JAGUAR

Victoria Monét has been creating popular, chart-topping songs for a number of years. But it's been other artists who have largely benefited from her songwriting talent. Some of the musicians who have recorded songs co-written by Monét include Nas, T.I., Chrisette Michele, Fifth Harmony, Chris Brown, Chloe x Halle, Brandy and most notably, Ariana Grande. Monét has worked on the singer's last four albums including "Thank U Next" which she received two Grammy Award nominations for Album of The Year and Record of The Year for "7 Rings".

Raised in Sacramento, CA, Monét was passionate about poetry, dance and music as a child. She became interested in music production and got in touch Rodney Jerkins through social media. The producer also known as "Darkchild" was in the process of assembling a girl group and invited the teenage Monét to join. The act was signed to Motown Records yet never released any music. Monét decided to move away from performing and focus on songwriting which lead to her meeting Sean Combs to write a song for his 2010 Diddy Dirty Money album project.

Monét would sing on her demos with the hope that a record label would hear them and want to sign her. And that is exactly what happened with Atlantic Records and she was signed to the label. Monét would release two EPs, "Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1" in 2014 and a follow-up in 2015, "Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 2" yet they failed to generate much attention for the singer.

But it would be Monét's songwriting that actually brought her attention and success. Now after years of writing for other artists, she has saved some songs for herself with her recently released first studio album, "Jaguar".  The collection certainly spotlights her gift as writer and the twenty-seven year old singer delivers sensual, groove-driven r&b. Yet the production doesn't do enough to make these songs and Monét stand out in a distinctive way. I definitely admire "Jaguar" and I hope we will hear more from Victoria Monét the singer.