Unique Monique

While we were chatting the wonderful Monique Brumby told me she had a moment of synchronicity in discovering she was standing on the very square outside the glittering glass of the Intercontinental in Melbourne where she performed her first Melbourne show in 1996. It’s a nice moment to share with this fellow Tassie girl.

Monique, a Tassie girl at heart, is the creative director of non-profit organisation, Aardvark (http://aardvarkworldwide) a music program for children with chronic diseases for which she is hopes to get a branch up and running in Tasmanian.

With her family still living in Hobart and her Grandmother on the east coast Monique gets back here at least 3 times a year This year her grandmother is turning 90 so Monique will travel down to spend some special time with her Gran.

Surprisingly Monique wasn’t always keen on a career in music but fate took a hand and her musical talent was discovered when she was in year 12 , the class were asked to sing and Monique was a stand out. She went on to take part in the school production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

After finishing year 12 Monique still wasn’t confirming a desire for a career in music and didn’t know what to do after finishing school, so when she discovered an ad on a school noticeboard for a gap year as an English boarding house mistress, she applied for and was successful in obtaining the position. So it was to the south of England that Monique travelled, working in a boarding house for young ladies between 10 and 16 years of age not much younger than, at 18, Monique herself. It was a year of challenges, rising at 5.30am on freezing mornings to ring the big bell at the Anglican girls school, followed by saying Grace in the dining hall and helping the teachers in the classroom as an assistant, later, it would be ensuring the students got to bed at a certain time and catching up on all the laundry and cleaning. It was an experience in responsibility for a young woman that also offered independence and perks as she backpacked to London and Europe. Monique believes in taking up challenges, pushing boundaries and growing, rather than focusing on what you can’t do, celebrating what you can do and through it all keeping that youthful enthusiasm.

Monique has found herself a fan base in Germany where her songs are played on the popular Australian soap export ‘Heartbreak High’. In fact Monique has a very international view having worked with many American bands including a particularly school girl favoruite, The Bangles,(noting their wonderful harmonies) who she actually supported twice.

Away from performing Monique also enjoys recording soundtracks in the studio ,a recent one being for ‘Hormones, the musical’ a short film for the ABC.

Monique believes music is like politics and we shouldn’t fear any issue but choose discussions and healthy debate. Particularly on her mind at the moment is her new single ‘The silent war’, which although a celebration also touches on the fight for marriage equality for all. Her own experience of a commitment ceremony yet yearning for true marriage equality has full support of her family including her 90 year old Grandmother.

Monique said for too long young people have been silent if they don’t fit in they have felt repressed, then depressed and anxious, the ramifications of which are they are made to feel lesser than those given full equality.

You can see Monique perform at the Brisbane Hotel with full band on August 2.