Monya` Ali Jagwe was born September 3, 1988 and raised in the Southern area of Houston, Texas. Raised by her single mom, Marjorie Murphy and the oldest of four younger siblings. This inspiring R&B artist/ songwriter has been singing since the age of 3 and discovered her passion for writing at the age of 11.
Her earliest musical experiences led her to church choir at the age of 6, school choirs, local plays, and auditions through out the years to help venture her career.
Growing up as a child Monya` loved to perform at home in front of her mothers guest and family, which kept here inspired and believing that the world will one day hear her song. She graduated from Westbury High School with the honors from the Fine Arts Academy and there she also participated in Track and Field. "Knowing that there are so many female artist out there who have the same dream as I do, and that is making it to the "TOP",and I believe that uniqueness and a creative mind can get you further than you could ever imagine, she say‘s. But being one of the young ones coming up, reminds the young artist that she has enough time to fulfill her destiny matters if its music, modeling, acting or her education.
Only inspired by music as an child was very motivating for her mother to help with her career. Monya' admires Michael Jackson's smooth moves and Whitney Houston's outstanding vocals. At a young age her mother realized that her Barbie dolls couldn’t take place of her karaoke machine, and right then she knew music was her heart. Her first time at the studio was at age 14, she was working on a project with young actor/ hip-hop artist LiL Romeo, She enjoyed working with him and his father (Master P), and top producer Mike Deasel and plans to work with him again in her near future.
Modeling has been also a huge accomplishment for Monya`. In 2001, Monya` was signed with Mallenia Modeling Agency, she got out of the contract about 2 years later and decided it would be best to do independent work to have time to still focus on her music. Runway has played a big part of her modeling career, and she has worked for LeToya Luckett to help launch her clothing boutique “Lady Elle†as one of her runway models. She also appeared in several music videos for artist such as: Young Jeezy, Mike Jones, Slim Thug, and many more to include. Modeling has also been a strive for this young lady, “I feel that I have may doors that are ready to open for me, and every door that has opened I have most definitely took advantage of it to the fullest and I will do the same for opportunities that may come in my futureâ€, she say’s.
From the support of her mother/manager: Marjorie Murphy, and the rest of her family motivates her to proceed with her goals and always keep God first in her life no matter what path she decides to follow. Now as a young song writer she has been inspired by some of today’s top artist such as Celine Dion, R. Kelly, Beyonce'. Monya` enjoys all types of music, she believes that you are not a true artist if you don’t appreciate all the different concepts of music it‘s self. Country, rock/pop, jazz, gospel, hip-hop/R&B, and even the music across the world, she believes there is no limit to the love of music. "My mother has always wondered where my love songs come from, and I tell her not to worry it's just my imagination"-Monya`
Monya` has recently completed her first demo, (The Exclusive Preview) which includes four her hot tracks that she wrote and arranged. "Are you gonna (wait 4 me)", is the most inspirational song she feels she has ever written, because she believes that many young girls her age will experience the message from the song. "Situations can sometimes get a little emotional for a girl my age, but there’s always a solution and mines was the question: "Are you gonna (wait 4 me)"? - Monya'. She is currently unsigned and has plans to continue working in the studio, and performing locally around the Houston area
