Already catching the attention of her rap peers including Ms Banks, Cristale and Grime legend JME, £Monzo is the slick lyricist and tastefully gritty artist who is ready to take the scene by storm. Get familiar with this VIPER interview…
What five words define your sound?
Sexy, fierce, uncompromising, timeless, expansive.
Tell me something unique about your creative process.
I don’t smoke or drink (that much) because I like to think about what I’m saying/writing and anytime I write. To get the best out of me I need the room I’m in to be hot: 28 degrees minimum. I like to play a beat, I lay down whatever I think of first on a track, but most times I change it like a 100 times before it gets released, rare ones like ‘Notorious Freestyle’ and ‘S.I.T’ are scratch recordings that end up being on the finished records.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
‘Notorious M.O.N. freestyle’, I think it’s the epitome of £MONZO.
What inspired you to make that song?
I was mad at a producer, you know the usual. I felt like I had to get my power back, he was underestimating me, so I felt I needed to show him I’m not one to be fucked with; I really can rap.
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
I think I’m very honest when writing all my songs. I’m a private person so sharing any of my thoughts on a record is vulnerable to me.
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
Best experience was having ladies in a crowd singing my lyrics back at a show I was a guest for, it was unexpected. I thought no one there knew me, so it brought my energy up. Hearing people sing your lyrics is a sensational feeling. Worst was a show I did in Peckham Rye. It felt so unorganised it threw me off, the wrong version of my song played, it was in front of known people in the industry. Ugh terrible.
What is your favourite song to perform?
‘Notorious M.O.N. Freestyle’
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
Remy Ma – ‘When I See Her’, that song was so cold to me as kid. I felt her, she rapped her arse off, she wasn’t intimidated. I wanted to be like her. I wanted to make Hip Hop, she made me want to be a female rapper.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
As a nickname people call me Monz, Monzo, Mon. MONZO just stuck.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
Fashion designer.
What’s success to you?
Having a loyal fan base, having my songs everywhere, having something to show my inner child that we overcame everything.
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
Four years ago I was writing R&B and Rap songs at work everyday. I was getting tired of the mundane routine of a 9-5. I felt like a hidden star, so I had to get out. I quit and never looked back.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
All socials except snapchat. @3MONZO on everything. Message ya girl!
