We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jen Hirsh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jen , thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
As cliché as it sounds, stepping away from the subject – in my case, my art, was the best thing I ever did to overcome a creativity block. Another artist friend of mine, Marina, gave me this advice when I was in a rut. She told me to step away for some time and focus on other things that bring joy…for me those things include being present with my son, enjoying family, practicing yoga, spending time in nature, living my life and experiencing things in a present way. That is what brings inspiration for me – after about 6 months of taking care of myself and stepping away, it brought back a flood of creativity and work flow. I am so excited to release all of the music that came from this.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
MONOGEM is a Los Angeles artist bringing a new R&B fusion in English & Spanish. With a background in Jazz & Bossa Nova, her music spans across pop, R&B, Latin and Jazz.
Her debut bilingual album ‘Gardenia’ has already amassed over 10 million streams and last year saw her opening for Maluma at Penske Media’s LA3C festival, being spotlighted by Billboard for their ‘On The Radar Latin’ feature and a collaboration with LP Giobbi.
She has opened for artists such as Christine & The Queens, Y La Bamba, Allie X, Betty Who, Ximena Sarinana, Nilüfer Yanya and Yuna & received accolades from publications including ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, GRAMMY.com, PEOPLE, Refinery29, Good Morning America, E! News. Her music has been featured in shows such as Genera+ion, Black Lightning, ÉLITE, Rebelde, Love Victor, Never Have I Ever & Riverdale.
Her highly anticipated first single of 2024, Lemon Tree, is due this spring – followed by a steady stream of singles leading to an EP in the fall.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Resilience, passion, authenticity. Being resilient and never giving up is really important in the music business. Having passion for my art has always fueled me and made me resilient. Finding authenticity is the most important thing in any journey, I think. Once I started being my true authentic self, my art resonated with more people around the world.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
They supported my love and passion for music and singing and helped me find the best training and schooling. I am forever thankful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.monogem.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/monogem
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/monogemlovesyou
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MONOGEM
Image Credits
Mekael Dawson, Jenna Johns, LA Dodgers
