Victoria Monét
Victoria Monét McCants (born May 1, 1993) is an American singer and songwriter. She became involved in performing arts at a young age, singing in the youth choir at her church and performing in a city dance team. She soon took to writing and began working with producer Rodney Jerkins. Previously signed to Atlantic Records, Monét released her debut EP Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1 in 2014 and her follow-up EP Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 2 in 2015. Her debut album, Jaguar, will be released on July 31, 2020.
Victoria Monét | |
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Monét performing at the Dangerous Woman Tour in 2017 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Victoria Monét McCants |
Born | Georgia, U.S. | May 1, 1993
Origin | Sacramento, California, U.S. |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 2008–present |
Associated acts |
Monét has written songs for a number of artists including Nas, Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, T.I., GOOD Music, Lupe Fiasco, Chrisette Michele, Coco Jones, Chris Brown, Diddy Dirty Money, Janelle Monáe, and Jasmine V. In 2019, Monét received two Grammy Award nominations for Album of the Year for her work on Grande's Thank U, Next and Record of the Year for "7 Rings".
Early life
Monét was born in Georgia to an African American mother and French father, and moved to Sacramento, California, as a child.[1] She was fascinated with performing arts, taking an interest in singing and dancing. Her first onstage experience came when she sang in her Catholic school holiday plays. She also sang in the youth choir at her local church but it was dance that initially gave her a sense of herself as a performer. By the time she became a student at the local performing arts high school, Monét had developed a grueling rehearsal schedule. She taught at two different dance studios and rehearsed with a local dance group, Boogie Monstarz, at Step One Dance Studios in Sacramento, while working at a local bank.
Career
2012–2015: Songwriting and Nightmares & Lullabies
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. Meanwhile, she had been educating herself on the production world, learning about producers and making music at local recording studio. She learned about Rodney Jerkins (aka Darkchild) and decided to add him on Myspace.[2] Shortly after that, he invited her to come to Los Angeles and audition for a new girl group he was forming, Purple Reign.[3] The group landed a record deal with Motown a year later. The group was eventually dropped from the label. Soon her hooks and songs were sold to Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Ariana Grande, Nas, T.I., B.o.B, Chrisette Michele, Mario and Diddy Dirty Money, and others. Atlantic Records CEO Craig Kallman then offered her a record deal.[1] On October 30, 2014, Monet 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.[4][5]
2016–2018: Life After Love and touring
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. Monét released her single "Do You Like It" on July 26, 2016.
Following the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, the death of Christina Grimmie, the shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and the Dallas Police shooting, Monét released "Better Days" with Ariana Grande. 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 single "Do You Like It" which was followed by "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[6] featuring previous tour-mate Bia, was released on July 19, 2018 alongside a music video.[7] The latter half of the "Life After Love" series, Life After Love, Pt. 2, was released on September, 28, 2018.[8]
2019–present: Jaguar
On April 1, 2019, Victoria Monét and Ariana Grande released the single "Monopoly" while Ariana Grande was on her Sweetener World Tour.
In late 2019, Monét released "Ass Like That". The song served as the lead single to her upcoming debut studio album. 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.[9] On June 19, 2020, Monét released the single "Experience" with Khalid and SG Lewis alongside the pre-order of her debut album, Jaguar, which will be released on July 31, 2020 via Tribe Records and Platoon.[10][11] The album will include all four previously released singles.[12] On June 26, 2020, Monét officially announced the project on her social media simultaneously unveiling the cover art.[13]
Songwriting
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 and went on to co-write songs such as "Be Alright", "Let Me Love You" and "Thank U, Next" 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; "You Wouldn't Understand" by Nas; "Sin City" by GOOD Music; "Visual Love" by Chrisette Michele; "Live on Tonight" by T.I.; and "Monopoly" by Ariana Grande (featuring Monét).
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.[14]
Personal life
Monét came out as bisexual in November 2018 through Twitter, referencing the song "Chanel" by Frank Ocean which is about Ocean's own sexuality.[15][16][17][18]
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details |
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Jaguar |
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Extended plays
Title | Album details |
---|---|
Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1 |
|
Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 2 |
|
Life After Love, Pt. 1 |
|
Life After Love, Pt. 2 |
|
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [21] |
AUS [22] |
CAN [23] |
GRE Dig. [24] |
IRE [25] |
NLD [26] |
NZ [27] |
SCO [28] |
UK [29] | |||
"Made in China"[30] (featuring Ty Dolla Sign) |
2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1 |
"90's Babies"[31] | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 2 |
"High Luv"[32] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"See the Light"[33] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Do You Like It"[34] | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Life After Love, Pt. 2 |
"Ready"[35] | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Freak"[36] (solo or featuring BIA)[upper-alpha 1] |
2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Life After Love, Pt. 1 |
"Monopoly"[38] (with Ariana Grande) |
2019 | 69 | 21 | 38 | 1 | 15 | 76 | 19 | 21 | 23 | Thank U, Next[upper-alpha 2] |
"Ass Like That"[40] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Jaguar[41] | |
"Moment"[42] | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Dive"[43] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Experience" (with Khalid and SG Lewis) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Featured singles
- 2015: "A Little More" (Machine Gun Kelly featuring Victoria Monét)
Guest appearances
Title | Year | Album | Artist(s) |
---|---|---|---|
"You Wouldn't Understand" | 2012 | Life Is Good | Nas |
"Live on Tonight" | Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head | T.I. | |
"Somewhere"[44] | 2013 | Born II Sing Vol. III | Eric Bellinger |
"Stay" | 2014 | Paperwork | T.I. |
"About My Issue" | T.I., Nipsey Hussle | ||
"Fear Warning"[45] | 2015 | Trapnati | Hardo, Stevie B |
"Losing"[46] | 2016 | Summer on Sunset | Wale |
"Kill" | 2017 | Drogas Light | Lupe Fiasco, Ty Dolla $ign |
"The Amazing Mr. Fuck Up" | 2018 | Dime Trap | T.I. |
"Got Her Own" | 2019 | Charlie's Angels | Ariana Grande |
Production and songwriting
Year | Song | Artist | Album |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | "You Wouldn't Understand" (featuring Victoria Monét) |
Nas | Life Is Good |
"Sin City" | GOOD Music | Cruel Summer | |
"Introduction" | T.I. | Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head | |
"Live On Tonight" (featuring Victoria Monét) | |||
2013 | |||
"Malice In Wonderland" | Victoria Monét | ||
"Déjà Vu" | Coco Jones | Made Of | |
"Visual Love" | Chrisette Michele | Better | |
"Honeymoon Avenue" | Ariana Grande | Yours Truly | |
"Daydreamin'" | |||
2014 | "Would You Wait" | Victoria Monét | |
"Intro" | Ariana Grande | My Everything | |
"My Everything" | |||
"Only 1" | |||
"Cadillac Song" | |||
2015 | "Everlasting Love" | Fifth Harmony | Reflection |
"Them Girls Be Like" | |||
"Reflection" | |||
"We Know" | |||
"Double Tap" (featuring 2 Chainz) |
Jordin Sparks | Right Here, Right Now | |
"A Little More" (featuring Victoria Monét) |
Machine Gun Kelly | General Admission | |
"Intro" | Ariana Grande | Christmas & Chill | |
"Wit It This Christmas" | |||
"December" | |||
"Not Just on Christmas" | |||
"True Love" | |||
"Winter Things" | |||
2016 | "Moonlight" | Dangerous Woman | |
"Be Alright" | |||
"Let Me Love You" (featuring Lil Wayne) | |||
"Leave Me Lonely" (featuring Macy Gray) | |||
"I Don't Care" | |||
"Knew Better / Forever Boy" | |||
"Step On Up" | |||
"No Way" | Fifth Harmony | 7/27 | |
2017 | "I Want You" | Sara Evans | Words |
2018 | "Goodnight n Go" | Ariana Grande | Sweetener |
"Pete Davidson" | |||
"Thank U, Next" | Thank U, Next | ||
2019 | "7 Rings" | ||
"Needy" | |||
"NASA" | |||
"Make Up" | |||
"Ghostin" | |||
2020 | "Do It" | Chloe x Halle | Ungodly Hour |
Awards and nominations
Year | Organization | Award | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Grammy Awards | Album of the Year | Thank U, Next | Nominated | [47] |
Record of the Year | "7 Rings" | Nominated |
References
- "Victoria Monet". ASCAP EXPO. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- YKIGS. "Interview: Victoria Monét Talks Nightmares & Lullabies Project, Working With Ariana Grande, & Signing With Atlantic Records". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- "Profile: Victoria Monet". Soul Train. December 12, 2014.
- ThisIsRnB. "New Music: Victoria Monet - Nightmares & Lullabies (Act 1) EP". THISISRnB. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- JUSMUSIC, DJ. "Atlantic Recording Artist Victoria Monet Drops 'Nightmares & Lullabies' ACT 1". Singers Room. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- Freak Remix, retrieved 2020-06-09
- Victoria Monet - Freak (Remix) (Official Video) ft. Bia, retrieved 2020-06-09
- "Life After Love, Pt. 2 by Victoria Monet on Google Play Music". Google Play Music.
- "Victoria Monét Is Apple Music's Newest Up Next Artist". Teen Vogue. February 11, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- "Victoria Monét's New Song Is A Zen Reminder To Seize Your 'Moment'". MTV. February 6, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- "Victoria Monet Announces Jaguar And Releases Official Visual For "MOMENT"". Respect. February 23, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- "Jaguar by Victoria Monét". Apple Music. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
- "https://twitter.com/victoriamonet/status/1276561455723110405". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-06-26. External link in
|title=
(help) - "2020 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS". Grammys.com. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- O'Connor, Roisin (April 2, 2019). "Ariana Grande and Victoria Monet release new song Monopoly after speculation over 'bisexual' lyrics". The Independent.
- @VictoriaMonet (November 21, 2018). "After coming out, this thanksgiving coulda went waaaay left!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- @VictoriaMonet (November 9, 2018). "I want everyone to know that I'm single (since people wanna pretend I'm not) and make imaginary rules for me" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- @VictoriaMonet (November 9, 2018). "See both sides like Chanel" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1 – EP". Apple. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
- "Life After Love, Pt. 1 by Victoria Monet on Apple Music". iTunes.
- "Victoria Monét – Chart History: The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
- "Victoria Monét – Chart history: Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- "Official Billboard Charts – Digital Singles Chart". Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
- "Discografie Victoria Monét". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100: 5 April 2019 – 11 April 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- "Victoria Monét". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
- "Made In China (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) - Single by Victoria Monet on Apple Music". iTunes.
- "90's Babies - Single by Victoria Monet on Apple Music". iTunes.
- "High Luv - Single by Victoria Monet on Apple Music". iTunes.
- "See the Light - Single by Victoria Monet on Apple Music". iTunes.
- "Do You Like It - Single by Victoria Monet on Apple Music". iTunes.
- "Ready - Single by Victoria Monet on Apple Music". iTunes.
- "Life After Love, Pt. 1 by Victoria Monet on Apple Music". iTunes.
- https://open.spotify.com/album/4epvIuL8vjGOcBaEslxT5p?si=LKlAglyMRpmiQS3FdyjZEQ
- "Stories • Instagram". March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019 – via Instagram.
- "アリアナ・グランデの大ヒット・アルバム『thank u, next』のデラックス・エディションが、日本のファンの為だけにリリース決定!その"特別な発売日"とは!?" [Ariana Grande's blockbuster album "thank u, next" deluxe edition is released only for Japanese fans! When is the special release date?]. Universal Music Japan (in Japanese). May 27, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
- @VictoriaMonet (October 20, 2019). "Ass Like That // 10-22" (Tweet). Retrieved October 21, 2019 – via Twitter.
- "Victoria Monet Announces Jaguar And Releases Official Visual For "MOMENT"". Respect Magazine.
- "Moment - Single by Victoria Monet on Apple Music". iTunes.
- "Victoria Monet on Apple Music". iTunes.
- "Eric Bellinger - Born II Sing Vol. 3". iTunes. 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
- "Hardo - Trapnati - Download & Listen [New Mixtape]". hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
- "Summer On Sunset". HotNewHipHop.
- "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". GRAMMY.com. 2019-11-18. Retrieved 2019-11-20.