Like many singers, Monique's music career began at a young age as a member of her church choir. Each year she would anxiously await the Christmas Eve mass when, draped in white robes with silver garland halos she'd stand among her friends singing Joy to the World and Angels We Have Heard on High. To this day Monique credits the long, drawn out "Gloria" in the latter song with her ability to breathe properly and hold a long note. At age 12 Monique shifted her attention to instrumental music. Her ability to play the French Horn came so naturally that three months after she began playing she became the youngest member in her school's concert band. She spent her early teens as soloist and first chair in her school's Wind Ensemble. Her career as a horn player reached it's peak in 1996 when her High School Wind Ensemble traveled to Austria and took first place in the Vienna International Music Festival. At age 15, burnt out by the dedication and commitment involved in being part of an ensemble of such high caliber, Monique quit playing French Horn and returned to singing. She became first soprano in her school's chorus and chamber chorus and dabbled in Barbershop and Jazz vocals. When presented with the opportunity to take formal voice lessons she declined, realizing that her heart lied more in improvisation and writing her own music than in traditional techniques. Over time Monique's range increased to nearly three octaves and she began piecing together the many styles of music she sang and listened to to write songs of her own. Ten years later, at the age of 28, Monique has created a sound that is uniquely hers. With influences from traditional folk, soul and R&B she weaves lyrical melodies and simple instrumentation into songs that range from heartbreaking to toe-tapping to simply lovely. She keeps her voice in shape singing nightly lullabies to her two beautiful children who, along with her family, friends and the world around her, she draws inspiration from on a daily basis. When not playing solo Monique also fronts Murray's Rule, a popular 5-piece soul/funk band in Portland, Maine. Monique is currently working on her first full-length album, scheduled for release in Fall 2009.
Im nothing with out my Forest Sisters... or Bill Limaness or my keyboardist or hell everybody including you!!! whats a rock star without influences friends and fans? thats right... just a weirdo!
so my eyes do this thing where the pupils swell, my eyebrows just kinda droop and my lids peel back when i hear a voice that reaches my core and feels like it's pulling my soul through my ears.
