“I would say what is most difficult is staying relevant, times are changing, and there is always a new face and a new sound. ” – @Moelovie

Listen to the interview
Episode #302 : A.V.A Live Radio Behind The Music with Jacqueline Jax : http://www.blogtalkradio.com/avaliveradio/2016/03/02/episode-302-ava-live-radio-behind-the-music-with-jacqueline-jax

GETTING TO KNOW MONIQUE WILLIAMS
by Jacqueline Jax host of A.V.A Live Radio

Music Business…
The music business is difficult, I would say what is most difficult is staying relevant, times are changing, and there is always a new face and a new sound. The Music business is fun though and results of hard work are pretty much immediate. I try to not listen to what people are gossiping about, stay focused and stay in my lane.

Social media…
is an independent artists dream! The sky is the limit with what one can accomplish, if they use it wisely.
Have you found any challenges that you’ve had to overcome? Not at this moment but I’m still a new comer.

Singles vs an album…
I feel like these days singles are the way, and artist can have variety and not feel rushed or stifled.

I would love to have 5 minutes alone with….
Helen Baylor. I grew up listening to her and I believe she is one of the biggest reasons I sing today. She is a well-rounded artist, she sang secular and gospel she has so much experience in the music industry. She inspires me.

Never too much emphasis on…
being trendy but we have to stay current as artists or we will become boring at some point, now if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, meaning if people love what you do and invest largely in it regularly then roll with it. But being current is a must.

I am most afraid of… Being a public failure, and messing up

My personal definition of success is..
actually doing the work it takes to reach a desired goal and actually reaching the goal. I’m most proud that I was able to finish the master’s program at Averett University I will be graduating this May it’s been a long journey but I accomplished my goal.

My over-all goal for my life & career is…
I have reasonable expectations; so my main goal is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ through music. If that makes me famous then great, but if not I have had a chance to get the good news out.

2 Ways that I challenge myself…

1) Put myself in uncomfortable positions. I am a comfort zone type of person, so sometimes I have to insert myself somewhere that’s going to stretch me and make me better.

2) Take Risks – when I don’t hesitate to do things it builds me up and gets me to places I thought I’d never go.

I didn’t even realize that I had a voice…
to sing until I was 7 years old. This was a crucial time in my life because I was adopted at the age of 7. I don’t remember being introduced to any music at all until then. My adoptive parents would travel to pick me and my siblings up for a visit and in those trips; I developed a passion for music. To this day music gives me a feeling that nothing else can give me. The music that played in the car was Helen Baylor, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Mom & Pop Winans, and John P. Kee…And so many others like Tremaine Hawkins and I literally fell in love with Gospel music.

Shine On…
is a song that echoes my heart. Growing up with people going in and out of your life produces a level uncertainty in a child. All throughout my life I suffered with low self-esteem, in my adult life I had endure many heart hurts but the one thing I realized recently was that God placed me here to be a light and to show people that no matter what you go through you are still worth something, and that issues don’t make you invisible, but they come so that you can help others. I want people to know that they are valuable. The ironic thing is that while recording and releasing this song I was going through a separation with my husband and the song spoke directly to my needs. Download the song: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shine-on-single/id1034045424

The next step in music for me is…
a duet love song that my husband Victor and I are releasing soon, it’s so beautiful, we have been through so much it’s the right time to release it. I do have more music coming but we are focusing on that right now. My EP will be fun and upbeat but I must throw a ballad in there it just wouldn’t be right lol.

Portsmouth, Virginia…
which is in the Hampton Roads area which included VA Beach Suffolk, VA and Norfolk VA
Places to go? The Beach is so close! We have a large high end mall!, lots of events like concerts and plays come to our city, we have the Norva, Chrysler hall, and Scope Arena.
Tell me about one fun thing you like to do that can be music or non-music related. I love playing games with my husband and kids.. Uno, Trouble, Jinga, it’s a lot of fun.

Social:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moniqued1234/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Moelovie
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/monique-williams-868972945/shine-on
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/fb_share/4997688
Purchase: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shine-on-single/id1034045424