MONROE on Empowering Women Through Music: The Story Behind “Weaving a New Dream”
MONROE, a visionary artist who combines music, healing, and empowerment, returns with her single, “Weaving A New Dream,” a track with ethereal and powerful sounds. Produced by Heather Christie and released under the Möonbabe Records label, the song shows a combination of hypnotic and soothing rhythms that radiate a powerful message of sisterhood, sovereignty, and collective healing.
Inspired by loss and personal transformation, MONROE's artistic mission is deeply intertwined with her life experiences. It has a clear direction: to inspire women to regain their power and create a brighter and more united future.
MONROE, the daughter of the late Roger King, former CEO of King World Productions—the company behind iconic shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy!—was raised amidst the dazzling world of Hollywood. However, she is committed to redefining that legacy. At the core of her music lies a mission to empower women, foster collaboration, and bring healing to the world through the transformative force of creativity.
In this interview, MONROE delves into the inspiration behind “Weaving A New Dream,” her collaboration with Jacqueline Michelle, how her experience in sound healing shaped the song's deeply transformative atmosphere, and more.
What inspired you to write "Weaving A New Dream," and what message do you hope to convey to listeners?
W.A.N.D. Was developed over several months and evolved from a cauldron of hope and possibility that springtime always brings. It was a summoning of our inner power as women, mothers, and people who are deeply concerned with the reality that’s presented. A lot of times, it can feel overwhelming or like we’re powerless, but it is a reclaiming of our power. Even if it is the cauldron of a single composition, it has made a difference within us to express and present it, and the response has been palpable. I think there is a real hunger for female leadership in our world.
How did your collaboration with Jacqueline Michelle evolve, and what unique perspectives did each of you bring to the song?
Jacqueline Michelle is a total powerhouse, both vocally, and musically. She and her husband Govindas are leaders in the Bhakti yoga and Kirtan communities in LA, which is an ancient practice of chanting Sanskrit phrases and deities’ names to shift internally, interpersonally & cosmically. I joined one of their harmonium chanting courses to integrate the songs into my sound healing experiences. Kirtan’s chanting of ancient mantras really supported me in the postpartum phase. Jacqueline has a raw feminine power that inspired me and intimidated me at first, but after asking her to be a part of the Lotus project, she brought so much vitality and presence to the song and music video, and we knew we wanted to continue collaborating.
Can you talk about how your background in sound healing has influenced your approach to music creation and the overall vibe of "Weaving A New Dream"?
My experience in sound healing and studying social & emotional arts emphasizes vocal toning as a healing instrument, the deep authentic intention behind the music, and utilizing dance as medicine. The message, the intention, and singing with powerful sovereign women provided a healing environment to unearth the heavier emotions that can be hard to hold individually. Alchemizing our pain, worry, and growing pains as mothers in our writing collaboration felt so supportive. So when we sat down to write WAND, it was like a ceremony to midwife these deeper emotions and create something to empower us and others.
How did your personal experiences, particularly the loss of your sister, shape the lyrics and themes in the song?
Losing my sister happened while I was becoming a mother, so it felt like a really vulnerable time to take risks, but I realized I wanted to create sisterhood through my music as a way to heal that loss.
It also felt like a time I was rebirthing as a person. I think women hold so much internally about motherhood and it seems like the veneer is cracking a bit, but it was a really hard transition of isolation and not feeling very supported despite having support and resources. Heather, Jacqueline, and I connected and related around that shared truth about motherhood. Part of the new dream I want for the world is a world where women can walk around completely nude and not be afraid for their safety. I still very much believe it’s a world we would all want to live in! It shows just how far away we are from the ideal of safety for women which is harmony & peace for all.
What role do you believe music can play in empowering women and fostering unity?
Working with Heather was the 2nd time I ever worked with a female producer. I’ve worked with probably 30 producers over the years, and she’s the only woman I’ve known who engineers her own sessions. She also strives for women to claim their “sonic sovereignty” which is the name of the Ableton Live course that she teaches. So our missions aligned. It was definitely a different, longer process with more sessions and shorter work sessions, but I’ve allowed myself to surrender to the process and as time evolves the compositions emerge more organically. I would say not every woman feels resourced enough to support other women, but they certainly exist and when you meet them, you can connect in your shared values.
Can you describe your creative process for writing and producing "Weaving A New Dream"?
WAND was started on Easter Sunday or Ostara, which is the pagan holiday of fertility. So it was a bit of a scene out of practical magic with candles lit, some flowers, a giant golden egg with intentions in it, and connecting through prayer and meditation for our prayers for the world before we started with a chord progression and getting into writing lyrics. I wrote some lyrics before our session started. We finished the song in August and completely reworked the song in June. So it was a project that evolved over time. And we were really happy with the result.
How has working with Möonbabe Records aligned with your artistic vision and mission?
Women need support, especially mothers. That’s the core mission of Möonbabe, and it felt nice to be in a community where that mattered, and that need was seen, supported, and celebrated. This is the change I wish to see in the world, and so I’ve aligned with it and become what I want to change. It has also stoked the fire of going deeper into that space that largely feels unrepresented, but women are historically quite used to suppression, and it does make us stronger. I think we’ll see a lot of powerful feminine music emerge in these times ahead.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in the music industry, and how are you working to break down barriers and create a more inclusive space?
I think in any industry, the challenge can be protecting what is sacred and striving to maintain that integrity yourself while balancing opportunities. This phenomenon transcends gender, and a lot of artists can hit a crisis point when opportunity takes them away from the intention that got them started in the first place. Pairing that with the over-sexualization and lack of presence of women, I found that women who were able to commodify their sexuality or intimacy with the audience got rewarded with more opportunities, and I wasn’t willing to do that. I faced a very challenging experience in my early 20s with a professional relationship that brought about several songwriting placements, but the relationship evolved into an inappropriate dynamic that caused a lot of trauma to my creativity and trust. After that, I ended up taking a songwriting hiatus to recover from it. Subsequently getting a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing, however, it did shift my journey towards the healing arts and healing through sound. So everything happens for a reason, however, I think having more women in the spaces and in production and engineering creates a safer environment.
How do you hope to build on your family's legacy in entertainment while also forging your own path and making a positive impact on the world?
The Kingworld legacy paved the way for authentic dialogues and connection with real human stories on Talk Shows like Oprah. While those are huge shoes to fill, I plan on creating a parallel path as I develop my Podcast to do the same while focusing on women, the healing arts, and how we can create a fertile future for our children and the many generations ahead.
What are your plans for the future, both musically and personally?
Right now we are working on an EP with Moonbabe Records and are excited to continue the momentum of this project and create more goddess anthems to share.
What message would you like to share with your fans and supporters?
It feels so good to be connected with others through my music, and I love getting to witness its impact on them. So please connect with me on Instagram to share how it’s impacted you!
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are looking to collaborate and create meaningful music?
If you can enjoy the hunt and the journey to find your people and the artists or producers you really enjoy, you will find success. Having the courage to ask for what you want and go for it is half the battle! 1 out of every 10 will say yes. If you can develop the muscle of asking and then when one connects, following through with your whole heart and energy you will find magic. And always surround yourself with positive people.