Jun 22

Jun 22 Victoria Monét: It's all about the new music, postpartum depression, Buju Banton collaborating and more

It’s no secret - there’s plenty of reasons for Victoria Monét to celebrate in 2023. Whether it’s geeking out over her new ‘On My Mama’ single or putting in recording work with veteran musician Buju Banton, there’s ample topics to go over especially when chopping it up with Apple Music 1’s Ebro Darden.

Victoria Monét talks new music, collaborations and motherhood with Apple Music 1

Victoria recently joined Ebro Darden on Apple Music 1 to discuss her new single “On My Mama”, battling postpartum depression, balancing being an artist with motherhood, how she got dancehall legend Buju Banton on “Party Girls”, and confirms “On My Mama” is the last single before ‘Jaguar II’ comes out. Needless to say, there’s ample talking points here.

Victoria Monét Tells Apple Music About Her New Single “On My Mama” And Reveals It Was Created While She Was Struggling With Postpartum Depression…

This record actually happened in 2021, probably... Maybe eight or nine weeks after I gave birth, right? So I'm in the mental space of, I was really having a hard time, I had postpartum depression, I was still breastfeeding, just adjusting to the life, but also in the midst of COVID. So we're in a pandemic, everything's a little bit risky, scary to even be in the studio with a child. And On My Mama was the first record I did that I actually liked. But it came while I was in a place of disbelief in what I was actually saying. So it's almost like I had to speak it into existence. And I do look good, I do feel good, and I am deserving. And so, I think of the record as an anthem for affirmations, positive self-talk, manifestations, living in abundance, speaking things into existence, all of that is kind of in the song, but in a really cool hood way. And the sample just feels so good. It feels so good, we were debating on whether to use it because you know it's expensive.

Victoria Monét Tells Apple Music About Balancing Being an Artist and a New Mom…

It's really hard, honestly, and I know you can attest to that, just prioritizing certain things. Time is just the currency that you can't get back, so it's like, man, just, it really takes a team, and people who really support and believe in you and understand why you have to be at the studio until 2:00 AM, whenever you get home, and also a business team that understands why you have to be home and present and doing flashcards and spending quality time with family. So, it really takes a community, I think about the term tribe a lot, just having people around you that really support that, no negativity, just all support and hands on deck, it really takes a village for even just one child.

Victoria Monét Tells Apple Music About Reaching Out To Buju Banton To Collaborate on “Party Girls”...

When D'Mile played the bassline is what started the song, and I just heard it differently than he heard it. He was thinking the musical “elevated soul’ cloth that we usually play with, but then when he played it, I was like, I just hear something else. And eventually when the hook was done and it had verse melodies, I was like, I really would love if Buju was on this. And I wrote it down in the tracklist, I just said, featuring Buju. And I finally dropped my balls and reached out to him via DM, because I usually would not do that at all. And I know him because my mom was listening to him around the house, and I always remembered his voice. And it was always on a good Sunday, when she's cleaning the house, and it was really good vibes. So I really wanted that to be a part of this project, and he was down, and I was just blown away by that alone. So he sent me his verse and FaceTimed me... Well, he WhatsApp-ed me, because he is in the Caribbean. But WhatsApp-ed me and played me the verse, and I just lost my mind. So then we went back in the studio and changed the production to fit his vibe, and then it ended up having an outro part, that's why the song is so long because we were like, we just want to stay in this vibe.