Victoria Monét Opens Up About Dating, Grammy Backlash, and New Single “Let Me” on HOT 97

Victoria Monét opened up about her personal journey and creative evolution during a recent interview on HOT 97 with host Nessa, discussing her recent single “Let Me” and the introspective work behind her upcoming project. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter shared that she has been single for over two years, a period she described as transformative for both her artistry and personal growth. She spoke candidly about stepping back from relationships to focus on self-discovery, shifting her professional team, and reevaluating what love and consistency mean to her in the wake of public success and personal challenges.

Monét revealed that the time away from romantic partnerships allowed her to reconnect with her creativity on deeper terms, calling this forthcoming body of work her most meaningful yet. She discussed how the pressures following her Grammy wins — particularly for Best R&B Album with Jaguar II in 2024 — led to unexpected backlash and internal reflection, prompting her to ground herself before returning to the studio. The artist also disclosed that she has been attending culinary school, a pursuit she says connects her to her family’s cultural roots and provides a meditative balance to her music career.

During the conversation, Monét played snippets of unreleased music, using the tracks to subtly communicate her current emotional state and openness to future relationships. She emphasized that although she is not actively seeking romance, she remains open to love when it aligns with her values of mutual respect, emotional availability, and consistency. This theme of intentionality in relationships echoed a viral moment from the interview where she broke down the importance of being observant and present in partnerships — a clip that gained traction across social platforms for its relatability and maturity.

The singer reflected on her collaborative history, including her tour with Bruno Mars and her work with Bryson Tiller, noting how those experiences shaped her approach to artistry and stage presence. She also shared how her young daughter’s growing interest in music has influenced her creative process, saying that watching her child engage with rhythm and melody has reminded her of the joy that first drew her to songwriting. These personal details, she said, have develop into integral to the narrative of her next album, which she described as a celebration of resilience, self-trust, and artistic evolution.

Monét addressed the vocal challenges she faced during the promotion of Jaguar II, explaining that she worked with specialists to rehabilitate her voice through both physical therapy and mental resilience techniques. She described the experience as humbling but ultimately strengthening, reinforcing her commitment to longevity in her career. “It made me appreciate my instrument more,” she said. “I had to listen to my body in a way I hadn’t before.”

When asked about the significance of this upcoming project, Monét stated that it could define her career not due to the fact that of commercial expectations, but because it represents the first time she has created from a place of complete emotional clarity and independence. She emphasized that the album is not a reaction to fame or external validation, but a documentation of her journey toward self-possession. “This isn’t just music,” she said. “It’s a milestone.”

The interview concluded with Monét encouraging listeners to stream “Let Me,” now available on all major platforms, and to watch the full conversation on HOT 97’s official YouTube channel. Her transparency about love, healing, and artistic rebirth has resonated with fans and critics alike, positioning her as one of contemporary R&B’s most authentic voices.

Victoria Monét’s Journey to Self-Discovery After Grammy Success

Following her historic wins at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2024 — where she took home three accolades including Best R&B Album for Jaguar II — Victoria Monét entered a period of intense personal and professional recalibration. While the recognition affirmed her status as a leading force in modern R&B, the artist has since described the aftermath as emotionally complex, citing increased scrutiny and pressure to maintain momentum. In interviews after the ceremony, she acknowledged feeling overwhelmed by the sudden attention, prompting her to step back and reassess her priorities.

This reflective phase led Monét to make deliberate changes in her inner circle, including shifts in her management and creative team, which she referred to as a necessary “shedding” of influences that no longer aligned with her evolving vision. She has spoken in past interviews about the importance of surrounding herself with people who support her growth not just as an artist, but as a woman and mother. These adjustments, she said, were critical in creating the emotional space needed to produce music that feels authentic rather than performative.

The decision to pursue culinary education emerged during this time as a way to reconnect with her heritage and find joy outside the spotlight. Monét, who has often spoken about her Creole and African American roots, described cooking as a familial language — one passed down through generations of women in her family who used food to express love, celebrate milestones, and preserve culture. Enrolling in classes has allowed her to honor that tradition while developing a new skill set grounded in mindfulness and creativity.

Her time in the kitchen, she explained, mirrors the discipline required in music: precision, timing, and an ear for harmony — whether in flavor or sound. This cross-disciplinary focus has become a cornerstone of her current chapter, reinforcing her belief that artistry extends beyond the recording studio. By nurturing other forms of expression, Monét says she returns to her music with renewed clarity and purpose.

Navigating Love, Independence, and Artistic Integrity

At the heart of Monét’s recent revelations is her evolving perspective on relationships. After being in a long-term partnership that ended several years ago, she has chosen to remain single, using the time to explore what healthy love looks like from a place of wholeness rather than lack. In the HOT 97 interview, she emphasized that being observant — paying attention to how a partner shows up consistently over time — is more important than grand gestures or fleeting passion. This insight, shared in a candid moment during the conversation, resonated widely online, with clips of her remarks circulating across TikTok and Instagram as fans praised her emotional maturity.

She clarified that her current single status is not a rejection of love, but a commitment to entering future relationships with intention and self-awareness. “I’m not closed off,” she said. “I’m just not rushing.” This stance reflects a broader shift in her mindset since achieving critical acclaim: one that prioritizes inner peace over external validation. Monét has noted in previous conversations that fame can distort perceptions of worth, making it essential to reconnect with intrinsic values.

Her approach to love now mirrors her approach to music: patient, deliberate, and rooted in authenticity. She has stated that she will not compromise her peace or creative flow for a relationship that demands constant justification or emotional labor. Instead, she seeks partnership built on mutual growth, open communication, and shared joy — qualities she says she’s learned to recognize through silence, reflection, and lived experience.

This philosophy extends to how she engages with her audience. Monét has cultivated a reputation for vulnerability in her lyrics, often writing about love, healing, and self-worth with poetic honesty. Tracks like “On My Mama” and “Smoke” from Jaguar II showcase her ability to blend sensuality with introspection, a balance she aims to deepen in her upcoming work. By modeling emotional transparency, she hopes to inspire listeners to pursue their own paths of self-discovery without fear of judgment.

Creative Renewal: From Vocal Challenges to Culinary Exploration

The road to this creative renaissance was not without obstacles. In the months following her Grammy wins, Monét experienced vocal strain that required medical attention and therapeutic intervention. She has since shared that she worked with vocal coaches and speech-language pathologists to rehabilitate her instrument, incorporating breathing exercises, vocal rest, and mindfulness practices into her routine. The process, she said, taught her to treat her voice not as a tool to be pushed, but as a living part of her body deserving of care and respect.

Victoria Monét Opens Up About Dating, Children's Book + More Backstage At The BET Awards #BETAWARDS

This experience deepened her appreciation for the physical and mental demands of performance, especially for artists who tour extensively or rely on complex vocal techniques. Monét, known for her intricate harmonies and soulful delivery, acknowledged that she had previously taken her vocal health for granted. The hiatus forced her to slow down, listen to her body, and rebuild her technique from a place of sustainability rather than endurance.

Parallel to her vocal recovery, her enrollment in culinary school has become a form of artistic restoration. Learning to cook has allowed her to engage with creativity in a tactile, sensory way — chopping, seasoning, plating — that contrasts with the abstract nature of songwriting yet complements it. She has described the kitchen as a space where she can experiment without pressure, make mistakes freely, and find joy in the process rather than the outcome. This mindset, she believes, has bled into her music-making, allowing her to approach the studio with more playfulness and less perfectionism.

Monét’s daughter has also played a quiet but significant role in this renewal. The artist has shared in past interviews that her child frequently dances to her music, asks about the meaning behind lyrics, and shows curiosity about instruments and rhythms. Witnessing her daughter’s natural connection to sound has reminded Monét of why she fell in love with music in the first place: not for acclaim, but for the way it makes people feel alive. This intergenerational bond, she said, continues to fuel her motivation to create music that is both personally meaningful and universally resonant.

What’s Next for Victoria Monét?

As Monét prepares to roll out new music, industry observers note that her upcoming project could mark a pivotal moment in her career trajectory. While she has achieved critical acclaim and Grammy recognition, she has yet to break into the upper echelons of mainstream pop superstardom — a space many believe she is poised to enter with the right combination of artistic vision and timing. Her ability to blend R&B sophistication with accessible melodies, as demonstrated in tracks like “Moment” and “Alright,” positions her uniquely in today’s musical landscape.

The singer has remained tight-lipped about the album’s title, release date, or featured collaborators, though she confirmed that Bruno Mars and Bryson Tiller remain part of her extended creative family. Her tour with Mars in 2023 was widely praised for its energy and chemistry, and she has expressed interest in future joint projects. Similarly, her work with Tiller on songs like “Party Dress” showcased a seamless fusion of their styles, suggesting potential for continued collaboration.

For now, Monét is focused on delivering music that feels true to her current state of being — reflective, healed, and forward-looking. She has urged fans to stream “Let Me” as a first glimpse into this new era, describing it as a song about self-worth, patience, and the courage to wait for what you deserve. The track, which blends smooth vocals with a mid-tempo groove, has already begun gaining traction on streaming platforms and urban radio.

Her next public appearance is expected to be at the 2024 BET Awards in June, where she is nominated for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist. While she has not confirmed performance plans, her presence would offer another opportunity to connect with audiences and share her evolving narrative. Until then, Monét continues to balance her time between the studio, the kitchen, and motherhood — each role informing the other in her pursuit of a life lived with intention, creativity, and grace.

Leave a Comment