Monique’s career
began at an impromptu session at Francois Kevorkian’s
infamous Axis Studios. Gordon Clay (a.k.a. Nappy G)
of Groove Collective was working on a spoken word collaboration
with saxophonist Dana Vlcek, bandleader for Abstract
Truth.
They needed a vocalist to write and perform a record
in less than a week.
Gordon called Monique. The session lasted less than
an hour, the tune was “Like Water.” Post
session Vlcek immediately asked her to join the band
as lead vocalist and writer. She was indelibly influenced
by Abstract Truth’s
impressive collective of musicians whose resumes included
stints with the
legends Sun RA, Chaka Khan and Lester Bowie.
Their first single “Get Another Plan” released
on Francois K’s Wave music label, garnished immense
critical acclaim. The UK’s legendary taste maker
Gilles Peterson licensed “Get Another Plan”
for his imprint “Talkin Loud” in 1996 which
helped earn the band a coveted spot on URB magazine’s
NEXT 100 bands to watch. In 1998 Monique penned and
performed Abstract Truth’s follow up single “We
Had a Thing.” The soulful house remix of the tune
by Matthias “Matty” Heilbronn injected it
into the veins of the underground and its inclusion
on countless compilations, including Body and
SOUL NYC and Defected’s/Jazzy Jeff In the House,
has made it a bonafide dance floor classic and solidified
Monique’s place in underground music history.
The first of her solo recordings, “Pure”
with Naked Music’s Blue Six in 2000, was an international
success in serious set rotation by house music legendary
DJs Louie Vega, Danny Krivit and the godfather himself
Frankie Knuckles. And in the 9 years since, Monique
has released quality song after quality song championed
and produced by the biggest DJ/producers in house music.
w/ Sir Piers: “Don’t You Love Me”
2003 (Curious Records/UK)
w/ Studio Apartment/Frankie Feliciano: “Flight”
2004 (Kingstreet Records/US)
w/ Okada Taxi: “Come and Live With Me” 2004
(New World Records/JP)
remixed/re-released 2008 Symple Soul Records
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