Meet Monroe-Nicole

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monroe-Nicole.

Monroe-Nicole, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I’m a full-blooded Nigerian who was raised in Houston Texas. I had parents that went against the stencil of what is expected from a Nigerian parent and they allowed me to explore my paths as an individual, and entrepreneur and an artist. I got started doing music once a day when I was working as a teen in a restaurant. I had this melody that I couldn’t get out of my head. A friend overheard me one day and next thing you know I was in the studio.

I had a fear of music suddenly not becoming fun and of me not knowing who I was or being absolutely perfect. I was afraid to fail; so after doing a couple shows, I buried my love of music and explored other artistic avenues. Come time for college, my father and I flipped a coin between LA and NY and so here I am in Los Angeles in the year 2011 pursuing some kind of career in Fashion (fingers crossed) and studying marketing.

A couple of tears shed and years passed from jobs I just wasn’t passionate about and I found myself jobless for the first time since I was 15 years old. This should’ve scared me. I should’ve been frantic, however, I found that I could finally breathe again. I took the last 10 months to catch up with myself and rediscover myself artistically and really did some digging about what makes me happy. I found myself face to face again with music, my old songs and a new philosophy. Why the fuck not. Since then music has just been assembling its own path for me. Teaching me new things, showing news roads and opportunities and letting me be me. I’m not afraid to jump, yell skip all to my own beat. I’m here now… with all my personalities. Nothing to hide. Monroe & Company

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I make music! My music has no particular genre. I make songs the way different parts of me feels. and however, that presents itself is how I go about it. Typically I tell stories and have political stances about social issues and injustices. I hope people can relate and are really listening to understand or even to help them laugh and just see things from a different perspective.

Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
1. If artists are smart and really do their homework, conditions can be great. There is a lot more autonomy allowed with personal branding and goals. It’s much easier to show your work to the world. You can have millions of eyes and ears if you go about it creatively.

2. NOLAAAAAAAAA baby. New Orleans is one of the most magical cities in the United States. The creative and talent that resides there is enough to evoke tears just at the thought. There is true freedom there. I personally believe no other city has show that kind of creative freedom and acceptance.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I post snippets of all the things I’ve been working on on my music page and my main account on insta @hellomonroe @monroeandcomusic. There is a lot coming soon, performances, songs releases, etc. It’s only been a few months since I’ve reacquainted myself with music and I’m having an entire love affair with the industry currently. But all info/announcements pertaining to my music will be found there.

Contact Info:

• Email: youmetmonroe@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/monroeandcomusic

Image Credit:
photo by Jalisco Wayne

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