An Interview With Actress, Recording Artist, Dancer and Digital Influencer, ASIA MONET!

Get to know, Asia Monet!

She is a quadruple threat: Actress, Recording Artist, Dancer & Digital Influencer. Known for her standout roles on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition and Dance Moms: Season 3. She has a huge social media presence, including over 1.4 million Instagram followers, 338,000 likes on Facebook and 198,000 Twitter followers.

Monet recently released an original song “Come Along”, which she co-wrote. It is available now on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music and all other digital platforms. You can listen to the track here and watch the music video here which has over 1.7 million views. She released her debut album titled “Asia Monet” and the full collection is available for purchase or download on Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify as well as on Asia’s website.

At the end of last year, she partnered with Target to design a clothing line for Generation Z titled “Art Class 2017”. Also, last year, Monet performed alongside Mariah Carey during her “All I Want for Christmas Is You” shows at NYC’s Beacon Theatre.

As far as acting goes, Asia played Sydney Simpson in the Golden Globe nominated and Primetime Emmy winning series American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson with Cuba Gooding Jr., David Schwimmer, Sarah Paulson, John Travolta and produced/directed by Ryan Murphy.  She also starred as Jasmine in back to back episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. Her role earned her a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series- Recurring Young Actress.

Read more about Asia Monet in the following All Access interview:

Happy New Year! Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you?

Happy New Year! I feel 2018 is going to be a great year. Right now, I’m happy that it’s Pilot season and I will be back in the studio recording.

Overall, how do you think 2017 was for you and your career? What are you most excited about for this year? Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? Care to share them with us? 

I have to say the 2017 was challenging but I can’t complain. I dropped my New Single ‘’Come Alone’’ and performed it Live at Universal City Walk in Hollywood, for Sketchers Walk and Home and Family talk show. I also, released my music video for ‘’Come Along’’ and I’m so excited to hear that people loved the video, that is almost at 2 Million Views. My New Year Resolution is to work even harder this year, focused on my music and acting and just really grow in my crafts and learn to block out distractions.

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

At a very young age I was always the performer and loved everything about a live performance on stage. I started with dance and then music just naturally followed soon after.  I’ve always loved a lot of music and have a great appreciation for old classic. My coaches would always say, when I would dance ‘’stop singing. You’re a dancer, not a pop star!” Hahaha, they would be so frustrated with me back then. But now…I guess things have changed and now I’m on stage singing and dancing and it feels great.

I always like to ask artists about where they came from and how that city or town has influenced them as an artist now. So how do you think your home has affected you and your music today?

Well, I was born and raised in Orange County.  And I am still living in the OC.  I guess I would have to say that I was more inspired by my travels and people I would meet more than the town itself. I started traveling at an early age. I think seeing different cultures and things that could be better in this world inspires me every day to have my music mean something, to make a difference or spread a positive inspiring messages. As I mature with my music I want people to feel something and be inspired.

I am curious to know if you find that you enjoy singing, acting or dancing more? Or do you enjoy doing them all equally? How would you say that they all complement each other? 

I get asked this a lot and I honestly love all three just as much as the other. I think I feel and get something different out of all of them that make me want to continue giving my time.

What was the inspiration for your recently released single “Come Along”? How creatively involved were you with the making of the video for it? What was it like shooting it?

‘’Come Along’’ and the video is about making a difference big or small to make this world a better place. To empower and inspire one another, to give back and spread love. I enjoyed filming this video so much and this song meant a lot to me. And I was able to dance with my friends, which is always a plus.

How different do you think “Come Along” is to anything else you have previously released, including your debut self-titled album?

It’s so different now, I’m co-writing and growing as an artist and my music is representing my message.

How soon do you plan on putting out more music and an EP or full album of new songs? Do you feel like you are in a period of musical inspiration right now? 

Excited to say that I will be coming out with another single very, very soon. I can’t wait for y’all to hear. So, keep your eyes opened.

With such a huge social media presence, I am curious to know how you keep up with it all?! What’s been the craziest thing that you have received from someone on your social media sites? How active do you try to be on your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages? 

Well, social media is really crazy and has gotten so big. I try my best to keep up with it daily but if I miss a day I don’t freak out.  Sometimes I feel it becomes a distraction because it’s never ending but on the other hand, I do love interacting with my followers. They are great supporters and my platforms stay positive and motivating so I try to do my best with all of it.

I am such a big fan of Target so I would love to know more about your partnership with Target to design a clothing line for Generation Z called “Art Class 2017”? How did this all first come about?

Yes, everyone loves Target, so it was pretty amazing for them to reach out and want me involved in the ‘’Art Class’’ 2017 campaign. I mean it’s a pretty big deal to create and design clothing for Target and see your special pieces with your name on the tags every Target you walk into. So that was definitely a highlight of 2017.

Where do you find that you at your happiest- on stage performing, in the studio recording music, writing songs or elsewhere?

I would have to say performing live on stage has always been my happy place. It’s the greatest feeling ever..

We are living in a crazy and at times rough world right now so I am curious how you think being a musician gives you the most joy in life today? How do you think that new music being created today is going to reflect these difficult times?

I think music can do some pretty amazing things. It can change someone’s life. Music can heal and music can definitely spread universal messages of Love. I love music for that reason, having a platform to share and send a message during time of world pain and to come together. Music is a beautiful thing.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? What musicians would you absolutely still love to work with in the future?

O’ boy…I love the classics, so I would have to say artist like Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Natalie Cole, Whitney Houston. Currently, Beyoncé, Jasmine Sullivan, Alisha Keys. To work with any of these above would be incredible. I would literally die…hahaha

What do you hope your fans take away from your music? Do you find that a lot of your music has a greater meaning behind it? 

I hope my supporters and ones who have followed me from day one will listen to my music and feel inspired and empowered. To know there will always be a message behind my songs and of course love the sound and want to get up and dance.

Is there anything else that you would like to share about yourself or your music with our readers?

Just to thank everyone who continues to support me and motivate me to be better every day and to thank you all for allowing me to share my journey with you. They can also follow my everyday Vlogs on my YouTube channel (Asia Monet Ray) where they can see when my next song is released and other fun stuff.