Monopoly by Defined By (Interview 2026)

Edition Ninety-Five – Week Ninety-Fiev; Unit 2:

Written by: Mercedes Barreto

Defined By — Artist Introduction

Hailing from Lancashire, UK, Defined By are an indie rock band whose music brings together
guitar-driven energy, melodic songwriting, atmospheric textures, and stories drawn from real life. What began as the solo project of frontman Lee Egerton has developed into a full-band project, with Defined By building a sound that balances the intimacy of personal songwriting with the scale and energy of a live rock performance. Their music has increasingly found its identity through soaring melodies, driving rhythms, and lyrics that explore the realities of everyday life.

The band’s development has been closely connected to the live music scene around Lancashire and the wider North West of England. Performances at venues including The Ferret in Preston have helped establish Defined By as a live-oriented act, while their recorded work has continued to expand the emotional and sonic range of the project.

Recent material shows a band willing to explore different shades of their sound. Earlier releases such as “God’s No Help” introduced audiences to their guitar-led indie approach, while “Blue Tonic” demonstrated a more breezy, indie-pop side of the band’s songwriting. Their latest single, “Monopoly,” moves into darker and more atmospheric territory, pairing restrained passages with a much more forceful chorus.

At the center of Defined By’s appeal is a sense of emotional directness. Rather than treating rock music simply as a vehicle for volume and energy, the band uses dynamics, melody, and
lyrical storytelling to create music that can move between vulnerability and intensity. Their growing body of work suggests a project interested not only in where guitar music has been, but in finding a contemporary way to make it personal again.

Short Review — “Monopoly”

Defined By’s “Monopoly” is a powerful example of a band using contrast to create impact. The track begins with an understated, almost mournful atmosphere before gradually gathering tension and opening into a much bigger, more forceful chorus. The movement from restraint to release gives the song a strong emotional arc, while the guitars and rhythm section provide the weight necessary to make those transitions land.

There is something particularly effective about the way “Monopoly” allows melancholy and aggression to exist within the same song. The vocal performance shifts with the arrangement, moving from vulnerability toward a more ferocious delivery, while the guitars give the track its
muscular indie-rock foundation. Beneath that energy is an atmospheric quality that prevents the song from becoming simply another straightforward guitar anthem.

“Monopoly” feels like a statement from a band that has spent time developing its live identity and understanding how to translate that experience into a recording. The song is loud when it needs to be, but it also understands the value of space and anticipation. Most importantly, it carries an emotional tension that gives the music something to hold onto after the final note. With its combination of haunting atmosphere, strong melodic instincts, dynamic guitars, and
emotional weight, “Monopoly” offers an intriguing snapshot of where Defined By are heading next.