In the past week, if there has been one EP we’ve had on repeat it is up and coming soul-pop singer Seint Monet’s “Bloom”. With elegant building melodies and heartwarming lyricism, the EP is the perfect transitional soundtrack as we ease ourselves into the colder months. Capturing an array of genres from contemporary pop to elements of country and folk, the EP showcases the singer’s boundless vocals and productions which make it unequivocally Seint Monet.

Speaking on the release, Monet said, “My artistry is based around abandoning the idea of genre, and that’s exactly what we did with this EP. Each song has its own unique sound and story while still being very cohesive as a whole.”

Having spent the past year working with industry heavyweights Chris Gehringer and Johnluke Lewis, the singer is well on her way to breaking out in the scene. We sat down with Monet, talking the new EP, creating genre-bending music and what’s next.

Check out the interview below

Hey Seint Monet! How’s lockdown been? What’s one thing you’ve learned?
Hello! Lockdown has definitely been a unique experience. The beginning of quarantine was hard to navigate and I felt a bit of panic, but I made it a point to use this free time to my advantage by consistently writing and creating. I would say the most important thing I’ve learned during lockdown is to take it one day at a time. I realized that when I started thinking about the pandemic and what it’ll be like in a few months, my anxiety went off the charts. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the craziness of this situation, but if you focus on what’s happening in the moment, it helps a lot.

Congratulations on your debut EP! What was the creative process like? Which song means the most to you and why?
Thank you! A year ago, my manager Matt and I had thrown around the idea of releasing an EP, but it wasn’t until this past February that the process really began. Matt and I hosted a writing retreat at the Jersey Shore to write for the Seint Monet project. It was a huge success; four out of the six songs on the “Bloom” EP were written at this retreat. At the beginning of March, right before everything shut down, Matt and I went out to LA to record “32 Degrees” and “What Does It Mean” with a producer named Mike Malchicoff, who has worked with the likes of King Princess, Troye Sivan, and Kanye West. It was an unreal experience simply because of how talented and knowledgeable Mike is. I learned a lot from him in the five days we were there, and it set me up to record the rest of the EP. Once I was back in Nashville after the quarantine, Johnluke Lewis and I went into the studio for four days and finished the other four songs. He already had some insane ideas for each song that made recording them pretty easy. It’s difficult for me to choose a song that means the most to me; I feel connected to all of them. I would say that the song I gravitate towards a bit more than the others is “Good For Me.” I had been wanting to release a soul/pop song like this for years, so I’m extremely proud that this song is mine.

You’ve said your artistry is based around abandoning the idea of genre, what led you to this?
Well, I’ve always been inspired by all types of music. I have a playlist of songs I wish I’d written, and it goes from rock to pop to soul to jazz and so forth. I noticed that often, when I’m listening through an album, the songs will be really good but sound really similar. I knew that was not what I wanted for myself as an artist. I want to constantly change my style and experiment with my music. I know my sound well enough to be able to do this while keeping everything cohesive. Even now, as I’m writing for my next release, the songs are completely different than anything on the EP. It just excites me to test my versatility.

You worked with some amazing writers and producers for your debut EP such as Julius Rodriguez and Chris Gehringer, how did these collabs come about?
Yes, it’s surreal to me knowing that talented people like this were a part of the Seint Monet project. Matt had a mutual friend with Julius, Mia Shelton, who is also a writer on this project. Julius had a part in almost every song we wrote, jumping from session to session to laydowns keys, guitar, etc. He is, without a doubt, one of the most talented people I’ve ever met. When it came to Chris Gehringer, Mike Malchicoff had recommended him when we were looking for someone to master our songs. So, we sent him our songs, and fortunately, he responded! This was my first time getting a song of mine mastered, and to have someone, as experienced as Chris Gehringer, do it was unreal.

Who are your musical inspirations?
Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, Anderson .Paak, Charlie Puth, the list goes on. There are so many artists out there that inspire me with their music, branding, personality, etc. I try to learn something from every artist, whether I’m a fan of their music or not.

Who would you love to collaborate with and why?
Definitely Anderson .Paak. He seems like such a cool guy, not to mention the fact that his songs are fantastic. I feel like if we got in the studio together, we would make something interesting. I would also love to collab with Charlie Puth. I’ve been trying to write a Charlie Puth-type song forever. He’s so sure of his sound and I admire that.

Now that your debut EP is out, what is next for you? Can we expect an album in the near future?
We have so much more planned. Merch, visuals, music videos, live shows, giveaways! This is just the beginning. When it comes to music, I have my next three releases written and produced out. We haven’t set a date yet, but it should be in the next few months. I’m obviously eager to release more, but I also want to make sure I put my all into the “Bloom” EP.