Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Monsen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started singing when I was super young. I always have loved it and would sing all the time. I would compete in talent shows and competitions, and won KJ97’s Country Kid of the Year award when I was in sixth grade. When I was 13, I started to really want a guitar so I could write songs. I was already writing songs on paper, but would forget the melody and how it went because I had no music to it. Once I got a guitar when I was 14, that’s when things really started to change for me and my singing journey. I started writings tons of songs, and the music became my own instead of someone else’s. I realized how addicting songwriting was, it was cathartic. I’ve been writing songs ever since. I had my first professional “gig” when I was 22 years old. It was in April of 2021, at a place called the Hofbrau in the Quarry of San Antonio, Texas. I did a three hour show, consisting of mostly covers, and some of my originals I sprinkled in there as well. I’ve been doing shows like that ever since, at restaurants, bars, wineries, private parties, etc. It has been a blast for the past five years. In 2023, I started a band with some good friends of mine. We actually went to high school together and reconnected seven years later and instantly formed a connection. I’ve been playing live shows with my band for the past three years. They have produced songs for me, helped me write and create songs, put amazing musical talent and knowledge behind my lonely acoustic guitar. I’d bring them songs I had written in my room, and they brought them to life. We are in the process right now of recording my first EP, and I am so excited for the world to hear it. Music is everything to me, specifically songwriting and to be able to share my personal stories with others who can relate and enjoy and feel something from a song I wrote, it is really special.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been smooth, but it has always been rewarding. A lot of my anxiety and stress came from the beginning. I was terrified to perform in front of people. I didn’t know what to say between songs, how to hold myself on stage, or how to be comfortable with people watching and perceiving me. Over time, those things got easier. Experience has a way of teaching you what confidence can’t. One of my biggest struggles, though, was finding “my sound.” I love all kinds of music: Fleetwood Mac, Sheryl Crow, Alice in Chains, Linda Ronstadt, Olivia Rodrigo, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam. How was I supposed to blend all of those influences together? And if I did, what would I even call it? Honestly, I still wrestle with that question. My music has elements of pop, country, alternative, rock, grunge, and even blues. Early on, it was difficult working with professional studios because my music didn’t fit neatly into a box. They saw a young woman writing emotional breakup songs and immediately placed me in the Taylor Swift category. Which is great, I love Taylor Swift. But my music has always had an edge to it, and I wanted that side of myself to come through. At first, I found myself spending a lot of money on songs that weren’t quite turning out the way I envisioned. Most of the production decisions were happening when I wasn’t even in the room. On top of that, I didn’t have thousands of dollars to spend, but that’s what recording cost. Studio time is expensive, and when you’re paying by the hour, there isn’t much room to experiment, make mistakes, or go back and forth creatively. So in the beginning, I settled for “good enough.” The problem was that the music didn’t feel like me. It sounded polished. It sounded professional. But it didn’t have the emotion I was trying to capture. It felt overproduced, disconnected, and a little lifeless. That’s why the EP I’m creating now with my band excites me so much. For the first time, it feels completely authentic. It’s raw, imperfect, emotional, and honest. It isn’t trying to fit into a category or follow a formula. It’s just Emily, untethered.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a singer-songwriter and live performer based in San Antonio, Texas. I write and perform original music that blends elements of alternative, rock, country, indie, and pop influences. While my sound can be difficult to categorize, that’s part of what makes it uniquely mine. My songs are rooted in storytelling, emotion, and authenticity.
What I’m most proud of is staying true to myself as an artist. It would have been easier to fit into a specific genre or follow a formula, but I’ve always been more interested in creating music that feels honest than music that fits neatly into a box. Every song I release represents a real experience, emotion, or lesson from my life.
I think what sets me apart is my willingness to be vulnerable. Whether I’m performing for a packed room or a handful of people, my goal is always the same: to make someone feel understood. I don’t write songs to chase trends, I write songs that tell the truth. My music lives somewhere between heartbreak and healing, with influences from multiple genres coming together to create something that feels both familiar and entirely my own.
Beyond writing and performing, I’m proud of building my music career independently. From booking shows and promoting releases to creating merchandise and growing a local following, I’ve learned every part of the process firsthand. It’s been challenging, but incredibly rewarding to watch something that started as a personal passion grow into something I get to share with others.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a pretty shy and sensitive kid. I spent a lot of time in my own world, daydreaming, writing stories, listening to music, and paying attention to things that other people didn’t always notice. I’ve always been a deep thinker and someone who feels things intensely, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Music was a huge part of my life from a young age. I was constantly singing, discovering new artists, and becoming obsessed with songs that made me feel something. I loved everything from classic rock and singer-songwriters to country and pop, and I was always fascinated by how music could tell a story or capture an emotion that was hard to put into words. I’ve also always been creative. Whether it was writing, performing, or finding ways to express myself, I was drawn to anything that allowed me to turn feelings and experiences into something meaningful. At the same time, I was definitely a little awkward and unsure of myself. I worried a lot about what other people thought and spent years trying to figure out where I fit in. Looking back, I think the person I am today was always there. The love of storytelling, the curiosity, the sensitivity, and the desire to connect with people through music have been part of me for as long as I can remember. The biggest difference now is that I’ve learned to embrace those qualities instead of hiding them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emily2monsen.wixsite.com/emilymonsen
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilymonsen/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/siY3XtqWlZA
