Monastic Squid (Rob Nichols) grew up in a small Somerset coastal town. Playing piano from age 12, he moved on to drums and guitar but remained a keyboard player foremost; playing in school and college bands. At University he studied Japanese Language, became the 'Equipment Manager' - and promoted the Flat Press electronic nights in Winchester City, spinning vinyl such as Orbital, F.S.O.L and Black Dog Productions - Rob also had a hand in the early 90's London squat party Zero Gravity ~ hosting regular names such as Cloggi, Quark, Sonic, Justin & Aaron Liberator, Dave the Drummer and the Club Dog crew. Often journeying to festivals and parties through the 90's Rob followed the Techno road until 1995 when a friend played him a Tsuyoshi Suzuki mix and he discovered Goa Trance. Moving out to Australia he fell into the DOOF parties and PsyTrance following the flow back through Asia he returned to London and in 2000 began producing psytrance under the name Monastic Squid; releasing on Alchemy Records and Procyon Records. Teaming up with good friend and Progressive Producer DJ Marcello (CIMI) together as M-THEORY (Alchemy Records) - Monastic Squid has continued to swim in the depths of the London Underground Scene - surfacing only at night time to feed.......!  In 2010 he joined Free-Spirit Records and released his debut solo EP "Chromatophores in July 2010.