ManicWorld Magazine

-Moniah, do you remember what first drew you to making music and not just listening to it?

I was really young, and there wasn’t much that truly held my interest when I’d play in my bedroom—Barbie dolls, drawing, watching Cartoon Network, and maybe even eating Frosties after school as a snack. But music was different. I loved watching MTV Base and KISS, listening to the radio, and just getting lost in sound.

I don’t remember a single moment where it clicked—I want to do music—because I’ve been singing my whole life. It brings me joy, and when I started sharing that with others, I saw how it brought them joy too. I used to sit by the radio, waiting for my favourite songs to play again, and because the internet was still new, I’d write down the lyrics by ear just so I could sing along in my own time.

I listened to a lot of pop and R&B in my bedroom, while my brother’s room was filled with rap and hip-hop. They were very different worlds, but the connection was the same—emotion, storytelling, and joy. From a young age, I knew I wanted to create that same feeling for others.

-How much do you think about the future in terms of your creative process?

I’m always thinking about the future when it comes to my creative process. As a singer-songwriter, I see my role as writing songs that are enjoyable, melodic, and easy to connect with—creating an experience that feels natural and effortless for the listener.

I like to imagine the impact of a song, the audience, and the people who will relate to it the most. I write music for them. I weave my own experiences and emotions into a song, and when it’s ready to be released, I think—someone out there is going to get it. My job is to find them.

-Have you always known exactly what you wanted to do and be as a musician?

Since I was a child, I would always (shyly) tell people, When I grow up, I want to be a singer. But I didn’t really know what that looked like. My only references were what I saw on TV. In my head, if I could sing then that was all I needed.

I wanted to learn an instrument—piano first—but when I started school, I realised I’d need a piano at home. We only had a toy one, and at that age, I wouldn’t have asked my hardworking parents to buy a keyboard because that felt like a luxury. The same went for the guitar.

At school, we had the option to learn the flute, and we were allowed to take it home after class. I was so excited—it felt like the closest I could get to being a musician. I could sing and play an instrument! But when the school fees to maintain the flute went up, I had to drop it, which was disappointing. So, I stuck to singing with backing tracks, performing songs by Adele, Jazmine Sullivan, and Mariah Carey at school.

At one point I even considered auditioning for the X-Factor but then I chickened out from fear and rejection. All I knew is I wanted to have people who would connect with my music and connect with me. 

-As a singer-songwriter, what does success look like for you?

For me, success looks like a sold-out concert in London—my home city—with a strong fan base singing my lyrics back to me, finishing the words while I’m jumping and dancing, out of breath.

It’s having real leverage on social media, a fanbase that signs up to my mailing list, buys my merch, and genuinely connects with my music. As a songwriter, success also means being invited into industry rooms to write for other artists and building a name that’s respected in the industry.

Ultimately, success is being able to do music full-time, forever.