Monique Thomas

莫尼克是一名英國女歌手，詞曲作者和新的獨立唱片公司'Carte Blanche Records' CEO。

Bio

Monique is a singer, songwriter and the CEO of new independent record label ‘Carte Blanche Records’. This young lady has a real passion for people, especially women. Her debut album ‘Unbroken’ a collection of powerful messages and heartfelt expressions.

The chief single ‘Colourful’, one of the later songs to be written, introduces the album with an airy guitar riff backed by a skipping 4×4 beat which defies the listener to keep still. Many of her songs reflect her passion for strengthening women and restoring their self confidence. ‘Precious’ is a smouldering slow jam that speaks of a woman’s worth and ‘What a Woman Needs,’ is a melodic piano led anthem for the females and a message to the guys. The album sees her use her music to speak on behalf of her female connections, give her own honest reflections, heartfelt cries and celebrate the joys of embracing true love.

Although Monique did not come from a musical family, she grew up to become a music lover and continued to enjoy talent shows and the songwriting process. Her older brother Errol Lawson supported in a management role which helped her to raise her profile through further performance opportunities whilst she grafted behind the scenes to develop her talent. Supporting artists such as Lindon David Hall at the Hard Rock Café and American rapper Eric Sermon, her confidence grew and so did her love for music.

Unexpectedly in 2003 Monique was exposed to the UK Christian music scene and her music was transformed by the sound as well as the message. From this point on, she slowly moved forward with a new focus and direction. The promises of hope, love, and forgiveness that she received were now her primary inspiration and motivation in life and subsequently in music.

In 2008, Monique approached 5am’s Tony Bean (Lemar, Nu Life, Usher, Kelly Rowland) on a mentoring basis to seek advice about the creation of her debut album. She was ready to make the step but knew she needed support to make it happen.

The two later became a dynamic duo as Tony decided to help the determined Monique to bring the ideas, fragmented work, and creativity together to make a complete project. “Tony used to call me “Hip Hop” because of the way I would patch ideas together in my home recording set up!” Live drums, bass, guitar, sax and flute are scattered throughout the album to enhance the authenticity of the lyrics in collaboration with intricate vocal arrangements. “To work with someone like Tony Bean is an incredible experience. His excellence, counsel and wisdom that would prelude every session, have been essential in bringing the whole project together.” The album also features musical arrangements from the contemporary sounds of K Muzik and Mark Pearce which allows it to showcase a variety of approaches.

And so the album is a “colourful” collection of music that is stylistically difficult to define. With some of the more contemporary production giving it a pop/R’n’B feel, that genre certainly doesn’t define all that you can expect to hear. Songs such as the edgy ‘Lose Myself’ composed by K Musik and the flowing acoustic ‘No More Time’ composed by Tony Bean, completely break the mould. Having such a variety of passionate songs, thoughtful arrangements, and classy production, it is the raw, soulful, rich tone of Monique’s vocal which forms the glue of continuity throughout the album.

At a time when music has been accused of being soulless, meaningless and contrived, this stunning debut album will entice music lovers to stop, listen, and be moved!