Spot-On 20 Questions with Racheal Monique

1. Who is Monique

Monique is a recording artist, a teacher by profession, a farmer by passion, a Musoga by tribe, she loves music and she love God.

2. What are you outside the music and artist life

If am not recording am in the garden, especially during the rain season, I spend time doing the things I would not do when running music projects, I love photography so much, sometimes I spend time taking photos of nature.

3. If you were to describe your music career as a means of transport, what would it be and why 1. Air, 2. Road, 3.Water

Right now it would be Road because I feel I have not moved an inch, I feel like am in this bus on a road with lots of ups and downs, so many challenges at this stage that can be so discouraging from media, friends, family and other social challenges, some people want to see another person in you and yet you feel you aren’t that person yet, they compare me with people, but the reality is we are different.

4. What inspires your lyrics?

I do my music depending on how I feel, and even when someone writes a song for me, I make sure it's inspired by me according to how I feel about life.

5. Are you comfortable with the Uganda music industry?

I don’t know, It maybe yes or not, copyright issues are still pending, we are still paying the media to stream our music, we should be able to earn from our music whether we go for shows or not.

6. Does the Uganda Music Industry suit your ambitions?

The Uganda music industry has a lot to offer, yes I have bigger ambitions and I think it is suitable for my ambitions, only that there are limitations on this road, the right channels are so demanding in terms of logistics.

7. If you were to be given power to change this industry, what are those 5 things you would start with?

First I would make sure there is better production both visual and audio, I would work on improving value for artists through of branding, I would work on improving on the international market, I would make sure that copyright law is fully implemented, I would love to see a good relationship between the media, DJs and artists, there is need for the government to create annual programs that support artists.

8. Apart from being a Musoga, which other tribe in Uganda would choose to be, please do not say none.

I think I would an Itesot because they have nice white teeth and the glowing dark skin, I know few words like ebyaibo, jokuna, and then ever since I was a child people thought I was Itesot, and so many people from that tribe kept on approaching me speaking to me Ateso.

9. Honeymoon in Jinja, where would you go?

Bujagali, Ci’Sand Suites, or a place next to the waters.

10. Your wedding is happening tomorrow, choose your matron?

I would choose Anita Nakato chuckles … she is has been my best friend since Primary two, and she is a fashion designer so would get the dressing sorted easily.

11. You are made president of Uganda for one day, what would change immediately?

I don’t want to be blamed for letting people out of curfew laughters, I think I would start with education, being a teacher and now a President I would make Immediate changes together with the ministry of Education, to have practical form of education focusing on skills.

12. Mention anything that makes you wish you were born a man?

I think the intimidation, I am not intimidated easily but you know how songs and the Bible elaborate about total submission to husbands and some men have taken that for granted, so I would want to do this differently.

13. What reason would ever make you wish to cheat on your partner?

Naturally I hate cheating, its ungodly to cheat, and nobody should feel proud of it, but in circumstances where a man forces me to cheat, I would look at issues like deception.

14. What advise have ever received from a stranger?

I was advised to learn to be independent in decision making.

15. What is the best advise you have ever offered to a friend?

Its to leave everyday by Grace.

16. If you were given a chance to help girls, what two keys issues would you address first?

To help them finish school, and help them build self esteem in all circumstance.

17. What has ever made you feel inferior?

So many thing that have made feel inferior but most of them are too personal. In 2016 I was in a competition with Baba Fm, during studio session I lost the lyrics because intimidation from the judges, besides I still has some fear for crowds.

18. What gives you confidence at your lowest point?

The Word of God.

19. What is happiness to you?

Happiness is understanding who you are, accepting who you are, and happiness is finding someone that has the same dreams, same values, and someone who you love and he loves you back equally.

20. How much money would be enough for your dream?

This is a priceless question because there are so many things I want to accomplish in life and some have not even began.