What So Not And Mr. Carmack Reunite On ‘MONA LISA’, A Heavy-Hitting Return To Bass Music
What So Not has joined forces with Mr. Carmack and Benni on ‘MONA LISA’, the latest single from his forthcoming EP I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY.
While nostalgia has become a recurring theme across electronic music in recent years, ‘MONA LISA’ avoids simply recreating the past. Instead, the track channels the energy that made both artists influential during the trap explosion of the 2010s while grounding it firmly in the sound of 2026.
Built around weighty low-end frequencies, sharp percussion and distorted vocal textures, ‘MONA LISA’ feels unapologetically aggressive. There is a confrontational quality running through the record, balancing hip-hop influences with modern bass music production in a way that feels equally suited to festival stages, club systems and short-form digital culture.
The collaboration showcases a more dominant and challenging side of What So Not’s production style. Rather than chasing melodic moments or cinematic atmospheres, the track thrives on tension, attitude and impact. Its hook-driven structure and memorable vocal moments make it easy to imagine sections of the record finding a life of their own across social media platforms, where highly recognizable moments often drive the biggest cultural breakthroughs.
According to What So Not, the track emerged from a spontaneous studio session with Mr. Carmack.
“Sitting behind Carmack, I made this ear-worm riff, processing it harder and stupider, laughing as each bounce became more obnoxious and ridiculous,” he explains.
“As the production becomes uglier, so does the lyrical content as it channels a character falling deeper into their well of self deprivation. Deformed faces and lost memories, ‘Mona Lisa’ is the personification of Los Angeles.”
‘MONA LISA’ follows ‘EVEREST’ featuring Alina Pash and offers another glimpse into I SAW A TRAP DJ AND IT CHANGED MY BIO CHEMISTRY, a project that sees What So Not reconnecting with the sounds and creative spirit that helped define an era of bass music while pushing them into a contemporary context.
