Fresh off her not one, not two, but three GRAMMY award wins, Victoria Monét called in to chat with Audacy and Hartford Hot 93.7’s DJ Buck and Big Regg about her whirlwind year, and all the hard work that got her there.
LISTEN NOW: Victoria Monét Joins Buck n Regg
“It honestly feels like I’ve been waiting all my life,” Victoria said of the moment she’s in, and all of her recent accomplishments and accolades. “I moved to L.A. 15 years ago to pursue it, but I think even before that GRAMMYs were in the dream, so yeah, forever, it’s been forever. So, it feels that much greater to be in this moment right now.”
“I know the quote is, ‘it takes 10 years to be overnight success.' Well I’m a overnight and a half because it’s been 15,” she added.
Having been behind the scene for a hot minute, writing songs for other people, Victoria shared what feels like to now be at the forefront and pushing her own music. “I’m having a great time, I really love the creative process from start to finish. Not only from songwriting but like when you get to shoot music videos, when you get to do photoshoots, the touring aspect... bringing the music to life, all of these elements mean so much to me. So as an artist, I get to have my hand in each of those elements, so I’m excited.”
After sharing about the preparation process and some behind-the-scenes deets that went into creating the music video for Jaguar II ’s breakout hit, “On My Mama,” Buck and Regg asked Victoria to speak on collab with Buju Banton, curious about how the team-up came about.
“I always wanted to collaborate with him. My mom introduced me to him when I was obviously a kid, but she voiced it out to me. It was always on like a Sunday when she was in a good mood and cleaning and like I had a vibe. So I was like I want that experience. and I want to be a part of that.”
“So when I did ‘Party Girls,’ Victoria continued, “I wasn’t expecting a yes at all, but I wrote his name down on the tracklist just to visualize it along with the other features on the album, and I just decided to shoot my shot and ask. When I went to Instagram to just like send a message request to try to message him, he was already following me, so I was like ‘what! when? since when?’”
Taking that as a sign “that I should send this message… I reached out, he gave me his WhatsApp, and I sent the music and we were conversating about it, and he wanted to take a list, and then the next time he called me back on WhatsApp video with a verse. I was like ‘Holy shhh’ so like it’s such a really cool organic process working with him. And he called me to congratulate me after the GRAMMYs and he’s just been so supportive and kind, showed me the ropes and him in Jamaica. We went to the video out there, so it was just really really cool to have that legend a part of this project.”
Wondering if the way things went down with Buju, had Victoria feeling confident the same would apply to any and all of her other dream collabs. To that, Victoria's response was, “Ummm No." Admitting, “I strongly believe in my manifestation abilities, because a lot of the things that I thought of and written down have happened. But I wouldn’t say anyone, there’s still quite a few people in particular,” that might be a little tough, “ you know like Sade.” Adding, “I’m definitely not afraid to write anything down for sure, so it’s just up to what God wants.”
When asked to share about the significance and timing of “On My Mama, breaking down the particular title and song meaning, Victoria expressed, “There are so many elements to look at ‘On My Mama.’ and so many lenses to look at it with That. I’m glad that people are looking at it as a mantra and an affirmation, and it was something that I needed to hear myself.”
She continued, “I do believe that music has a way of getting into your subconscious, so the lyrics that you're hearing and singing, you start to believe and act like in yourselves, and respond to what you’re feeling.”
“I’m glad that ‘On My Mama’ has a positive message, but also is like, you can talk s*** about physical appearance… and like being so confident that you’re in the space that you’re supposed to be, that you could ‘put it on your mom.’”
As for the timing, “There was so many reasons that tied into my life at the time,” Victoria shared, “but in particular because I had just become a mom. So I was like. you know, I need something to write about that feels authentic to my life right now, but also something that I need and the world needs, so I feel like it was a perfect combination of all those elements. And a great way to bring culture into the forefront as well, with choreography and elements from the early 2000s, and fashion from the early 2000s, it was just a really fun project.”
For all that and a whole lot more, listen to the entire interview above.
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