It has been said that music has the power to transcend all boundaries. Music calms the turbulent and soothes the discontented. Music lifts and enlightens while pulling us closer to our inner selves. Its lyrics reflect the complexities of our lives and express our hopes for the future. From Sonatas to Sombas, from Rock to Rap, no other medium has the power to compel our emotions and enrich our souls. Uptown Recording artist Monifah possesses this same power. Like a well tuned instrument, Monifah is a captivating medium through which joyful sound flows. Her sultry songs warmly cradle your spirit. "When people come to see my show," says Monifah, "I want them to walk away feeling good; feeling me." With a voice as rich and full as the finest bordeaux, Monifah has what it takes to become our next diva.
Few artists in this business can compare to the powerfully gifted young woman, this is one singer no one will ignore. Producer Sean "Puffy" Combs, a legend in his own time, recognizes that "Monifah is guaranteed to be one of the world's premier vocalists." "Once in a blue moon, someone or something like this comes along. Monifah is special. She's got all the right things to make it happen." Her debut album, Moods .... Moments is sure to take rhythm and blues to the next level. The first single from the album, I Miss You (Come Back Home) is a swinging lesson in the seductive art of luring back your lover. With tracks produced by music master Heavy D, this album is on the fast track to becoming Gold.
As Heavy D points out, " Monifah is in a class by herself. It's rare for a performer to have a good voice and a great personality. She has managed to combine those elements with a downtown cool image that puts her ahead of her R&B peers. Everyone will fall in love with her. I believe in Monifah and in her longevity."
Born in the Spanish Harlem section of New York City, Monifah is no stranger to the music industry and the stage. As a child, she was surrounded by a family that actively participated in making music. Her two brothers, her mother, aunts and uncles all sang either semi-professionally or as a serious hobby. Even her grandmother encouraged the family to play music all the time. The tunes they played ranged from Ma Rainey Blues to Tina Turner and Gladys Knight. Monifah's exposure to this wide variety of musical genres during her childhood made such an impact on her that she began to develop a unique vocal style early on. "My mom and I used to put on little shows in the house," says Monifah, "and there was always someone playing my grandmother's piano." Recognizing her talent, Monifah's mother began to take her on auditions for children's roles in musical theaters. At the tender age of ten, Monifah landed a role in the off-Broadway musical production of "Midsummer Night's Dream."
Monifah continued to develop her craft by using every opportunity to perform on stage. In the course of her work she realized that what she really loved was live performance. "I'm thirsty for live performance," she says. "I enjoy people and I have a need to reach out to them on stage. It's all I think about and I can't imagine doing anything else."
Her hard work and determination paid off. Monifah was booked on one of the largest and most popular world tours of the year, singing back up for Maxi Priest. There, she got a real sense of what it is like to live on the road and perform in front of thousands of fans. What she realized from the experience was that she is born for the stage and ready tor the challenge. Part of that challenge is reaching out to her community and touching the lives of her people. "When it comes down to it, I'm gonna do the right thing," says Monifah. "Change comes with unification and I think every artist has a responsibility to pull our young people together. we need to and solutions to the problems in out community and allow those positive messages to flow through our music."
Clearly, her album is a testament to her commitment and her belief in her own gift. "It's Alright," a song which is produced and written by Heavy D is a beautifully encouraging ballad which lets you know that in the midst of misfortune, hope still reigns supreme. The bass heavy groove on the track "Nobody's Body" is a driving force on the album. The song is a declaration of her strength as a vocalist and makes a point about the importance of finding love instead of casual sex.
The result is a collection of music that establishes Monifah as the songstress supreme. There is no doubt that her contribution to music will be legendary. The stage is set, her evolution is ongoing, and she is ready to be reckoned with. But her bottom line is reaching out to people, without getting caught up in the hype. As she puts it, "What it really comes down to is having a passion for your talent. You can actually touch people's lives with it. But what you have to remember is that it's all a blessing."
Source: http://www.mca.com/mca_records/library/bios/bio.monifah.html
