Monnie, real name Monica Siegman, is a Wichita, USA-based bedroom pop artist who takes influences from the likes of HAIM, Hayley Williams, MARINA, and Caroline Polachek. She’s just released her debut album, featuring six tracks of pop, rock and ’80s-style electro lushness. It’s called I’ll Be Here When You Wake Up.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Kristen Buan
The album opens with its title track. It’s a slow, ethereal and deliberate start to proceedings. We are eased into Monnie’s world through piano and drum machine. “Good evening, my darling,” she purrs invitingly and I found myself in no rush to leave. She proceeds in poetic fashion, never losing her gentle pop groove. It’s a good start.
Do You Love Me? is somewhat more challenging. A tale of heartache and insecurity, it’s beautifully emoted. The story unfolds against a upbeat electro soundscape that’ll get you moving along. The aforementioned influences come through strongly in this one and fans of any of the above artists will find a lot to love here.
A Safe Place returns to a more ethereal place, with overlapping vocalisations and a sense of wistful melancholy. The percussion keeps things ticking along and the lyrics bring its world to concrete life, and peoples it with an uncertain type of love.
Blame It On Me is a rich track, with booming, rousing drums and pleading vocals. Its up-tempo arrangement makes it another mover, and the change up in vocal delivery between the verse and chorus keeps things interesting. It’s an album highlight.
Goodbye digs deep emotionally, with a wonderfully-realised story of the end of a relationship. The bright pop arrangement takes the edge off but it’s still likely to grab onto your heartstrings and not let them go, particularly during a soaring chorus.
The album is rounded off by Old Habits. Monnie pushes her boundaries in this final, powerful chapter. The ’80s power pop influences are at their strongest as the story unfolds onto a bed of synths and bass. It’s wonderfully atmospheric and lyrically cuts very deep. It’s another highlight.
I’ll Be Here When You Wake Up is a wonderful introduction to an artist who, though new to us, has been performing since she’s been a small child. Though still young, it’s clear she’s given a lot of time and thought to developing her sound, and it’s up there with the best alternative pop has to offer right now. Don’t sleep on Monnie. You can check out her debut album below.