Disarray - Monique (prod. by Chrizo)

Music was always for me. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to make music. I suppose that's why I didn't realize how quickly everything happened for me once I was finally able to pursue the same. It was something that I envisioned virtually all my life and I had big, big dreams...but maybe it happened all too fast and all at once.

My latest track titled Disarray produced by Chrizo explains exactly why I went on a 5-year hiatus from what was once a life-long dream. I hope this track can inspire those that have stepped away from music to get back on it and be relevant to anyone that's been through it.

Happy listening.

http://soundcloud.com/moniquejseneres/disarray

Women With A Cause

It's been ages since I've performed any of my solo works.  In fact, so far this year, I have only recorded 1 solo track.  I guess I finally learned to put everything in life in a priority list with, sadly, my own music dropping to the bottom of that list.  See when I was younger, I felt like I was the jack (or perhaps queen?) of all trades.  I believed I could do so many things and did indeed do so, all at once.  Being here, there, everywhere and getting no sleep was second nature to me.  Was the outcome always the best?  Probably not.  Did everything get done accordingly? I'd be lying if I told you it did.  Anyway, I still tend to multi-task today, but it's just at a different pace and my perspective has changed a lot.  I'm no longer this control freak that feels the need to do everything herself - I can do my main thing, sit back and support, and stand up to lend a hand as needed.

This month, when I was asked by W1ka's First Lady Mizz Snapper to stand up and lend a hand for her special birthday event, I agreed without hesitation.  Not only would I get to perform alongside an all-female line-up (anything for the ladies right?), but I'd also get to speak and rally people to support a very important cause. On Friday, August 26, 2011, 7pm onward at FEVER Luxe Lounge, Sofitel, it will be an evening when "Women Stand Against HIV".

See poster for more details:

For years, we in society, have acted like we know all about this disease.  While it may be true that we know about it, it doesn't mean that we aren't still ignorant about it.  Yes, there is a difference.  No one ever thinks that it will happen to them, but the fact of the matter is, there are still growing numbers for HIV.  In whatever way possible, we must keep the facts embedded in our heads and do our part in making others listen too. While I barely even consider myself a quasi-celebrity, I am proud to be able to stand with established women in our industry to raise awareness for this still very real and deadly disease.

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Special guest speaker for the event Jug of B.F.E./The Pinoy Hiphoppaz Org, has always done her part in using her position towards causes like last year's "Hustle for Inigo" (baby boy Inigo was in need of financial support for his Biliary Atresia condition), amongst others.  That being said, aside from doing her thing for Mizz Snapper's event, the following day, Saturday, August 27, 2011, she will be holding the "Hustle for Jazlyn" in order to raise funds for a baby girl's urgent need for a liver transplant.

Find out how you can help on this poster:

It really feeds my inspiration to write and bring attention to movements in hip hop with this much heart and care involved.  I hope that after reading this, you too, can be inspired and partake in these movements.  And remember, even if your schedules do not permit, merely spreading the word (or perhaps donating to the "hustle" on your own time) can make all the difference.

Props to Snap, Jug and to all the women with a cause!

I Fell in Love Through My Ears...

"A man falls in love with his eyes.  A woman falls in love through her ears". -Woodrow Wyatt


I'm not going to tell you about when Hip-hop took my heart.  See, it didn't take a day nor even a week, month or year.  Instead I'm going to tell you how.  It penetrated me to the very core over a period of time and once I began listening deeper and deeper, I was convinced that it would be not be a whirlwind romance.  As I lived through my growing glories and pains, Hip-hop had listened back.


I took to a pen and pad at the age of 14 and though I always second-guessed myself with each verse, I was determined to make a worthy contribution.  It wasn't a few years until I was ready to let others hear and soon enough, I had camaraderie with some underground heads.  Things started to happen for me at both a critical and vital time.  I was growing with people that allowed me to be exposed to an eclectic mix of music, which wasn't always made available to my ears on the radio or perhaps I had just been too ignorant about.  It even allowed me to appreciate my parents' musical preferences from their upbringing (which I had formerly shunned), because they were undeniably hip-hop's roots.  I was fascinated and absorbed the very essence.  


Fast-forward a few more years, at the age of 17/18 and I found myself high-speed rolling with an already established hip-hop/rn'b group.  Y'know, this little ol' group called 7 Shots of Wisdom.  Well, let's just say that it was the good, the great, the bad, and the worst.  That many personalities made to work together daily plus young mind-states? Chaos was inevitable.  Nevertheless, at the end of the day, despite our lack of control over our moves and collectively committing mistakes to the nth power, it was a life-changing and thrilling run with talented individuals that I had the opportunity to fly high with.  5 things that cannot be taken away from this experience: 1) I was launched into the industry, 2) Our music touched many, 3) I learned the business side of the game, 4) I met my husband (definitely can't take that one away, that's forever), and 5) I wouldn't be who I am today without them - mind, body and soul.


Post-group, I did take a breather, but I also took chances in lending my vocals to tracks by other artists and eventually, my flame for writing and making music was reignited.  This was around the time that I was a college student under the Bachelor of Arts - Major in Music Production program at De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde.  My course enabled my connection with the fundamentals and provided me with the ability to observe and be a part of what goes on behind-the-scenes.  I was a listener and learner once more and I thrived in that position.


Moreover, this was also when I joined with my current manager, Jigger of LockedDown.  He not only patiently (more patiently than you'll ever know) walked me through the path of a solo artist, but also guided me on how to extend what I knew unto others.  I decided that not only did I want to make my own moves, I wanted to assist others in their musical ambitions too.  Thus, he blessed me with a LockedDown imprint label called Dope Love Records roughly 2 years ago.  Within the same year that it was established, the first album by People's Future titled Headlines Issue#1 was released and notwithstanding the bumps in the road, it brought me joy beyond words to be able to play a part in this endeavor.


I believe that now brings me to present day.  I, who tend to be a hip-hop hermit, because "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans".  It's as if Hip-hop had become an old home; one that I had always kept, intended to keep visiting and at times still live in.  When in reality, I should be home to my own Hip-hop.  


I will always have it in me to produce music, for release or not.  But when I'm not doing that, I want to remain steady aware and listening to all the magic out there.  Let me listen to your music and I will be a medium to let others listen too so that they may fall in love through their ears, as I did.