Hailing from South London, £Monzo emerges from the stomping ground of many incredible artists, coming in strong with the perfect combination of confidence, bravado and charm. A jack of all trades but a master of the Pretty Girl Grime sound, £Monzo is definitely the artist to watch out tomorrow. Proving herself to be a multi-dimensional artist, she skillfully blends grime, RnB, afrobeats and more. Her latest collaboration with JME has catapulted her into the spotlight, reaching many who may not have heard of her before. She's poised to be everywhere, positioning herself as the next in line to change the sound of music.

How would you describe £Monzo the artist?

“Ooo, I think £Monzo the artist is just a whole big vibe and energy but ever-changing and ever-growing. That's how I would describe £Monzo. Very fierce and very braggadocious, if I would say. But at the same time, I would say very humble and understanding how to be a go getter type of artist. Thats how I would describe £Monzo.”

Okay cool! So where did that fierceness come from ?

“I think it came from growing up and seeing the women around me. All the women around me are very much go-getters, they're very much head strong - they know what they want to do, they know who they are and know what they want to be. So for me seeing that, I thought I’m just going to adopt and adapt that same fierceness.”

Okay, nice. So I've noticed that you like to collaborate your fashion within your videos and even your photos from Instagam. Where did that come from? Was that from your upbringing or the women around you ?

“Yeah I would say the same thing as well. My grandma was a seamstress and so was my mum at one point as well. So I like to make my own outfits. I would see something and be like ‘okay let me put this together’ and ‘put that together’, put things that I like here and then mesh it together with things that are so different, so that's what developed my style. I've also realised I really like the bamboo earrings and think that's a signature for me now. The more I do it, the more people will recognise me off of it.”

I believe it was your video S.I.T and I saw that you doubled up the bamboo earrings and I've not seen that before. That’s proper creative! That might be my next look. I haven’t worn bamboo earrings in ages! I would definitely like to do that, it’s a great look!

How did you first get into music and who inspired you to pursue it?

“I got into music because my dad was a DJ. So at the age of 11, I started DJ’ing with my dad and my younger brother actually. That was how I first got into music and after that I was deciding to go into songwriting and then from song writing I’ve become a full blown rapper. I'm inspired by a range of different artists. You’ve got Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Remi Ma, [and] Nicki Minaj. But you’ve also got Azealia Banks and Missy Elliot, who I’m inspired by. 50 Cent, 2Pac, [and the] culture is what inspires me. Also growing up in the UK, I grew up listening to grime growing up, from all different sounds that comes from the UK. So even seeing Ms.Dynamite on as a young kid and even So Solid. I'm from the same area where So Solid is from [so] listening to them [is] what inspired me. When I was a kid, I would watch tv [and] I would see all of them.”

That’s reminding me of Channel U days! I don’ know why they took it off TV! And if they haven’t already put it on Youtube, they need to! There were a lot of New York artists that you mentioned. Is that one of your aspirations to collaborate with artists from New York or work with a producer.

“Yeah definitely! I think in another life I’d be from New York.”

Out of those artists you’ve listed, who would you want to work with ?

“Ooo.. I ca-... all of them! It's got to be all, [if] I had the opportunity to work with all of the artists that inspired me, then I'm going for it.”

Your creative process, how do you manage to work your way around it? Do you sit down and say “this is what I'm going to do “ or does it just come to you?

“I think I'm learning there's different ways I like to create. One way is definitely isolation, I like to be by myself. I found out going through studio sessions [that] I like to be by myself. When I'm by myself, I can unleash all the craziness that's in my mind. But then also I like to listen to a beat and listen to the song over and over again. And once the song is in my head, I’m ready! I'll make the song in 30 minutes.”

Do you produce your own music and then write to it or do you usually outsource your producers?

“I usually outsource producers. But I’m learning how to produce myself and I’ve produced a few tracks already. I think I’m getting it! I think I'm fretting it!”

When did you start learning to produce?

“When I started producing was from the track I released called PGG (Pretty Girl Grime) freestyle. I was literally just messing about and produced the track and I was like ok cool, if I could do this track [then] I think I could produce more.”

Yeah that would be amazing. Going back to when you mentioned songwriting, so is there a chance we will hear a sing song. Can you sing?

(laughs) “I can’t sing girl, but I’mma try. I do have a few sing songy type of songs. More in the hip hop kind of lane so it’s like hiphop RnB. You will definitely hear some of that. I try to not limit myself.”

Definitely not. That’s the most important part of being an artist, its about picking and collaborating different things to help paint your image as much as you can. How would you describe your sound?

“I would say my sound in terms of my tone is very laid back and chill. I’m doing alot but not really doing alot, that’s how it sounds vocally. But in terms of my rap and the way I spit, I call it sexy grime. There’s like PGG, Pretty Girl Grime, it's a mixture like that. That's how I would describe my sound.”

What are some of the themes and messages you aim to convey through your music when your listeners hear your music?

“I want it to convey energy, I want it to feel like it’s something for the girls but something for the guys as well. I definitely want it to feel bossy. When they listen to it, I want them to feel like a boss. The energy always gives ‘boss’, so that’s what I want.”

When l’ve listened to your cadence alone, especially when I’m driving it just makes me feel like that. Like you said, it is sexy but not in a way that’s not too full on its very relaxed. It’s definitely giving that. It’s 100% spot on.

“I must be doing something right if you’re getting it!”

Yeah exactly, you are. Spot on! How did the collaboration with JME come about?

“So when I put out the original S.I.T. he saw my tweet about it. And I don’t know how he saw it. He tweeted about it and I was like “wow that's amazing, JME tweeting about my song out of nowhere”. I sat with the song, and we did a remix with SGaWD. She's from Nigeria. I loved it. She literally killed it. I sat there and I was like “You know what I love SGaWDs verse but I also still would like JME to do something to this record.” So I tweeted it. “I would love JME to remix this track.” And a few days later he sent me his verse into my inbox. That's it.”

What?! Just like that!

“Just like that! I didn't think he was going to see it. But he just sent me the verse.”

Wow you’re definitely doing something right. Just the fact that he sent you the verse he fully believes in you. Listen, you’re definitely heading in the right direction. Fully!

“God willing.”

No, God’s willed. He’s willed it already. I’ve never heard anything like that to be honest.

“Nor have I!”

To put out a song and JME sees it, and says he likes it and you tweet you want him to jump on the record and he sends you a verse! Nah!

“I've been around him a lot since I've done the record and my mind is still blown. Even when I’m around him, [my mind] is still blown that wow JME actually likes my music. It’s crazy to me.”

Yeah yeah, no that's sick! So when you’re around each do you guys plan on coming out with another song or producing new music?

“Definitely working. He’s got a whole bunch of music he’s produced. I don’t think people understand how creative and how much of a music lover he is. He's got so much beats, a crazy amount of beats. People wouldn't even know he produces heavily like that. Hopefully we can do another collaboration at some point.”

Is there any other artist in the UK you would want to collaborate with ?

“You know what, I'm never fussy with artists. I just want to collaborate with good music. The scene has so many different artists. From Young T and Bugsey to Ms Banks , Unknown T [and] Br3nya - there are so many artists. I’m just honoured if they want to do something with me.”

Apart from working with JME, what are your most memorable experiences or moments from your music career so far?

“I think putting out the first freestyle, the Notorious Freestyle. People still love that freestyle. I was so unsure of putting that freestyle out. Once it went out loads of people loved and I was like okay cool this is enough for me to keep going.”

Why weren't you you feel sure about putting out the song?

“Girl! Making music and putting it out there, that's hard!”

You know what! I get why that would be hard. I get you. I could imagine you’re putting out your art for everyone to see and the fact that you’ve created it, you’ve gone through a whole process and then to share it with people and you don’t know how they're going to receive it. I can only imagine how hard that process can be. So, well done. You’re stepping out and you're able to push yourself to show people you have talent.

How would do engage with your fans and community?

“I love seeing everyones messages, when I see people just messaging on either on Tiktok or Instagram comments, direct message me on Instagram wherever it is. I love seeing it and replying back. I love to sit on Tiktok live. That's my place and I sit on Tiktok live for a couple hours and talk about whatever it really doesn’t matter to me and share pieces of me with everyone. For me to understand them [and] them to understand me.”

How do your supporters influence your direction or your creativity ?

“Sometimes what I've done, send them the demo version, to let them hear and ask them to tell me what they think about the record. Once they let me know what they think. It’s either I’ll go back and change it. Or they're like don't touch anything. I love letting them hear what's in the vault, or even telling me you should collaborate with this person, and I’ll be alright, does their sound align with my sound? If yes, I'll try to find a way to get through to that artist.”

Has there been a specific artist that has come up quite a lot the the fans have asked for ?

“No, not any particular artist . Actually yes, Ms Banks is who a lot of people ask for. But I know she's really busy - she's even touring with Megan Thee Stallion, so whenever she’s ready. I’m ready!”

Yeah that would be a good idea because both of your energies are boss vibes. So I think that would be amazing! Do you have any specific goals for your future as an artist?

“Definitely the goal for the rest of this year is to have more songs coming out. There's different goals I have, definitely being able to put out a project. That's one. To be able to do my own show and see everyone's faces, see all the supporters. Those are my goals.”

Have you got any shows coming up this year? Have you done any shows recently?

“Yeah I’ve done a few shows earlier this year. I've got one coming up in the Czech Republic so we’ll see how that goes.”

Oooh that's going to be different! That's a different crowd. On Spotify you’re able to see where your listeners are, so is that the reason you decided to go to the Czech Republic to perform?

“They shouted me and they said " hey look, we love your music, can you come" ? And I said “Yes!”. Why not? They’re definitely in my top ten of different cities and different countries. The Netherlands is in my top 10’s as well as America and Nigeria so it's like, if I can go to the Czech Republic, let me find a way to get to the rest of them.”

Yeah you can definitely do it. So is that your background from Nigeria . Would you do Afrobeats? Is that a direction you would go to?

“I’ve done afrobeats before.”

I've listened to quite a few song but I didn't come across it.

“It was four singles, however I don't know if I’d go back down that route. I will never say never because Afro beats and being Nigerian and it’s in my nature, it's in my culture.”

What tribe are you from? Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa?

“I don't speak Yoruba that well.”

Yeah, I was going to say you can throw it in.

“Yeah I like to throw it in every now and then, in a freestyle, or one or two records. I would throw it in any type of record. Not even just Afrobeats, just any record just so people know that I am Nigerian, and I'm representing.”

And that's the main thing. Obviously we're Black and British but our families are coming from different countries so being able to incorporate a sprinkle of our background into anything is so important. Down the line, we have to keep the legacy, letting children know ‘this is where we come from and this is how things go’. If you end up doing another song, I’ll be here to listen to it. I feel like it would be great because your other songs are amazing.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out in the industry?

“I would say just start! Because I think one thing we do is sit there and want things to be perfect. Just start. Whether you're putting out a video or a record, just put it online. Just start. Believe in yourself. It's sounds so cliche but it's so true. Your confidence in yourself will grow and that will help with everything else - with releasing, talking to people etc. Believe in yourself and put yourself out there.”

What advice was given to you when you were starting out?

“It would be the same thing but it was also the business. I did take that advice and learnt a lot about the business. I’m still learning, you can't ever stop learning.”

I would definitely say that’s one thing a lot of artists don't do and that's how they end up with bad deals and stuff like that. So God willing any artist you work with will send you in the right direction. If you could work on any project apart from music, what would it be?

“I think I would do something in the DJ realm again. Going back to the DJ kind of stuff. That’s something I would do.”

Would you put out your own clothing / accessory line?

“Oh! I wasn’t thinking that but for sure!”

Yeah! Because I was thinking clothes would be great!

“Funny enough, my initial route alongside DJ-ing was to be a fashion stylist. I've always wanted a fashion house to house designers, stylists, photographers, models, that would definitely something I want to do in the future.”

Yeah that would be amazing. That's definitely something you should tap into so you get to your brand! Would you ever direct your own music video.

“Notorious was a bit of direction from me. It was more that I knew the style and I knew I wanted to be in a car. The PGG freestyle I completely directed that, shout out to the videographer Alex who helped me do that and I edited the video myself. S.I.T the remix video I helped direct that one with Ian, he did both videos. I try to have my hand in everything. To try and test the vision out.”

Are there any shows you’ve got coming in the UK?

“At the moment no, I hope by september. But I'm working on it. If anyone wants to find out where I’m going to be next just check Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. I literally update on there to let people know what's happening, what shows I may be at. I always try to let my supporters know.”

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