Meet Veda Monét | Singer/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Veda Monét and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Veda, how do you think about risk?
I believe all of life is risk. I never take for granted the chance to sit upright in my bed each morning, inhale & exhale, and give thanks for another moment in time to view the world with perspective and gratitude. The role that taking risks has played in my life have been designed parallel with fear. Overcoming fear has been my personal mantra living beyond a global pandemic. In order to overcome personal fears, I must take risks. In turn, I have gained strength and resilience in areas of my life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Veda Monét, Singer/Songwriter. I can actually claim this title to be so. Beginning from a transition period when I finally decided to move out west from Charlotte, NC, I felt a desire to write what I was feeling in the form of lyrics. In the past, I felt a dissonance about writing song lyrics because I never felt my lyrics were complete. As a perfectionist, I want songs that I write to have solid direction and meaning. If not, I would stop writing altogether. This pattern made it challenging to trust the journey. The lessons that I have learned along the way have been to not get in my own way. Self sabotage is a real act. In September 2021, after my first real studio experience at Bravestone Records in Las Vegas, Nevada, I released my first single titled “Lavender” on all social media platforms worldwide. After I wrote my fourth song, I decided to share more of my own lyrics with my parents. They created a safe space to do so, and I trusted their critique of my work. For the first time in my life I felt aligned with my own words and direction toward their meaning. My parents’ feedback was that they believe I found my niche that I never truly explored. To reach the point where I am at today, I had to learn to be more open. Open to failure, missed opportunities, comparison to others’ music, learning how to self promote, and competition in general. I am grateful that by growing up in a musically multi-talented family of five, music forms a pivotal role in my lifestyle. I want the world to know that Veda Monét will never give up on her passion and is excited to share her talents with the world. Stay tuned! More music to come this summer.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love an itinerary! If my best friend was in town, our first stop would be Vietnamese cuisine. Phò is one of our favorite foods to eat together. The Mekong Plaza in Mesa, AZ has a delicious restaurant called Unphògettable. After eating there, I would show him around Tempe Town Lake. Our energy at that moment would determine if we would kayak around the lake or rent scooters to explore the area. We would plan some hikes into the week because we enjoy being in nature. Wagon Wheel in Payson, AZ is a beautiful hike with water surrounding areas. It is a quick day trip, out and back. One of my favorite hikes to do at sunrise near Mesa, AZ is Hobbins Trail to Dobbins Lookout in South Mountain. The landscape and views are captivating! You can see various areas of the entire city of Phoenix at the top. A compass points each area out in more detail. By the middle of the week, I would arrange for us to travel to Sedona. The energy vortexes are a must! The red rock in Sedona is also a beautiful thing to see up close and personal. For eats, we would checkout The Cowboy Club Grille & Spirits. This restaurant is an old western style designed tavern with restored barnwood walls and visited by stars from John Wayne to Joan Crawford back in the day. The food is delicious here and the atmosphere is a must see! When we return to the city of Phoenix to round out the latter part of the week, my bestie knows I enjoy a good game of pool. Bullshooters in Peoria, AZ is a great pool hall with plenty of space. Another option for pool players is Jester’s in Gilbert, AZ. As far as nightlife, my best friend and I are in our mid thirties and have aged out of Mill Ave activities, which cater to the ASU student go-to’s. I would be more inclined to explore Old Scottsdale with my best friend. We would check out the local shops & sights. I’d make reservations at Toca Madera for their delicious drinks & Mexican cuisine and fire twirl showgirl for flair. On the final night, we would go to a gay friendly bar/club for dancing and drinks. Kobalt in Phoenix, AZ is a fun place. Karaoke is also a must do anywhere throughout the week. My best friend doesn’t sing, but he’s my biggest fan and makes song requests. Audience members are an important part to a fun night of karaoke. My favorite karaoke spots are The Grapevine in Scottsdale and Roosters Country in Mesa, AZ. Karaoke starts at The Grapevine at 5p every day of the week. It starts even earlier on weekends! Roosters Country has a great atmosphere, friendly staff and bartenders, and KJ Trey Letrash is outstanding as a host. His sound system and sound engineering skills are incredible! Our full week of activities is always best shared in great company. Lots of laugh, pranks, and pictures!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Those that deserve shoutout credit in adding to my evolving success as an artist are my parents, my friends Patrick Tai and Beckett Johnson, and a life changing book called “The Untethered Soul: A journey beyond yourself” by Michael Alan Singer. The dedication, unwavering support, and trust from these individuals help me a great deal to take the necessary steps to reach my goals.

Instagram: @vedacovington

Other: Spotify- Veda Monét ITunes- https://itunes.apple.com/album/id1583394276?ls=1&app=itunes Apple Music- http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1583394276

Image Credits
(Photo in purple dress) credit Beckett Johnson (friend) (Photo in bathtub) credit Valarie Covington (mom)