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ON THE RISE
Brooklyn’s own Har’Monique, celebrates the release of her first single in over two years, “One In A Million.” Serving as the lead track from her eagerly awaited album Monique, this song is set to rekindle the flame that listeners have been missing. “One In A Million” is an ode to uninhibited passion and desire. With an infectious beat and sultry vocals, this song sets the stage for a period of intense connection between lovers where the world outside dissolves into obscurity.
“I usually do more pop than R&B since R&B can be a bit slow for my taste. And this song was written in 2017, so I don’t even recall where I was mentally at the time, but I fell in love with this melody and wanted to do something with it,” said Har’Monique.
Released on July 12th, “One In A Million” is the first of many singles to come off Har'Monique’s forthcoming album Monique set to release in April 2025. Over the next several months, Har'Monique plans to drop a new single every other month to get fans prepared for the new music. It’s a lengthy but cohesive album showcasing Har'Monique’s eclectic range, offering a mix of pop ballads, reggae-inspired pop songs, R&B, and some hip-hop.
“I don’t want to be put into a box - ever. This album is a taste of me, and the next song will be pop-based!” enthused Har’Monique.
Having spent over a decade crafting and recording music, Har'Monique boasts an extensive catalog. Though Monique is her first official album release, it marks her seventh in a lineup of eight self-written projects yet to be released. As the album takes shape, the tracklist remains fluid, but fans can expect a robust collection of 15 to 20 tracks, consistent with the length of her previous albums.
Hands-on with every aspect of production, Har'Monique is in the studio three days a week pumping out songs in preparation for this album release. While she leads the creative process, she also collaborates with EngineEarSu, an engineer from Luxor Studios in Brooklyn, and for mastering, she works with Elliot James Mulhern from Soundbetter.com. Additionally, she’s teamed up with U.Kay Hip Productions for the music video for “One In A Million,” is already out."
“I had a lot of producers and engineers who doubted my creative abilities. I couldn’t believe the ways they tried to limit me,” continued Har’Monique, “I’m finally working with people who get me and what I’m trying to put out and have the patience to work with my creative process. I don’t like to be told when something is ready. I’m not a perfectionist; it’s simply that these songs are my babies - this is my image and my brand.”
Har'Monique's artistic journey began with writing novels and short stories in elementary school, earning her recognition and opportunities to share her work. By middle school and high school, she balanced her academic responsibilities with a passion for storytelling, often writing novels, short stories, and poems on the side. Her professional foray into music began when an ex-boyfriend, an audio engineer, encouraged her to try writing and recording music, which ignited a deeper interest in developing original music.
“It’s a creative expression and outlet for me. It’s not about the celebrity factor; it’s about the artistry. I love writing, and while I enjoy singing, my focus is on the sound, the body of music itself, what is created,” added Har’Monique.
While she is hyper-focused on the new album and the music video for the single “One In A Million,” Har’Monique is excited to share that live performances and appearances are coming soon! To catch more from this up-and-coming pop star, listen to the new single, “One In A Million,” available across all music streaming platforms, and follow Har’Monique on Instagram @har_monique23 for news, music, updates, and more.
ON THE RISE
Clinton Brand III – better known as CBIII – is a California-based rapper. His new single, titled “I Won’t Quit,” is a motivational and relatable message for everyone “going through it.”
The track, with a beat by Tunna Beats, has a Blurry Face vibe. It starts with a violin and the soft “ahh”s of featured singer Alex Brinkley. When the beat drops, piano, bass and drums enter along with CBIII’s lyrical meditations on “overthinking, contemplating, and debating” why he “won’t quit.”
As the final line makes clear, the song is a study in contradictory mindsets. There’s the fear of failure – what if I’m not good enough? – and then the contrast of relentlessness as stated in the title.
The lyrics of the song’s final quattrain are especially strong. Beginning with an example of CBIII’s wordplay (phenomenal and astronomical anomaly), the final message is one of inspiration: I’m tired of this, so I’m going to make it better.
This struggle with nagging self-doubt and overthinking makes “I Won’t Quit” very relatable. In the end, CBIII wants listeners to be inspired, to not give in when they find themselves in similar circumstances.
Brand’s inspiration for “I Won’t Quit” was intensely personal. Following the death of his parents at a young age, he was raised by his grandmother and then was placed in foster care. A recent visit found his grandmother’s memory fading; this was painful, considering that she had once been his biggest supporter.
This episode left him feeling abandoned, in a dark place.
He says, “I wrote the song ‘I Won’t Quit’ because at that time I was suicidal. I didn’t have nobody else to turn to because my grandma didn’t really care anymore.”
The vulnerability expressed in the lyrics made CBIII unsure if he wanted to release the song at all. He says, “I actually sat on the song for like five months before even thinking about releasing it because it’s so close to home that I wasn’t even sure if I was going to have the courage to share it.”
Now that the song is out, its vulnerability is its strength. Brand’s struggle is real, and the general contours – missing family support, doubting yourself, knowing you need to persevere – will be familiar to many.
In addition to his personal desire to live up his dream of greatness, Brand has another reason not to give up: his younger brother, who is currently in foster care. Knowing his brother looks up to him, he wants to remind him that giving in to doubt is the easy way out.
Brand says, “I want to encourage him, to show him that if you set your mind to it, bro, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
In the end, CBIII wants listeners to learn from his pain, to ask themselves, “What if I don’t give up?”
Stream “I Won’t Quit” now, wherever you listen to music.
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