We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Monica Nia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Monica below.

Monica, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I think music chose me before I could even name it. My mom used to say that as a baby, I would hold out notes before I could speak and bounce rhythmically to the music in TV commercials, always on beat. It’s like melody was embedded in me from the beginning.

I grew up in an unstable household. My parents constantly fighting, my father struggling with addiction, and me, trying to find safety in the chaos. I was bullied in school, felt misunderstood, and music became my invisible blanket. I remember pressing random keys on a tiny keyboard, not knowing how to play, but writing full songs anyways. I wasn’t trying to be good, I just wanted to feel connected, free, and heard.

What started as an escape slowly became a passion, and over time, that passion turned into purpose. From nothing, I kept showing up, writing, recording, performing, evolving. Today, I’m proud to say I’ve turned that little girl’s outlet into a growing career. One that’s already opened powerful doors and continues to unfold in ways I could’ve only dreamed of.

Monica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

ABOUT ME:

I’m a Canadian-born artist now working in Los Angeles.

Songwriting, storytelling, and vocal expression were more than hobbies, they were survival to me in my growing years. That’s why I’m so sensitive about the creative process. Every lyric, every vocal take, feels like it holds a piece of my soul.

I began my music journey without realizing I was in elementary school, begging my mom for singing lessons. At first, she said we couldn’t afford them, but I didn’t take no for an answer. I booked the lessons still, and we figured it out together. That one decision changed everything.

I started performing, first at recitals, then local gigs, school assemblies, and talent shows. I wasn’t the best at first. I was shy, awkward on stage, but I showed up anyway. Year after year, I kept performing, and I kept growing. My high school music teacher, Mr. Lashbrook, booked me amazing opportunities. Performances at Roy Thompson Hall, at the Art Gallery of Ontario, and for corporate events through the TDSB (Toronto District School Board). My vocal teacher at the time Paula Griffith also got me a spot performing at the CBC Studio.

One of my pivotal moments was coming second in a board-wide music competition judged by Mark Spicoluk (then with Universal Music) in High School. After the show, I searched the venue for his dressing room. His security tried to stop me, but I kept knocking. Mark came out, and I told him how much I respected him and wanted to grow. He gave me his email, and we stayed in touch. That moment taught me that if you show up with heart and courage, doors open.

I recorded my first song “The Breakup” as a graduation gift from my mom, using her savings. The video featured Aaron Verdonk from the Canadian pop band The Stereos and went on to get 100,000 views on YouTube. That video changed my life. Roy Hamilton III — who’s worked with legends like Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, and many more — found it, flew to Canada to meet me, and began mentoring me. I was 19.

For the next few years, I balanced my job and late-night studio sessions, riding the bus across the city. Roy gave me the space to record, and write in a studio, and that helped lay the foundation for the artist I was becoming in my early years.

Later, I spent a season working with writers in Nashville, where I learned about the industry from a more independent standpoint. During that time, I also placed second in the Adult Contemporary category of the International Songwriting Competition (ISC), one of the most respected songwriting contests in the world with over 15,000 global entries. That moment reminded me of the importance of believing in yourself and your work.

After that chapter, I met my now manager Andrew Lane, La based Grammy-nominated producer known for his work with Disney, Hannah Montana, and the High School Musical franchise, Andrew flew to Canada, met me and the rest is history. He became my manager, my chosen family, and my creative partner. He’s like my music dad, someone I can share all of my soul with through lyrics. He continues to mentor my writing and help me grow in ways I’ve always dreamed of.

Together, we’ve opened doors in LA that I used to only imagine. I’m now in rooms with artists and creators I used to admire from afar, and we’re building something real. Our current projects include collaborations with Kthrash (Kevin Gruft), known for working with Machine Gun Kelly, Travis Barker, and Gwen Stefani; Hana Giraldo; and Finley, who appeared in Camp Rock 2.

And what excites me most now is the freedom to create without fear. Now, I’m writing from my heart and experimenting with sounds that don’t always make sense, and that’s the point. Some of our songs are weird. Some might not land. But as Andrew reminds me, that’s how you find the magic. You have to be willing to fail. You have to be willing to write a bad song. Because through that honesty, the great ones are born. And that’s what I’m chasing. Something real, something different, something that sounds like me.

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What I Provide:

I provide music. The kind of music that feels like an invisible friend. I write songs that sit beside you when you’re crying alone in your room, and songs that pull you onto the dance floor when you need to escape. My music holds space for all of it: the joy, the heartbreak, the healing, and the fun. Whether you’re screaming the lyrics in your car or just letting the melody wrap around you, I want my songs to feel like home, like release, like something true.

I believe in people. I believe in emotions. I believe in the kind of music that pulls something out of you — the truth, the tears, the courage, the joy. And that’s what I aim to create.

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What I’m Most Proud Of:

I’m proud of my heart. I’m proud that I’ve never given up. Not when it was hard, not when I didn’t know how, and not when I had nothing. I’m proud of how every obstacle only deepened my belief in myself and God. I’m proud of how kind I’ve remained, how much I love people, and how deeply I care about connection and creative truth.

I’m proud of my accomplishments too. I started with nothing, and now I’m in rooms with the very people I used to watch on TV. I dreamed of being in LA and Hollywood, and now, it’s become my everyday life. I didn’t know how it would happen. I just took the next step, and then the next, and trusted the universe to meet me. And it did.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had known earlier about the music grants and funding opportunities available to independent artists. They can help cover costs for recording, visuals, touring, marketing. Things that really allow you to bring your full vision to life without creative limitations.

I also wish I had started learning how to mix vocals and produce music at a younger age. Being able to shape my sound hands-on is something I value so much now. And honestly, mastering an instrument early on.

Finally, finding the right manager or agent—someone who truly believes in your artistry and helps bring your vision to life is a resource in itself. Someone that is a partner.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Absolutely. I think people often underestimate the inner journey that comes with being an artist. It’s not just about talent. It’s about vision, discipline, self-talk, and a deep spiritual commitment to believing in something before it’s real. You have to see what no one else can see yet, and keep showing up even when you’re surrounded by doubt, especially your own.

The mental strength it takes to keep going, to hold onto your vision in silence, to create when no one’s clapping. That’s a kind of faith that requires a rare strength. I truly believe that believing in yourself when no one else does is a superpower.

This path will break you open and rebuild you over and over again, but if you’re aligned with your purpose, you’ll keep finding the courage to begin again. That’s what people don’t always see, but that’s where the magic is born.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicaniamusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MonicaNiaMusic

Image Credits

Andrew Lane
Kevin Gruft
Roy Hamilton III
Matthew Finley