Monelle (Neo-Soul/R&B singer and songwriter, published author and poet.)

Monelle is an acclaimed South African singer, rapper and poet. A devoted mental health advocate, the R&B songwriter aspires to tame the racing mind, challenge spirituality, and create intimacy through music. Released in 2021, her acclaimed project In Loathing Memory was deemed "Perfect." by SlikourOnLife, and her new EP Breathing Room is set to take the R&B world by storm.

Introverted by nature, Monelle appears to be on a constant search for new forms of expression through fusion and experimentation. At 17, she released her first mixtape New Waves which quickly got her into the spotlight for more than just her poetry. Taking a brief hiatus to grow and expand her musical palette, she returned to music at 21 to reclaim her sound in full maturity and as one of the co-founders of boutique record label Redacted Music Group. She has since been featured in the soundtrack of a short film, collaborated with a number of local artists including Yolophonik and Kooldrink, and seems geared for a meteoric rise.

Her latest EP titled Breathing Room is a dark and moody R&B cut, born of her personal experiences with anxiety and depression. In her words, "this EP was written to comfort those who feel alone, and offers a guide for others to understand how to care for and listen to their friends when they're going through difficulties." Collaborating once again with producer IORDN (Mandlin Beams, Daniel Loumpouridis, Masilo The Healer), this project marks her first time in the executive producer role.

Whether it is music or poetry, this rising singer, rapper, social activist, and mental health advocate is a young talent to watch closely.