Victoria Monét

Victoria Monét
A woman with long, wavy hair is wearing reddish orange and smiling next to a microphone.
Monét in 2023
Background information
Birth nameVictoria Monét McCants
Born (1989-05-01) May 1, 1989 (age 35)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
OriginSacramento, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2010–present
Labels
PartnerJohn Gaines (2020–2023)
Children1
Websitewww.victoriamonet.co

Victoria Monét McCants (born May 1, 1989)[2] is an American singer and songwriter. First gaining recognition for her songwriting work, Monét pursued a recording career with the release of a series of extended plays (EPs); her fifth, Jaguar (2020) was met with critical acclaim. Her debut studio album, Jaguar II (2023) became her commercial breakthrough and was supported by the hit single, "On My Mama", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Record of the Year. The nomination was among seven she received at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, from which she won Best New Artist, Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

She became involved in performing arts at a young age, and embarked on a musical career in 2010. After performing as part of a short-lived girl group formed by record producer Rodney Jerkins, she took to songwriting and began doing so in tandem with Jerkins and his associate, D'Mile.[3] Monét became a frequent collaborator of singer Ariana Grande, having co-written songs for each of her studio albums from her debut Yours Truly (2013) up to her sixth, Positions (2020). In 2019, Monét received three Grammy Award nominations (including Album of the Year) for her work on Grande's Thank U, Next. That same year, Grande and Monét released the single "Monopoly", which became a top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart.

Throughout her career, Monét has worked on songs and albums for other high-profile acts including Nas, Travis Scott, Blackpink, Fifth Harmony, T.I., Lupe Fiasco, Chrisette Michele, Brandy, Coco Jones, Chloe x Halle and Chris Brown. Her accolades include two Soul Train Music Awards, three Grammy Awards, and the Rising Star Award from Billboard Women In Music.

Early life

[edit]

Monét was born in Atlanta, Georgia on May 1, 1989,[4] and moved to Sacramento, as a teen when her parents relocated for work.[5] In Catholic elementary school, she appeared on stage in holiday plays, and in church she sang in the youth choir. In junior high school, she formed her own dance group; this led to teaching at two dance studios.[6] She attended Sheldon High School in Sacramento after pleading with her mother to change their address so that she could participate in Sheldon's performing arts program.[7]

Career

[edit]

Outside of dance rehearsals, Monét began exchanging poetry with an older cousin and found a new passion. This soon translated into her writing her own music. A Sacramento-based producer who she had been working with educated her on the production world and learning about producers while making music at a local recording studio together. Through this experience she learned about Rodney Jerkins and added him on Myspace.[8] Shortly afterwards, he invited her to come to Los Angeles and audition for a new girl group he was forming, Purple Reign.[9][10] The group landed a record deal with Motown a year later, but was dropped before releasing any music. After the group's disbandment, Monét turned to songwriting to earn money while she waited for her own music career to build up.[11] The first song she worked on was a track for Diddy Dirty Money's 2010 album, Last Train to Paris.[12] She continued to write song hooks and sang the demos herself before sending them out. Her hope was that the labels would like her version enough that they would keep her on the track as a feature.[8][13]

Atlantic Records CEO Craig Kallman heard one of her demos in a meeting and offered her a record deal later that day.[6][8] Even though she was signed, Monét acknowledged that her songwriting "took off" before her music, while she was working on both.[11] Her songwriting remained her main form of income during the beginning of her music career.[13]

2014–2018: Nightmares & Lullabies, Life After Love and touring

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On October 30, 2014, Monét released her debut EP Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1 and on June 17, 2015, she released her follow-up EP Nightmares & Lullabies – Act 2 under Atlantic Records.[14][12] Monét chose the name as it represented the sound of the EPs: a dark beat mixed with soft melodies.[8]

Monet performing in 2017

Following the shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and the Dallas Police shooting, Monét released "Better Days" with Ariana Grande on July 10, 2016.[15] Monét joined girl group Fifth Harmony on the North American leg of the 7/27 Tour, which began on July 25, 2016, as an opening act along with pop singer JoJo.[16] Grande joined Monét on one of the tour dates to perform "Better Days."[17] On September 22, 2016, Grande announced on Twitter that Monét will serve as an opening act along with British girl group Little Mix on the North American leg of the Dangerous Woman Tour. Monét also supported Grande on the European leg of the tour alongside rapper Bia.

In 2016, Monét released the promotional single "Do You Like It" which was followed by the single "Ready", which was released while on tour with Ariana Grande in April 2017. Both singles would later be included on Life After Love Pt. 2. On February 23, 2018, Monét released the first half of her "Life After Love" series, Life After Love, Pt. 1. The project features the single "Freak", which was released on February 9 with the project's pre-order. A remix of the song[18] featuring previous tour-mate Bia, was released on July 19, 2018, alongside a music video.[19] The latter half of the "Life After Love" series, Life After Love, Pt. 2, was released on September 28, 2018, and was preceded by the single "New Love".[20]

2019–present: Jaguar and Jaguar II

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On April 1, 2019, Victoria Monét and Ariana Grande released the single "Monopoly" while Grande was on her Sweetener World Tour. The song debuted at No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming Monét first entry on the chart as an artist; Monét also appeared at No. 16 on Billboard's Emerging Artists artist the same week.[21]

In late 2019, Monét released the single "Ass Like That". The song served as the lead single to her upcoming debut project. In early 2020, Monét released the single "Moment" followed by the promotional single "Dive". Monét was announced as Apple Music's Up Next artist in February 2020.[22] On June 19, Monét released the single "Experience" with Khalid and SG Lewis and announced her debut project, Jaguar.[23] In an interview with Apple Music, Monét disclosed that Jaguar will be released in three separate parts which will eventually come together to form her debut studio album.[24] Part one of Jaguar was released on August 7.[25] On October 4, Monét released the song "Politics" exclusively on SoundCloud, leaving a portion of the song fully instrumental, so listeners could add their own feature verse to the song.[26] On October 8, Monét released a remix of the Jaguar track "Touch Me" featuring American singer-songwriter Kehlani.[27] In December 2020, Monét released a holiday instrumental edition of Jaguar called A Jaguar Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements.[28]

On February 1, 2021, Monét released the single "F.U.C.K." along with a western-themed music video.[29] On August 5, 2021, she released another single "Coastin" and a music video was released starring Rickey Thompson.[30][31] In June 2022, Monét performed "Coastin" at the 22nd BET Awards pre-show and announced she was working on a follow-up project to her previous EP titled Jaguar II.[32]

On March 24, 2023, Monét released the track "Smoke" featuring Lucky Daye, as her first new single since 2021.[33] "Smoke" was followed by the singles "Party Girls" (featuring Buju Banton) and "On My Mama", released on May 10 and June 16, respectively. A dancehall remix of "Party Girls" (additionally featuring Michaël Brun) was released on May 26. In July 2023, Monét was featured on the cover of the 125th edition of Clash.[34]

Songwriting

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Monét has a long history of writing songs for other artists. In 2010, she helped pen "I Hate That You Love Me" by Diddy Dirty Money[35] and went on to co-write songs such as "Be Alright", "Let Me Love You", "Thank U, Next", and "Monopoly" (featuring Monét) by Ariana Grande; "Memories Back Then" by T.I., B.o.B and Kendrick Lamar; "Drunk Texting" by Chris Brown; "Everlasting Love", "Them Girls Be Like", "Reflection", "We Know", and "No Way" by Fifth Harmony;[36] "You Wouldn't Understand" by Nas; "Sin City" by GOOD Music; "Visual Love" by Chrisette Michele; "Live on Tonight" by T.I.; "Do It" by Chloe x Halle; "Rather Be" by Brandy; as well as "Ice Cream" by Blackpink and Selena Gomez.[37]

For her work with Grande she was nominated for two awards at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, Record of the Year for "7 Rings" and Album of the Year" for Thank U, Next[38]. The following year she was nominated in the Best R&B Song category for co-writing Chloe x Halle's single "Do It."[39]

Artistry

[edit]

Influences

[edit]

Monét has frequently cited R&B/pop female artists such as Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Destiny's Child, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Mariah Carey, Brandy, Alicia Keys, as major musical and vocal influences.[40][41][42] She also cited pop influence from Michael Jackson and Coldplay, while soul and jazz from Earth, Wind & Fire and Sade.[43][40][44] From her childhood she took influences from reggae listening to Bob Marley and Buju Banton.[45][40]

Monét mentioned The-Dream, Ne-Yo and Smokey Robinson as an inspiration for "having both a successful songwriting career and a successful artist career".[46] She referred to Beyoncé's Lemonade and Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as inspirations for her works for visual album.[47]

Personal life

[edit]

Monét came out as bisexual in 2018.[48]

In December 2020, she announced that she and her boyfriend John Gaines were expecting their first child.[49] On February 21, 2021, Monét gave birth to a daughter, Hazel Monét Gaines.[50][51] In November 2023, Hazel became the youngest Grammy Awards nominee in history for her laughter on Monét’s song "Hollywood", nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.[52]

In September 2024, she announced on social media that she and Gaines had been broken up for a year.[53]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Victoria Monét discography

Tours

[edit]
Headlining
Supporting

Awards and nominations

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Year Organization Award Work Result Ref.
2020 Soul Train Music Awards Best New Artist Herself Nominated [55]
Grammy Awards Album of the Year Thank U, Next Nominated [56]
Record of the Year "7 Rings" Nominated
2021 Best R&B Song "Do It" Nominated [57]
GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist Jaguar Nominated [58]
2022 Give Her FlowHERS Awards The Visionary Award Herself Won [59]
2023 Soul Train Music Awards Best R&B/Soul Female Artist Nominated [60]
Album of the Year Jaguar II Nominated
Song of the Year "On My Mama" Nominated
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award Nominated
Best Dance Performance Won
Video of the Year Won
2024 Grammy Awards Record of the Year Nominated [61]
Best R&B Song Nominated
Best New Artist Herself Won
Best R&B Performance "How Does It Make You Feel" Nominated
Best Traditional R&B Performance "Hollywood" (with Earth, Wind & Fire & Hazel Monét) Nominated
Best R&B Album Jaguar II Won
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical Won
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding New Artist Herself Won [62]
Outstanding Female Artist Nominated
Outstanding Album Jaguar II Won
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) "Smoke" (with Lucky Daye) Nominated
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song "On My Mama" Nominated
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album Nominated
People's Choice Awards The R&B Artist of the Year Herself Nominated [63]
iHeartRadio Music Awards Best New R&B Artist Won [64]
R&B Song of the Year "On My Mama" Nominated
Billboard Women in Music Rising Star Award Herself Honoree [65]
BET Awards Best Female R&B/Pop Artist Nominated [66]
Album of the Year Jaguar II Nominated
Video of the Year "On My Mama" Won
Viewer's Choice Award Nominated
BET Her Award Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Victoria Monét Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Starling, Lakin (May 8, 2020). "Victoria Monét Is Ready to Be a Solo Star". The Cut. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "Victoria Monét Recalls Joining Rodney Jerkins' Girl Group + Predicts 'Jaguar II' Fan Favorite". BET.com. August 21, 2023.
  4. ^ "Victoria Monét Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  5. ^ @The Mixed Mujer :Your HairStorySeries (June 20, 2017). "Victoria Monet Shares The Impact Of Embracing Her Hair With Mixed Chicks". YouTube. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Victoria Monet". ASCAP EXPO. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  7. ^ Tonsall, Sonseeahray (February 9, 2018). "Victoria Monet Celebrates Dance with Sheldon High School Students". Fox 40. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d YKIGS. "Interview: Victoria Monét Talks Nightmares & Lullabies Project, Working With Ariana Grande, & Signing With Atlantic Records". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  9. ^ "Profile: Victoria Monet". Soul Train. December 12, 2014.
  10. ^ "Victoria Monét on her 'Friendship-Based' Writing Success With Ariana Grande". Billboard. June 13, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Kaplan, Ilana (January 10, 2020). "Singer-songwriter Victoria Monet is on Her Own Path to Greatness". Wonderland.
  12. ^ a b JUSMUSIC, DJ (October 30, 2014). "Atlantic Recording Artist Victoria Monet Drops 'Nightmares & Lullabies' ACT 1". Singers Room. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  13. ^ a b Cragg, Michael (December 27, 2019). "Victoria Monét: the Ariana Grande songwriter making bed-quaking R&B". The Guardian.
  14. ^ ThisIsRnB (October 30, 2014). "New Music: Victoria Monet - Nightmares & Lullabies (Act 1) EP". THISISRnB. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  15. ^ Kreps, Daniel (July 10, 2016). "Victoria Monet, Ariana Grande Respond to Recent Tragedies With 'Better Days'". Rolling Stone.
  16. ^ Wendowski, Andrew (August 10, 2016). "Fifth Harmony bring 7/27 Tour to Camden, NJ". Music Mayhem Magazine.
  17. ^ Lee, Christina (September 11, 2016). "Ariana Grande Joins Victoria Monet On Stage To Open For Fifth Harmony's '7/27 Tour". Idolator.
  18. ^ Freak Remix, retrieved June 9, 2020
  19. ^ Victoria Monet - Freak (Remix) (Official Video) ft. Bia, July 10, 2018, retrieved June 9, 2020
  20. ^ "Life After Love, Pt. 2 by Victoria Monet on Google Play Music". Google Play Music.
  21. ^ Zellner, Xander (April 11, 2019). "Victoria Monet Debuts on Emerging Artists Chart, Scores First Hot 100 Hit With Ariana Grande Collab 'Monopoly'". Billboard.
  22. ^ "Victoria Monét Is Apple Music's Newest Up Next Artist". Teen Vogue. February 11, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  23. ^ Yoo, Noah (June 19, 2020). "Victoria Monét Shares New Song "Experience" With Khalid and SG Lewis: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  24. ^ Victoria Monét: On 'Jaguar' and Making the "Moment" Music Video in South Africa | Apple Music, August 10, 2020, retrieved August 10, 2020
  25. ^ Gracie, Bianca (August 7, 2020). "Interview: Victoria Monét on "Jaguar" and Her Solo Moment". Paper. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  26. ^ Politics, retrieved October 17, 2020
  27. ^ "Victoria Monet "Touch Me" Remix Feat. Kehlani Out Now". RESPECT. October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  28. ^ Folk, Antwane (December 11, 2020). "Victoria Monét Releases 'A Jaguar Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements'". Rated R&B.
  29. ^ Drake, Carolyn (February 11, 2021). "Victoria Monét Is A Cowgirl On The Run In Her Western-Inspired 'F.*.C.K.' Video". Uproxx.
  30. ^ Corner, Lewis (August 5, 2021). "Victoria Monét releases sun-soaked new single Coastin' – listen here". Gay Times. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  31. ^ Rashed, Ayana (September 14, 2021). "Victoria Monét & Rickey Thompson Star in new "Coastin'" Video". Respect.
  32. ^ Samuels, Keithan (June 27, 2022). "Victoria Monét Performs 'Coastin" at 2022 BET Awards". Rated R&B.
  33. ^ "Victoria Monét Releases Smooth Single "Smoke" Feat. Lucky Daye". Hypebeast. March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  34. ^ "Victoria Monét Is The Second Face Of Clash 125". clashmusic.com. Clash. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  35. ^ "ACE Repertory". www.ascap.com. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  36. ^ Reflection - Fifth Harmony | Album | AllMusic, retrieved September 9, 2024
  37. ^ Blackpink & Selena Gomez – Ice Cream, retrieved September 8, 2020
  38. ^ "2020 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  39. ^ "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  40. ^ a b c Nilles, Billy (August 9, 2020). "My Music Moments: Victoria Monét Shares the Soundtrack to Her Life". E!. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  41. ^ Gonzales, Erica (January 20, 2022). "Victoria Monét Would Rather Be Underrated Than Overrated". Elle. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  42. ^ Conteh, Mankaprr (October 24, 2023). "Victoria Monét and Kelly Rowland Have a Lot More in Common Than They Realized". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  43. ^ Hussain, Shahzaib (September 1, 2023). "Primetime Performer: Victoria Monét Interviewed". Clash Magazine. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  44. ^ Wang, Steffanee (April 15, 2020). "Victoria Monét Wants To Make A Connection". Nylon. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  45. ^ Brown, Evan Nicole (August 28, 2023). "Victoria Monét Was Built for This". Vulture. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  46. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (January 10, 2020). "Singer-songwriter Victoria Monét is on her own path to greatness". Wonderland. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  47. ^ Marcellus, Kerane (October 26, 2023). "Victoria Monet Steps Into the Spotlight". Essence. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  48. ^ Starling, Lakin (May 8, 2020). "Victoria Monét On 'Jaguar' and Making It as a Solo Artist". The Cut. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  49. ^ Alter, Rebecca (December 5, 2020). "Victoria Monét Is Pregnant With Her First Child and the Announcement Is Art". Vulture. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  50. ^ "Victoria Monet and Boyfriend John Gaines' Relationship Timeline". Us. February 3, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  51. ^ Monét, Victoria [@VictoriaMonet] (February 27, 2021). "Hazel Monét Gaines 2/21/21
    Mommy and Daddy love you so much!!!
    Welcome to the world"     (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  52. ^ Grein, Paul (November 10, 2023). "Victoria Monet's Daughter Hazel, Age 2, Becomes Youngest Ever Grammy Nominee". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  53. ^ ""Image posted on twitter"". X (Formerly Twitter). Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  54. ^ "Victoria Monét Announces The Jaguar Tour: See the Dates". Billboard. July 11, 2023.
  55. ^ Grein, Paul (November 11, 2020). "H.E.R. & Chris Brown Lead 2020 Soul Train Awards Nominations: Here's the Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  56. ^ "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". GRAMMY.com. November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  57. ^ "Chloe x Halle". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  58. ^ Gardner, Chris (April 8, 2021). "GLAAD Media Awards: 'Schitt's Creek,' 'Happiest Season,' Sam Smith Take Top Prizes". The Hollywood Reporter. PMRC. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  59. ^ Abraham, Mya (November 15, 2022). "Inside Femme It Forward's Inaugural 'Give Her FlowHERS' Gala". Vibe.
  60. ^ Grein, Paul (November 1, 2023). "SZA, Usher & Summer Walker Lead 2023 Soul Train Awards Nominations: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  61. ^ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List". Grammy.com. November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  62. ^ Grein, Paul (January 25, 2024). "Usher, Victoria Monét Score in 2024 NAACP Image Awards Nods: Here Are All Music Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  63. ^ Malec, Brett (January 11, 2024). "2024 People's Choice Awards: Complete List of Nominees". E! Online. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  64. ^ Grein, Paul (January 18, 2024). "Taylor Swift Leads 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards Nods, With Jelly Roll, 21 Savage & SZA Close Behind: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  65. ^ Grein, Paul (January 24, 2024). "2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards to Honor Ice Spice, NewJeans, Victoria Monét, Kylie Minogue & More". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  66. ^ Lynch, Joe (July 1, 2024). "2024 BET Awards Winners: See the Complete List". Billboard. Billboard Media. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
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