Today we’d like to introduce you to Millicent Monté Haynes.
Hi Millicent Monté, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been performing all of my life. Music was always in my home. My dream was to be a performer. It always came naturally. I didn’t realize that it was a gift until my early teenage years. I tried to swallow everything whole- singing, drawing, playing instruments, modeling, acting, dancing- all of it.
I embarked on my own professional singing career around the age of 13. It was then that I experienced my first look at how dark the industry can be. By my 20’s, I had recordings, gained and lost a contract, suffered an immobilizing injury, and had completely counted myself out.
In 2016 I started all over again. This time with a corporate band. Power 2 Party gave me the spark I had lost from being burned before. I’ve been with them for the past 6 years and have grown exponentially.
Today I am living my dream. I make a living solely as a performing artist with my band and with solo endeavors. It doesn’t necessarily look the way I initially imagined in all honesty, but it has been worth every hardship.
My gift has taken me to places I never thought I would go. Now I am taking it a step further. After miscarriages, depression, divorce, displacement, and so much loss I am finally stepping out again as a solo artist. This time I know who I am, I know how strong I am, and I have a story to tell.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Everything was perfect….A perfect storm. I had to deal heavily with my own mental wellness. I’ve performed through miscarriages where the emotional and physical demand was nothing short of insane.
I also went against my church by singing for monetary gain. It was hugely frowned upon. You can imagine how interesting my career choices made things. In one of the choirs, I was told that I could only sing in the back and that I should be glad I’m even allowed to sing at all. Another lady saw a post of me performing Proud Mary and proceeded to serve tea that I was shaking my rear in juke joints. Looking back, it’s laughable. One of the biggest hurts however was a lady I considered to be a mother to say that I was “probably happy to miscarry so that I could be in the streets”. I was constantly demonized for being a performer.
In 2019 Power 2 Party lost a band member. I lost a friend. With everything else around me crumbling, losing Shay was the tipping point. I was hospitalized for a bit but I had no clue I was far from being out of the woods.
Imagine spending every weekend doing weddings and receptions while your own marriage is falling apart. My marriage was toxic in ways I was completely oblivious to until I was hospitalized. After 13 years invested, I found myself summoned to a courtroom the day after my birthday.
I lost my home, friends, family on the surface but underneath I had long lost my identity, self-worth, my ability to feel any emotions, and my will to live. In my darkest of times, I dealt with depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In a sentence, I am a National performing artist. That’s the biggest minimization of the century. My newest work tells a story of strength, passion, and the will to live life unapologetically. Sharing such personal aspects of my life is a part of my profession. I want people to know it’s ok to be human and that we can always start over.
I got burned my first coming as a solo artist and I started over with my band. Members of my church tried to demonize me but I didn’t turn my back on God. My marriage ended so I started over. I miscarried multiple times and when I get married again, I’m going to try again. That’s actually what I’m most proud of. I decided to live. That’s the decision I had to make- to not give up. It required that I start an aspect of my life over again. So here I am.
I’m known as a singer for my energy on stage. That and my big, blonde hair. As a solo artist, it was a big blonde Mohawk but more recently, it’s been big curls. Think Diana Ross big! I really connect with my audience in a sincere way. I am a whole vibe with a voice. I’ve known individuals to call me “extra” (negatively of course), but I am that plus more.
My latest project, Peace of My Heart, which I’m planning to launch summer of 2023, speaks to that. It speaks to living life, trusting the process, and embracing the journey. Those are a few of the many things I had to do in order to heal.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Through Covid, I learned that we (people) are not meant to be alone. Life is too precious and too wonderful not to share it. There are enough things that separate us. We NEED things that bring us together. We need to feel, touch, relate and experience!
It’s not a matter of a new lesson learned but the weight of the matter. We know tomorrow isn’t promised but that statement carries much more weight than it did a couple of years ago.
I was blessed as a performer to not be out of work for the entire shutdown. To see the difference between now and then! People are now having those special events that were postponed due to Covid on top of events already scheduled. Then add what I like to call the life-is-too-short-let’s-do-this-now events.
People are living freer, and loving harder since the pandemic. I can’t account for everyone but I can say that I make it my business to surround myself with those that are.
Contact Info:
- Website: Beacons.ai/MillicentMonte
- Instagram: @millicent.monte
- Facebook: @musicbymonte
Image Credits
Power 2 Party
