Whether catering in upbeat, gently inspirational synth-bop or reflective, dreamy indie-pop, MONOGEM’s approach to her gorgeous, lilting music throws genre definitions to the wind — so it only makes sense that on her So Many Ways EP (premiering below and out Oct. 18), she freely switches between Spanish and English as she crafts a release that speaks to her own journey while reaching out to those around her.
“So Many Ways is a culmination of songs after a cleansing year…a coming of age into a new phase of womxnhood. It’s about the essence of love and self-worth, even in the darkest of angles,” MONOGEM (Jen Hirsh) tells Billboard. “It’s about riding the waves of this thing called life and admiring the many ways the water can move us around, shake us up and spit us out. This record is about connection…to a higher power, the art and the people I surround myself with, but most importantly, to myself.”
Growing up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, MONOGEM acknowledges she’s “struggled with my identity as a half Mexican woman.” But her ability to meld her Guadalajaran heritage and layered indie-pop is compelling and undeniable — and it’s led her to share the stage with Christine and the Queens and Nilüfer Yanya, artists whose refusal to conform has defined their careers.
So Many Ways comes out Oct. 18, but premieres below. You can catch MONOGEM at the Moroccan Lounge Oct. 19 in Los Angeles.