We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Moni Light. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Moni below.
Alright, Moni thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
The risk of following my dreams. My Junior year of University, I started singing in a band – the Kat Hall Band. It all began about 6 years ago when we discovered our voices meshed well when we sang spontaneously in California at a bonfire, while we both just happened to be visiting the area. With that, upon our return to school in Florida, I got invited to her live performances to sing back-up and harmonize. There, I learned that I had the ability to harmonize and sing in a creative, improvised, entertaining manner. Kat and I quickly built a strong friendship. Empowering and supporting each other every step of the way; growing side by side. Kat had expressed to me that she was going to move to Long Beach following the tour. That was when my body, mind and soul knew I had to take the risk and move across the country to pursue my dreams. I felt such a calling to come to California as well, although I knew I was not LA/Long Beach ready as I did not even have any original songs written. However, at our shows, the audience gave me very positive feedback on me pursuing a solo musical project. As Kat went to LA/LB, I decided to venture in San Diego. It seemed like a lot more calm of a pace for my musical journey as I did not feel ready to pursue a solo journey immediately after my arrival. While in our Senior year, Kat Hall Band had a show at the venue, The Wilbury, located in Tallahassee, FL, opening for E. N. Young. That was my first big show as a backup singer. At that point, I was shocked that the band we were opening up for that night was from San Diego. I took it as a huge sign. Then, we graduated in 2019 from Florida State University and went on a small tour up North Carolina as we had friends and family there. That was an unbelievable experience. Getting to run around with a band and go through day to day activities as well as thrive musically and creatively. It was evident I love to sing. Kat asked me what my plans were, and she said she really enjoys having me on stage with her, that if I am in town, I am invited to all the shows. Therefore, I knew I had to take on the challenge, risk, and adventure of going to California to follow my rockstar, little girl dreams. I went to San Diego, and Kat went to Long Beach. I got to know the scene, went to all the reggae shows and submerged myself in the live music. There is a HUGE reggae scene in SD. I was so excited to have Kat come visit and see what there was to see. Kat got shows in SD and boy, the whole town fell in love with her, I knew that would happen. I was able to join the shows and sing my harmonies and that is how the SD crowd got to hear what I could do. I would share that with Kat, as she became my mentor in this career path, and she was so supportive immediately. We continued singing together and then we started being asked to join other local and up and coming bands as their back-up singers. Dreams that I didn’t even know I had, were coming true. After about 2 years singing together in California, one day, Kat had a show in San Diego at The Holding Company. I was flying back from visiting family in Florida that day and arrived just in time to catch the last half of her show. The interesting thing about that flight was that on the plane ride, I sat and manifested that my new goal was to create a latin reggae band where I may lead and sing songs that I vibrate with and write songs. Upon leaving the airport and arriving at the venue, Kat had such a powerful band playing with her that night that they surprised me and had me do a whole song as a feature. I sang ‘High” by Rawayana. The drummer, Ruben, was very impressed and came to me after the show with an offer that changed my life. He invited me to be the lead singer in a latin reggae band with him and 4 other super talented musicians. With that, I knew my prayers, manifestation, meditation, whatever I did on the plane, worked. I had a new challenge on the table, now I had to think of what I could use as an artist name. My friends and family always said I am like a ray of sunshine and so radiant in energy. Finally, I decided to go with Moni Light. At that point, my risk of moving across the country, away from all my family, to pursue music, was 100% worth it. I began creating and came up with the single that is out now, “Gotta Grind”. I wrote the melody and lyrics and with the help of the band and my good friend, E. N. Young, mixed and mastered the track. The song came out on 8/31/2023, my birthday. To this day, I continue to create and challenge myself in new ways as I expand in this Moni Light Musical Journey. The risk of following my dreams has been absolutely worth it to me, and this is only the beginning.
Moni , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
The Moni Light Band prides itself in its energy. We have a very strong Latin American presence; a deeply rooted Mexican band with a native, Colombian singer. Our unique shows are set up to have our audience feel free, let go, and dance away their problems with a latin reggae, cumbia, soul fusion. We feel like we stand apart from the reggae bands society is used to seeing. We intend to empower, inspire and spread nothing but joy into people’s lives. We feel called to create and cover unique songs with motivating messages and rhythms at our shows.
I am a Colombian native, singer/songwriter and my band mates are mainly from Mexico.
I have been blessed to be given so many wonderful opportunities as a back up harmonizer in California upon my arrival from Florida. I started harmonizing, and singing professionally in 2017 with my best friend Kat Hall. We learned about our voices meshing well when on a serendipitous reunion we had when we both just so happened to be visiting San Diego. We sang “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse at a bonfire with a ton of strangers as a fun jam while everyone was talking, and then everyone was silent as we started singing. That is when we both had a light bulb go off in our brains. Fast forward, we are back in class, dealing with final exams approaching. I have learned over the years that I have severe anxiety, and in moments of life where one exam meant at least half my grade, I was feeling very anxious. I ended up going to the doctor due to some shingles on my back that seemed to have generated from the stress. I could not sleep, and it definitely made my anxiety worse. The doctor asked me that day, “what do you like to do for fun?” I said, “sing”. She said, “I cannot prescribe you anything as this is coming from within, you need to go sing girl!” I started to cry and hugged her. I could not believe her words. The doctor noticed my shock and reassured me that the reason I had shingles come up was due to stress and that I need to do something to alleviate it, extremely, to the subconscious level. Funny enough, Kat had texted me that afternoon asking how the appointment went, I told her the news of the “doctor’s orders’ ‘, and she invited me to sing with her that night at a Taco Tuesday residency she had scored. Then, is when I realized, me singing, was something bigger than myself. I was supposed to continue singing. For the sake of my mental health but also because I could not stop thinking that others may be feeling what I feel and I want to help. So I did, and have had the privilege of learning and sharing the stage with so many talented, fun, disciplined, varying aged, musicians here in California. My network grew, I did more and more shows, and in a time of pandemic that this world had never seen. In a time where live music and social interaction was extremely limited, I was able to stand and sing my little heart out in events and scenarios that only music could have made possible. Now, I am so grateful to state that I have a ‘Super Band’! Each musician was hand picked, and has already played in other extremely talented, successful bands.
We have one single out as of now, “Gotta Grind’. I wrote this during the prime of covid, while I was injured and could not walk for 3 months, unemployed and looking for a light in the new lifestyles we were forced to adapt to. The message of the song essentially describes feeling at peace with how fast the world and life changes. One thing that is certain, is that we have to work. Whether on ourselves, at a job to pay bills, or on a passion and dream we want to achieve. All requires work. I called it ‘Grind’, in this song. We just ‘Gotta Grind’ to live, survive, but also to enjoy and be happy in this world. The song goes into following YOUR heart, not the hearts of others trying to tell you how you should live your life. I hope this song and my band and brand bring light and positivity to hard, challenging circumstances that life often puts us in.
We intend to be a light and show that perspective is everything. If we can change our perspectives, we can change our lives. Be on the lookout, we are working on a couple of originals that will definitely keep you on your feet and your hips shaking!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I feel the most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative, is the fact we can literally inspire others, that they too, can do anything. That, believing in yourself, is powerful. It does work. We see actors, actresses, other iconic and legendary musicians in our time, they all could not have gotten anywhere, if they did not believe in themselves. The idea of “monkey see, monkey do”. “They can do it, why can’t I?” And if not, then at least we tried and can try something new since we know what not to do. There is an abundance of art and creative juice to go around and be proud of one’s creations.
The biggest source of power for me in my musical journey was the fact that I did not believe in myself fully at first. I was really ok with the fact that I had the privilege of singing harmonies and back up, that is how I will pursue music for the rest of my life. I never thought I would have a band and my own music out. Until, a fellow singer queen took my hand, showed me it is possible, and nurtured the idea of growth in this career for myself.
Ever since I had therapy from my parents’ divorce when I was about 7 years old. I will never forget my therapist told me, “Sometimes all you need is someone else to believe in you more than you believe in yourself” and that made me get goosebumps. I was facing a lot of doubt and self limiting beliefs, that I was the only person holding me back from achieving dreams I didn’t even know were possible!
I feel incredibly blessed to be able to now give back the inspiration and courage that was given to me when I was down.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Society can support fellow creatives, and artists simply by sharing theri posts, liking adn commenting, and attending the events taht are promoted in their day to day lives. The little things add up.
For example, instead of the radio, have a music platform membership to support smaller bands and local artists versus the repeated songs on the radio from those who already made it. Another example, is to use items and brands that are less known, out in public places sort of as a low key advertisement to support that small business. I wore a hat my friend made and styled, the brand is WOAH by Wasani, to work one day, and got so many compliments. I was able to spread the word on his brand with those who would not have seen it regardless. It is all about planting seeds and watering them when it comes to helping our creative ecosystem thrive. In a way, attempting to break stigmas, and patterns by disrupting the markets with new, unique items and ideas and creating a movement out of that flow. Break away from the mainstream, go check out a new, local, small business stream!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.monilightmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monilightt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monilightt/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgutR_jwuf3qIKcUpc-TagQ
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4mMD43iHPcuLew4sMLWbXP?si=d0f9596706f5415d
Image Credits
Piligraphy by Pilar Chaves
Kat Hall Media
Sean McCracken Photo
Cali Trippin Photography