We’re looking forward to introducing you to Alisha Mona. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Alisha , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Music and creating my EP is bringing me so much joy right now. To shape a sound that feels authentically mine is incredible. For a long time, I hesitated to pursue music because I worried that turning it into work would strip away the joy of it. It has always been the thing that has lifted me when I was at my lowest. After ten years in the television industry, coming home to watch TV was the last thing I wanted to do, and I lost the excitement I once had for it. I didn’t want that same burnout to happen with music.
What I’ve realized in stepping into being a music artist is that I get to define what this journey looks like. I have the freedom to decide how I create and share it. It’s a reminder that so much of our fulfillment comes down to perspective, and when you shift it, you open the door to joy again.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Alisha Mona, and I’m a multifaceted artist driven by purpose and creativity. I spend my days working at a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women in male dominated spaces, and I carry that same mission into my music as I craft my first EP.
Raised by a single mother in a city that taught me resilience and hustle, I began my career behind the camera in entertainment and eventually found my way in front of it. That shift gave me a unique perspective. After years of helping shape others’ visions, I’m now using those same tools to shape my own. It feels like a superpower, especially at this stage of my journey. Beyond music, I’m passionate about building spaces where women and people of color can learn, grow, and see themselves reflected in the stories around them.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My Aunt Kenya, who recently passed, told me when I was younger that she always thought I would be bigger than my surroundings, bigger than Detroit. At the time I didn’t understand what she meant, but as I grow into myself as a woman, and artist…I see it now. Humbly of course! ha I feel the impact I have on my community, and I carry her words with me every day. That was the first time someone spoke that kind of vision over my life. I also have to credit my family. Supporting an artist with big dreams is never easy, yet they have stood by me through it all. I can only hope I have made them proud.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Fear of failure is something I think everyone can relate to, especially those of us who lean toward perfectionism. Over time, I’ve learned that life is really about shifting your perspective when things don’t go the way you hoped. Sometimes the outcome holds a lesson you needed, sometimes it’s a sign that what you were chasing wasn’t truly for you, and sometimes it simply means that chapter has reached its end. Adopting that mindset has given me a deep sense of peace, and I believe wholeheartedly that what’s meant for you will come in its own time.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
There’s often pressure to fit into a box or a stereotype of what you’re doing. But I’ve come to believe the best artists are expressive, opinionated, wildly creative, and most importantly themselves. It took me a long time to realize that I don’t need to mirror anyone else. None of us are alone in this world; there will always be someone who identifies with who you are and connects with your truth. You don’t have to chase what’s popular or trendy. Just be you. The right people will recognize themselves in your story and feel seen because of it.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If immortality were real, what would you build?
If immortality were real, I would create a program for kids in urban communities that gives them access to opportunities they rarely see growing up in those environments. It would offer arts programs, mentorship, internships, and financial literacy to create lasting career paths and help them see beyond the limits of their surroundings. Often when you grow up in spaces like that, your family encourages you to become a doctor or a lawyer because those careers are seen as safe and come with guaranteed income so you can have what they did not. But there are other ways. It is possible to succeed if you want to be an artist, and I want kids to know that path is just as valid. When I was growing up, I wish I had seen more people like me working in entertainment, traveling, and pursuing dreams that did not always feel possible. The world is so much bigger than the city you come from. And maybe in this lifetime I’ll have the opportunity to create it. We’ll see!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @alisha.mona
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alishaplummer/
Image Credits
Detric Hicks, Chloe Jackman, Linkedin
