Meet Monai

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monai.

Hi Monai, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a child of entertainment. What does that mean? My mom was an actress, dancer, and owns a talent agency. My dad plays saxophone, had a video production company and played all genres of music around me 24/7. So naturally, I started singing at a young age. My mom tells everyone I tried to sing before I could talk. So I was always singing and dancing around the house. In elementary school, I would always try out for the solo parts in music class. (I’d always get it too) When I was about seven years old I was enrolled in dance classes and my love for the stage began to blossom. I was a very busy kid, any activity you can think of I was in it. When I got to middle school I joined the band, I played clarinet, alto saxophone, and a little trumpet. This developed my musical ear, and that’s when I truly fell in love with everything about creating music. My school switched the band program to a choir program my junior year and that’s where I began really developing my voice again. When my great-grandmother passed in 2016 I lost a lot of my passion for everything. She had raised me and it was my first loss so close to home. However, no matter what I always found myself continuing to find ways to make music. Almost as a coping mechanism, and that’s when I knew this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I just want to be an entertainer.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been many days when I felt like no one supported me. I still have those days to this day. When I lost my great-grandmother back in 2016 I found writers block to have a strong chokehold on me. I struggled constantly trying to stay positive and keep going. Dealing with that on top of life and family issues can make anybody want to quit or give up. But you just can’t. I wanted to quit so many times back then, it was such a hard fight to stay focused. I just has to remember why I was movtivated to do all of this in the first place. I want to change my family’s lives. I just had to realize it all started with me, now I look back and im so glad I didn’t give in and give up.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a woman of many talents. I have trained in many areas of entertainment. If I had to list them all I’d say, I am a singer/songwriter, professional dancer, model, actress, and published poet. But I have to much more to learn and grow in and do that I just call myself an entertainer because regardless of which element it is, I just love to perform.

I am a R&B artist from Inkster Mi. That alone set me apart from others because my hometown is extremely small. Most people outside of Detroit have never heard of it before. So I really want to change that for us because under all the “stereotypes” there are actually really talented people there.

I just recently released my second single entitled “XoXo” on all platforms. It’s doing so much better than I could’ve even imagined that it’s just motivating me to keep going. Keep putting myself out there through this music and I know in my heart something will come from it.

What does success mean to you?
I define success as being able to make enough money from doing what you love everyday, that money is never an obstacle. Truly being able to enjoy life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/monaimusic
• Instagram: instagram.com/monai_xoxo
• Twitter: twitter.com/monaixoxo
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC798OQqu5w-oRLc9s9w7PhQ

Image Credits
Xvtv Studios Jaijaia Smith Detroit Styling Company Get It Done Media Jody1Kanobie