Victoria Monét's journey to musical stardom is not a straight line. It's a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and unwavering passion, navigating the twists and turns of the music industry while staying true to her authentic voice.
This case study delves into Monét's remarkable ascent, from her early days as a poetry-loving teenager to her triumphant Grammy wins in 2024. We'll explore the challenges she faced, the lessons learned, and the unwavering determination that ultimately propelled her to the top.
Victoria Monét's musical journey began with her love for poetry. After a successful audition for a new group ‘Purple Reign’, she landed a record deal with Motown. A year later the group was dropped before releasing any music.
Following the group's disbandment, Monét turned to songwriting as her main source of income.
Having written for artists like Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and Blackpink, Monét struggled for recognition in her solo career, questioning her worth and considering leaving the industry.
The quest for recognition as a solo artist started in 2014, and Monét achieved her first win with the independent release of the “Jaguar" EP in 2020, where she discovered her authentic sound.
Establishing her voice included being honest with herself, her fans, and her family. In November 2018, she came out as bisexual, allowing her to express more truth in her music, such as in the 2019 Grande duet 'Monopoly' and 'Touch Me,' the concluding track on 'Jaguar'.
Monét's 10-year delay in reaching her potential reflects broader industry challenges. Breaking out from the 'songwriter' label, especially for women, is difficult.
As Monét noted in an interview, the complication when female vocalists sound too similar to the artists they write for makes differentiation challenging.
Motherhood played a significant role in Monèt’s artistic rebirth, giving her new purpose and determination to elevate her career. While in labor with her first child, she continued working on her music.
Despite setbacks and doubts about her career, she persisted, releasing her debut full-length album, "Jaguar II," in August 2023, which received critical acclaim.
In 2023, Monét hit major milestones in her music career; releasing her debut album, Jaguar II, headlining a sold-out tour, and scoring a number-one hit with "On My Mama" on the Billboard chart.
Notably, her 2-year-old daughter, Hazel Monét, became the youngest Grammy nominee of all time due to her laughter on Victoria's track "Hollywood."
Victoria Monét's journey to success reached a pinnacle in 2024 as she won her first Grammy awards, including the Best New Artist trophy, Best R&B Album for "Jaguar II," and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
The long-overdue recognition came after years of hard work and dedication in the music industry.
Monét stressed the significance of reading contracts and understanding her value in the music industry. Despite being labelled as 'underrated' for years, her persistence, tenacity, and patience have finally yielded well-deserved success.
As a mother in her 30s, she represents a shift in archaic standards and continues to evolve as an artist, expressing the best of life through her music.