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Her debut full length CD is shrouded in secrecy but recently (this May) turned seventeen-year-old Monét, a singer from the City of Angels (LA), is posed to explode upon the airwaves with her blend of rock / soul / punk music. She has been performing in front of crowds in the several thousands for the past three years, sharing the stage with the likes of teen heartthrob Jesse McCartney. She is an accomplished actress having appeared in several stage productions as well as television programs such as  Lincoln Heights, Disney's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Fox's The Bernie Mac Show. 

Monét spoke to me on the phone from Orlando, Florida, where she is finishing a recording project that began with Los Angeles-based Trilogy Productions before moving to Nashville and then ultimately to the current Floridian studio with producer Aaron Accetta (Aaron Carter, Deborah Gibson and Nick Carter). Although the singer is not revealing any of the songs that will appear on the new project, one can only hope songs such as her quirky, edgy "Little Old Me" will find its way onto the disc. 

Monét said, "The song "Little Old Me" is a song that my good friend April Lassiter and Dave Darling wrote. I met April on an airplane flying from Nashville. April sat beside my mom and I, and we started a conversation. We found out that she is a songwriter and we said, 'Hey let's get together.' She pitched the song "Little Old Me," and I fell in love with it right away. I really wanted to do it (the song) because it has a good kick to it, and is such a girl power song. The first time I heard it, I thought, 'Oh my gosh, this has to be on my album!' It is totally me and totally the style that I love. It is such a fun song to perform." 

Reflecting upon her chance meeting with April Lassiter Monét said, "You never know who you are going to meet so you always have to be your best, look your best and be your nicest. It is a good story and I love telling it." 

The rock ballad "Mute" clearly demonstrates that Monét is much more than a one dimensional musician and singer. The song is for the most part comprised of more subdued vocals that are punctuated occasionally with rock guitar riffs. ""Mute" is a metaphor for when a boy ignores you, he is on mute. My friend (found herself) in the situation (I just described). A boy ignored her calls and everything else. I thought I should write a song about it. Drew Lane and I were sitting in the studio and he asked me want I wanted to write about, I said, 'I want to write about this.' We wrote the song in about fifteen minutes. They are usually the best songs. Drew would strum his guitar as we wrote the music." 

The singer hinted that her songs "18" and "It's Always Something," could find their way onto her new CD but then she becomes coy, giggles and said, "You will just have to wait and see." Another of her songs "2 of Them" was featured on  The Suite Life of Zach & Cody. It begins with a riff reminiscent of Golden Earring's "Radar Love," before transitioning quickly and serving up a more revved up version that reminds one of the pop songs found in the musical  Grease, a stage production in which Monét played the lead female role of Sandy. 

"I wrote "18" when I was fourteen. It was at a time when I had just learned that the driver's age in California might be changing to eighteen. I took all the ideas about which I was excited to (someday) be turning eighteen years old, and combined them into "18." Then I came up with the melody. It is so exciting when you start writing a song and it all fits together. It is the greatest feeling in the world," she said enthusiastically. 

"The songs on my EP (self titled) are definitely more rock (oriented). I love that kind of stuff, but right now I am going more into rock and soul. I am combining rock meets soul, meets pop and punk. All of those (genres) combined together. I grew up in a gospel choir, and I want to combine what I learned in soul with my music, because I think that it is really important. I think that is really important to combine all the things that you love into one kind of music. We call it (her music) rock and soul." 

One of the more rock oriented tunes from her earlier EP is the song, "It's Always Something," a tune whose title suggests a more cynical theme, however that is not the case. "I think there are two ways that you can look at it. One is, 'Oh man, there is always something that comes up," or 'There is always something, and when one door closes, a window opens.' This is definitely a positive song. Some of the lines are funny such as, 'You colored your hair and it came out lime green.' It is supposed to be a happy song. It is not supposed to be negative. I love happy songs," said Monét. 

The young artist is skilled on a number of instruments including the piano and guitar, as well as being a novice drummer. She says of her writing process, "Usually if it is a ballad, I use the piano but if it is a more rockin' tune, I play the guitar. It really depends on what kind of song it is. I write the lyrics first and then I start singing the melody in my head." On her new CD she has full writing or co-writing credits on the majority of tunes. 

At a time in their lives when many girls are just entering into one of the most socially active times of their lives Monét has embraced the challenges that come with maintaining a dual career as an actress and musician. "If you want to be in the music business you have to realize that you need to give up a lot of social things. I don't get to see my friends (that often), but I know they support my career, and that is important (to me). It is hard giving up a lot of things, but it is worth it. This is what I want, this is what I love. You just have to realize that you have to work hard," she said. 

She receives a ton of fan mail and gifts from adoring fans. They will write to her with queries as simple as, 'What is your favorite color?' or 'How did you get started in the music industry?' Others will ask for tips on how they too can begin a career in music. She allows herself to see the humor in teenage male suitors who have proposed marriage and finds it cute that an elementary school child also recently told her that he was going to marry her. 

The poise and wisdom of Monet belies her age and she has not allowed fan adoration to overwhelm her or to inflate her ego, "I write back to everybody. It is so great knowing that your fans are there for you. They support me so much, and do so much work for me. I am so thankful. They are part of the reason why I am doing this. I couldn't do it without my fans," she said. 

Monét added, "When I am performing on stage and I have my guitar, it is just the greatest feeling in the world." When you hear her music you will no doubt echo the words, "It is the greatest feeling in the world," to listen to the young woman who is about to rock your world! 

http://www.myspace.com/monetofficial

By Joe Montague, exclusive rights reserved 

Joe Montague is an internationally published journalist / photographer and the publisher of Riveting Riffs, www.rivetingriffs.com . His ministry is dedicated to the memory of his late son Kent David Montague who went to heaven at the age of 18. All copyright and distribution rights remain the property of Joe Montague. 
 
 
 
 
 

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