Victoria Monét‘s Musical Journey: The Winding Road to Finding Her Voice
Victoria Monét‘s path to success in the music industry has been filled with twists and turns, but her commitment to stay true to her artistic vision has enabled the singer-songwriter to thrive. As she shares in a candid interview, Monét struggled in her early days to settle on a defined musical identity amidst pressure to conform to industry formulas. However after forging her own way forward, she developed a signature style that resonates deeply with fans.
Monét first attempted to launch her career in 2010, when she nearly signed with rapper T.I.‘s Grand Hustle Records. As she explains, "I took a lot of meetings with labels. I almost signed with T.I. – I had went down to Atlanta, my mom went with me for that trip. I was so close but it just didn‘t feel right for me at the time." Record companies saw commercial potential in her vocal talent and songwriting abilities, but failed to grasp her versatility across musical genres. "I think people had a hard time understanding that I could do different things," shares Monét. Craving more creative freedom, she turned down a record deal and focused her efforts on penning hits for other artists instead.
This move proved wise, affording Monét the space to organically shape her artistic identity without external pressures or timelines. As any musician knows, the quest to uncover one‘s distinctive sound is an intensely personal journey. Monét suggests leaning into intuition as the compass, advising fellow artists: "if it feels authentic to you, then do it." By trusting her gut and expanding her collaboration network, her style blossomed. She landed cuts on albums from music heavyweights like Diddy and Rodney Jerkins while developing an arsenal of genre-spanning production skills.
Eventually the stars aligned for Monét when two kindred spirits serendipitously crossed paths – herself and the force of nature known as Ariana Grande. As with many modern musical partnerships, their friendship first sparked over songwriting before blossoming into a sisterly bond. "I had been writing hooks for rappers," recounts Monét. "So I‘m thinking I‘m about to go in there and write a hook…next thing I know, she‘s like playing guitar and knew all the words I had sent her…I was so blown away." Mutual artistic admiration and respect cultivated trust between the two artists. Before long, Grande welcomed Monét into her tightly knit inner circle while on tour.
For emerging talent, access to a megastar‘s momentum can fast track careers overnight. But Monét has consistently eschewed short-cuts in favor of patience and persistence – virtues learned as the sole child from a single-parent home. "I definitely had to mature a lot faster," she shares. "It allowed me to appreciate long-lasting relationships and understand their value." This mindset fueled her resilience against fickle industry tides while building community with like-minded collaborators. Fellow independent-minded artist Kehlani proved a kindred spirit, someone who helped reinforce Monét‘s conviction. As she explains, "it’s finding those people that align with the frequency you want to be on."
Now as her first-ever headlining tour sells out venues across North America, Victoria Monét finds herself fully owning the spotlight and her significance as an artist. She embraces fan enthusiasm as confirmation of her long-held belief in being true to herself. For aspiring talent, her story conveys an empowering reminder – success blooms when planted in patience and authenticity. As Monét affirms: “if you wait long enough and really put the work in, the fruits will come to the surface.” Her thriving career now blossoming, Victoria Monét’s harvest has undoubtedly arrived.