For years, Victoria Monét has been behind the scenes penning some of the culture’s biggest hits for artists such as T.I., Chloe x Halle, and a host of others. Now, she is racking up her wins as an independent artist, showing no signs of letting up anytime soon.
During the 2024 Grammy Awards, Monét was a force to be reckoned with, attaining seven nominations and walking away with three awards, including making history as the first Black woman to win Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical), according to The Hollywood Reporter. This feat hits close to home for the “How Does It Make You Feel” crooner whose entry into engineering emerged following frustrations from studio sessions she was having in the past.
“The story of why I even know how to engineer is because I was working in a studio and wanting to record, and the people I was working with were getting sick of recording me,” she told Blavity in an interview earlier this year.
“So, I decided to learn how to record myself, and it’s just kind of another story of independence and really wanting something so bad you have to take matters into your own hands,” Monét continued. “And now, it’s super beneficial to me to go into any studio space to be able to know what I’m talking about, which is helpful for any artist, but especially female artists because a lot of times you’re in rooms with your male counterparts and, unfortunately, there may be some doubts that you know what you’re talking about when it comes to the electronic parts of bulk production or studio work. It’s really an honor to know that skill.”
In addition to that accolade, Monét also walked away with Grammy wins in the Best New Artist and Best R&B Album categories, ultimately leading her to deliver an impactful acceptance speech where she compared her growth to that of a plant.
“This award was a 15-year pursuit,” she said during her heartfelt Grammys speech. “I moved to LA in 2009, and I like to liken myself to a plant who was planted, and you can look at the music industry as soil. It can be looked at as dirty or it can be looked at as a source of nutrients and water. My roots have been growing underneath the ground, unseen for so long. I feel like today, I’m sprouting, finally above ground.”
Monét continues to bask in her moment in the spotlight, including the success of her popular song “On My Mama,” followed by a sold-out debut headlining tour.
When it comes to her work as an engineer, outside of just singing and songwriting, she also encourages other artists to get involved with the music-making process as a whole.
“I urge other artists, even if you’re not an engineer, to just know what is going on with your vocals because it just becomes a part of your knowledge and empowerment to be able to know what’s happening beyond just using your voice,” Monét told Blavity.
