Rising Stars: Meet Angela Mona of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Mona.

Hi Angela, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I come from an Armenian immigrant family of hardships and broken dreams, one that sacrificed everything and lived in survival mode to make ends meet, build security for their children. Within that pain and cultural tragedy though came music, and girl was there music everywhere. Practically my first language before I could properly speak anything.

It’s just in me, and my love for it grew a thousand times more- so much that I’d throw imaginary concerts in the living room and just perform my heart out. “Ladies and ‘Jelemen'” over and over again, just vibing out with my toy microphones.

From piano to voice lessons, performing live then songwriting since age 10-11, I knew in me what I had to do and where I’d wanna go. But sadly I stopped and gave up in-between, my confidence shattered and the isolation worsened. Homeschooling didn’t help either, I grew hyper-independent with everything that I couldn’t even trust myself. Just had to please my parents as the “good daughter” yet failed to truly listen to myself and what I wanted without the validation of others. Man was I insecure and out of it, so grossed out by the growing sexualization and confusing comments from others.

So much happened back and forth through the years that I grew accustomed to the suppression and hiding. I hid everything, even my authentic self from being in the wrong crowd all my life- it’d get very lonely, but didn’t realize how that all affected me until my early 20s.

When I finally found my purpose and jumped back into music around age 16 (after 2 serious surgeries), I was still very naive towards my mental health. The repression built up overtime to the point I broke down and exploded. It was chaos, learning and unlearning so much of myself. Upgrading, leveling up, teaching myself meditation and deep breathing, lots of reflecting and regretting. These all took me back to my childhood and why I gravitated to music and performance- it’s always felt powerful.

The power to transform through sound, to feel and make everyone else feel. It’s natural and very spiritual, something you can’t easily teach cause it comes from inside of you. So I guess that’s what kept me here today, is knowing that I’m the answer to my ancestors’ prayers who came before me- that I’m needed to break cycles and claim my energy.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing ever goes smooth. You think it’s a railroad of melting butter til it starts to burn. The fire grows stronger, and that fuels your drive further. The fire in me didn’t light for so long, at some point it dimmed in my adolescence and no role model helped me to revive it. Along the way eventually, I had to practice reviving it myself from hell and back.

I wasn’t mentally prepared for the big transition to LA after high school. I craved challenges, new experiences, and a dream to become a signed artist- boy did that fall off so fast. Within 2 years of being an optimistic college freshman in a pack of wolves, I was nearly eaten alive and spit back out. I let my guard down with so many different people, yet wasn’t aware of their true faces.

Heart break after another, being left confused and frustrated. I constantly wondered why certain people were that way with me, what was wrong with me? Was it my approach? My energy? My voice? My voice was INSANELY different as a teen up until age 22, I feel as though I hit puberty a second time- late bloomer shit.

When you’re a fresh student with pure thoughts and intentions, especially at 18-19 years old, you never think that you could end up getting sexually harassed and nearly assaulted on college campus by some dudes a bit older than you. You want to see the good in people, you want to be the light and be the change. Well, I had to learn the hard way of what it’s like being a girl in this world. What it’s like becoming a young woman.

In the music and entertainment world, it’s the same damn thing. You can’t trust easily, yet I did. I fell into traps then dodged many bullets. I could’ve put myself in dangerous situations but luckily, my mother was with me. She had to be with me, at least she was proactive and cared to be present. God bless her heart.

Frankly, no one mentally and emotionally prepared for what was to come to my teen self. However, I’m grateful on the other hand. If it weren’t for lessons like that, I wouldn’t have grown wiser and more vigilant today.

I wish for all women my age and younger to be just as wise and mindful with themselves- the people in this world (and you know who) aren’t all that kind to women.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
There’s so many layers so I just tell people I’m multi-faceted. I do it all cause in this generation as an independent artist/creative, you’re literally juggling so much as your own boss.
You’re the singer-songwriter, but you’re also the producer and sometimes mixing engineer. The creative director, the video producer, editor, sound designer, OH and don’t forget- you’re ALSO the marketer and manager!

You must do it ALL before you have the sufficient budget to hire a team, and when I do have a budget- I do my best to manage the funds for a certain project so that it’s enough. It could be for a video shoot, photoshoot, 2-3 songs, etc.
I want to make sure that whoever I work with gets PAID. I know what it’s like working for free and believe me- I get it. I understand the frustration. Your work should be respected and monetized, as long as the work ethic isn’t half-assed.

Music has always been my main avenue, in fact I also teach (which is my part-time). I give piano, voice, and performance lessons/coaching to all ages, but mostly elementary children and teens. They’re my inspiration, all kids are- as someone who’s been working with kids for years since age 15, I genuinely enjoy my time with each and every one of them.
Down the line, as my platform grows, I’d love to start some kind of creative foundation/program for underprivileged kids where ethical artist development is involved. There are insanely talented minds out there, they just need the resources, support, and mentorship to advance.

I’m just proud to be alive. I’m glad I’m still here and didn’t end up hurting myself. Those dark rooms really haunted me, but I got myself out and learned to blossom. Books really helped, I’m proud of myself for taking reading seriously and choosing to be more curious, to become more educated. Dance helped me to unleash my deepest feels and tap into my sensuality without feeling ashamed.

Music was always there, and always will be. I’m proud of myself for not waiting on losers and just taking action on my production. Producing is becoming more fun and enthralling.

I don’t know what sets me apart from others, I don’t even want to be separated. Sure, I obviously don’t care to blend in and get drained so easily by the noise- but at the end of the day, creatives need creatives.
We need each other wholeheartedly without the social hierarchy and without the performative kindness.
Everything must feel real so that we can truly connect and not feel so apart. That’s a major issue with artists that not everyone mentions.
Companies/organizations in music tend to feed into the whole “community” topic as a sales tactic, yet fail to genuinely act on it. There’s still hidden competition, forgetfulness, and a hidden social hierarchy quietly set in place that people pretend to not notice.

Come on now, drop the egos, forget your follower count and let’s build. We’re fighting billionaires at this point for crying out loud- how else are we supposed to define the mission?

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Oh honey this isn’t my industry. I AM the industry, but for myself of course :3

I see great things happening, they’re already happening and the stars are aligning.

Not much to say except that there are new sounds coming out soon, and new visuals ^.^
my universe iAM is slowly growing and I hope it won’t be so confusing to my audience, yet I know that my true audience will just get it. The real mad ones just know.

I don’t follow the trends and the noise, but I do believe great changes are needed and that all starts in each and every individual. People need to create greater and not settle for mediocrity, not settle for AI-generated garbage.

Don’t let big tech rule your lives and rule the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://angelamona.univer.se/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moshiwazhere/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@moshiwazhere
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/angelamona
• Other: https://angelamona.my.canva.site/portfolio

Image Credits
Photography credits: Isabel Rist (2026) | Evers (2024)
All self-edited