British Soul singer, songwriter and producer Monique released her debut EP The Gift back in May, while in the middle of giving birth to her son, who is now six months old. Championed and supported by the likes of the MOBO Awards, ILUVLIVE, Guestlist Magazine, Alt Sounds and Afropunk among others, the 5-track EP was met with rave reviews for beautifully exploring themes around finding yourself in the moment, weaved through excellent music and enthralling stories.
Six months into motherhood, Monique is proud to debut the music video for the lead single and title track on The Gift EP, for which she has collaborated with award-winning director Andrew Webber (Eastenders E20, The Mirror Boy), to deliver a compelling and emotive visual experience, which not only beautifully captures the very essence of pregnancy and motherhood, but also pulls at your heartstrings, evoking feelings of joy and amazement at the miracle of life.
Filmed on location in Monique’s hometown Birmingham, when she was 39 weeks pregnant, the visuals for ‘The Gift’ capture eight pregnant women from across the country, who connect with the message of the record and are on their own journeys of motherhood, along with Monique – some experiencing pregnancy for the very first time, and others embarking on this journey again. ‘The Gift’ does beautifully to tell these women’s stories.
In Monique’s own words, “‘The Gift’ is about the here and now. It is about embracing your story, loving who you are, in this very moment, and for me, it’s about transitioning through my career and receiving a beautiful gift of a child. I think the message of embracing the moment is for everyone, but this will really inspire women, because becoming a mother is a huge life-changing experience”.
About how motherhood has affected her music career, Monique adds, “I was told to avoid becoming a mum because it would hinder my success as an artist – but that depends on what success means to you. I always write music from the heart and pray it reaches the hearts of others. I don’t know how becoming a mum will impact my career, but what I do know is that it has given me a bigger heart and that’s the greatest feeling ever”.
