Mona

Created with mySpace Profile Editor Enlightened, honest, wholesome, and innovative are all words that have been used to describe sensational singer/songwriter/producer Mona Jendayi. The moment you hear Mona’s voice you’ve entered her world without ever leaving your seat. Like a breath of fresh air, Mona’s soothing sounds penetrate and stimulate anyone who listens and the melodies somehow echo in your head long afterward. Her unique style is a soulful fusion of jazz, urban, and world music. Mona’s melodic and mesmerizing voice radiates over insightful lyrics that stem from her past experiences and the realities of this present time. By embracing her influences of Sweetback, Rachelle Pharell, Patrice Rushen, Bebel Gilberto, and Sade, Mona has gracefully introduced herself as a promising artist. ............................................................ ............................................................ .........Mona Jendayi, born and raised in Los Angeles, California was naturally fluent in music. Her grandfather, Rushton “Rush” Miller, backed-up many jazz legends in the early 1940’s as a trumpet player. He was known mostly for his performance with Leana Horne at the Tuskegee Air Field for the Troops of WW2. With music in her blood, at age six, Mona was able to mirror exactly what her jazz piano teacher was playing within minutes. As most of the great soul artists do, Mona grew up with the sounds of jazz, r & b, and gospel pulsing in the background like a soundtrack. As a child, Mona studied ballet, tap, and hip-hop dance regularly and, at thirteen, writing songs became effortless. She went on to perform in and win talent competitions and sing in three different girl groups. “I used to have dreams of myself performing. I always knew I was meant to inspire through music, ” the singer recalled about her destined musical career. ............................................................ ............................................................ ...........After attending California State University, Northridge, she left to pursue her purpose at the contemporary Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. There, she developed her production skills and love for world music, studying the incomparable Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto. Her love for world rhythms led her to resume her passion for dance, practicing samba and belly dancing. “Ethnic/world music is all about expression,” she says. “It bends and swells and moves. It’s passionate, emotional and intense…like love.” ............................................................ ............................................................ ...........With a wide range of diverse musical influences, Mona feels her personal art is an extension of herself and spontaneously creates what is true to her. In everything she does, she exudes strength, grace, and wisdom. She lives by and garners inspiration from this powerful quote by Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” Get ready for a pleasurable music experience.
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