many opportunities to play B2B with other artists—who are your favorite people to share the decks with, and what makes a good B2B partner?
My all time b2b partner is one of my best friend, my homie Electric Boutique in Budapest. We started to DJ together and founded the Bedroom and Fine Selection projects. We play b2b sets more than 15 years ago and we just naturally adjust to each other and create a great vibe.
The other great b2b partner of mine is James Houdini in San Francisco. We play a lot of b2b sets lately at the Black&White Sounds parties and we have a great balance.
Looking back on your career so far, is there a particular set that stands out to you as your favorite? What made it special?
About 12 years ago we played in a party at Subotica, Serbia. At the end of the party a huge fight started and we got frozen. The party stopped and the people continue to fight outside. The owner came up and gave us a big hug with a smile on his face and said: “a great Serbian party always ends with a good fight”, then he guided us to a taxi and he said it’s time to play on the after party that we didn’t even know about. We went to a small club that was packed and there was an amazing vibe until late morning. Than we walked out from the club and about 30 people were waiting for us at the taxi and give us hug one by one and thanks us for the night. We felt like rocks stars that night. I will never forget that.
As both a DJ and a promoter, how do you manage the challenges of balancing these two roles, and what have you learned from wearing both hats?
I promote parties, do artworks, marketing, several things, but I enjoy the DJ-ing the most. That is the real reward for me. I usually just do just smaller intimate parties for 200-300 people, so it’s manageable, but I learned a lot since my first party that was about 15 years ago. In my opinion you have to learn to be really flexible, adaptable and dealing with unexpected changes all the time to make a good party happen. This industry unfortunately has a lot of unreliable people who cannot handle a calendar, an e-mail, a phone call or messages in time and you have to adapt to that. It’s a real hustle, but you have to be persistent and your hard work will pay off.
When you're preparing for a DJ set, what is your process? Do you have a specific approach, or do you let the moment and the crowd influence your performance?
Preparation is key. I always prepare a lot for my gigs to staying adaptable for any scenarios. I spend a lot of time on discogs, bandcamp and in record shops and always find some gems. For me every gig is different, no two gigs are ever the same, and things can change in an instant. Staying adaptable and maintaining a connection with the dancefloor is essential for delivering a great set.
On that note, tell us a bit about the mix you’ve done for us.
I mostly selected late 90’s and early 2000’s house gems, spiced up with a few new tracks and 2 of my own tracks and with 1 edit of mine that I play a lot. The mix itself is on the edge of a groovy warm up and when the party really starts.
How do you curate the lineups and the overall experience for your events to ensure they stay fresh and engaging for attendees?
I am always looking for new local and international talents. For me the talent is more important than the hype. I appreciate hard work and real values on the personal and talent levels. Luckily there are a lot of talented people out there, that keeps me motivated and give a fresh spin to our events too.
What’s your creative process like when producing music, and how does it differ from preparing a live DJ set?
Every session is different for me, but I love nice chords and pads that give a warm feeling, a soul to a track that is usually my starting point and add the core elements after and just let the track evolve naturally. After I laid down the basics I let the track sit for a couple days and if I still like them after I will finish it.
What are your future aspirations as both a DJ and producer? Are there any specific goals or milestones you're aiming to achieve?
My first release came out in September at the 2nd Sunday Sessions VA, that I am really proud of. I also have a couple things coming out next year. My focus is more on Vinyl than digital releases and that usually takes a bit more time to achieve. We are also working on to start our record label for the Final Selection project. We are planning to come out with the first record around next summer. If these thing works out nicely, I will be more than happy. Of course it would be nice to get into some big labels, but let’s see what comes naturally.
Finally, after such a dynamic career, what keeps you inspired and motivated to keep pushing boundaries in your music and performances?
When I am playing or making music I get into another zone that’s gives me a lot of good energies that always keep me inspired and I don’t think I will ever loose that.
What’s next for you?
I’m focusing on releasing more music, primarily on vinyl. I’m also working on launching a record label for the Fine Selection project, with our first release planned for next summer.
Of course, it would be amazing to work with some big labels, but for now, I’m letting things evolve naturally and focusing on the journey.
Keep up with Monoclick via Linktree
Listen to Monoclick’s mix for us below and check him out on Soundcloud