At just 20 years old, singer and songwriter Monique Messier represents a new generation of Brazilian artists shaping their musical identity between cultures. Born in São Luís, Maranhão, she arrived in Canada in 2019 at the age of 14, bringing with her not only her Brazilian heritage, but also an artistic background that began in childhood.
The daughter of a Brazilian mother and a Canadian-Brazilian father, Monique moved to Ottawa to be closer to her father’s family and in search of a better quality of life. Music, however, has always been a constant in her life.
“Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” she says. Raised in a musical family, she grew up closely following her mother’s career as a singer and speech therapist, attending concerts, rehearsals, recording sessions, and interviews.
This early exposure to the professional music world proved decisive. In addition, the diversity of sounds that marked her childhood — from MPB, samba, and forró to American folk, pop, and rock — helped shape her style and songwriting. Today, Monique writes her own songs and plays guitar, piano, and ukulele, instruments that are also part of her creative process.
“I would describe my style as a mix of pop, rock, and folk with acoustic elements. My main musical influences are The Cranberries, Shania Twain, and the Disney pop stars I grew up watching. My mother also made sure to introduce me to all the great Brazilian singers and bands, such as Marisa Monte, Tribalistas, Clara Nunes, Rita Lee, and Ney Matogrosso, who definitely influenced the way I sing and perform today and remain major inspirations for me,” says the singer.
Her academic training came as a natural step. Monique has just graduated from the Music Industry Arts program at Algonquin College, where she gained experience in different areas of the music industry, including studio recording, audio production, entrepreneurship, and business. “I want to dedicate myself professionally to music,” she says without hesitation.
Currently, she performs alongside the Ottawa-based band Polarized. The partnership began in 2025, when Monique held her first headline concert. “We started performing together in July 2025 and will continue in 2026,” says the artist, who highlights the musical connection and creative exchange with the group.
Despite her young age, Monique has already accumulated stage experience both inside and outside Canada. In addition to performances in São Luís, she has sung in Gatineau, was a finalist in the Secondaire en Spectacle competition, and has participated in several charity events. For her, stepping on stage is more than a performance. “It’s a unique feeling. I feel free, whole, and completely like I belong,” she says.
Original text written in Portuguese. Automatically translated by ChatGPT and not human-edited. We apologize for any errors or inaccuracies and disclaim responsibility for the translation.
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