Jonathan Terrell has always chased horizons—whether strumming under the wide Texas sky or testing the limits of lonely, dust-blown soundscapes. But with his new single “MONA,” out May 27 on all platforms, he’s left the familiar behind and set his sights on a whole new kind of frontier: the western desert disco of your dreams. The track is an ode to his beloved, Detroit-built 1979 Ford Ranchero—nicknamed Mona—a chrome-lined time capsule that carries him from sun-baked highways into neon-lit nightclubs.
Terrell’s hunt for this fresh fusion began in Amsterdam, where a chance hallway conversation with members of electro-goth pioneers Depeche Mode sparked an idea he couldn’t shake. He paired that encounter with the close camaraderie he’s long shared with Grammy-nominated country outfit Midland—and suddenly, desert dust and dance floors felt part of the same vast landscape. Back home in Dripping Springs, Texas, he laid down his vocal tracks and rough arrangements alongside Midland’s Cameron Duddy, who shaped harmonies and co-produced, and guitarist Luke Cutchen, who lent his signature twang.
Once the Texas sessions were in the can, Terrell sent his rough mix across the Atlantic to Christian Eigner and Nikko Stossel of Depeche Mode. In Vienna, the duo infused “MONA” with pulsating drum patterns and shimmering synth textures; then, in Berlin, final touches balanced grit and groove into a seamless anthem. The result is a dizzying collision of heartland warmth and European electro-polish: a song that beckons festival crowds to dance into dawn.
For Jonathan Terrell, “MONA” is more than just a single—it’s the first spark of a bold rebrand. He’s trading the opening slot for center stage, building a musical vehicle as gleaming as his Ranchero. With “MONA,” he invites listeners to join him on the long haul—from dusty desert highways to mainstage festival lights—and proves that sometimes, the road less traveled has the best disco ball.
