About
EARLY LIFE
Monique was born in Birmingham (UK), to Pastor Clement Reid and Sonia Reid. As the youngest of their six children, she joined the family band at the age of 3 years old.
The ‘Reid Family’ performed together at church services and concerts which gave Monique a solid foundation in both the church and its music. Starting with Monique's grandmother, Doris Nembhard (who was the church organist and Choir Director at Life and Light Fellowship Church for over 60 years), her family is rich in the heritage of Gospel music.
As a teenager, Monique went through a rebellious phase and at the age of 15-16 she left church and home after deciding to follow her own path.
Monique went from singing solely gospel, to singing secular music overnight. By the time she reached her early 20s, she was in demand as a session singer. “From my teenage years to my late 20s, I got to record and perform with great artists such as Grammy award winning reggae band- Steel Pulse, UB40, Black Voices, China Black and Michael Bolton (as well as many local bands). I loved singing and being on the road, it was the most natural thing in the world to me, even though it was hard when I became a single parent.”
Although Monique was no longer in church, her seed of faith kept growing. Even at her lowest moments Monique felt that God was ever present. “I always knew my parents and grandparents were praying for me. If it wasn’t for their prayers, I know I wouldn’t be here today. I went through some dark moments in my life but God kept me".
Monique re-dedicated her life back to Christ in her late 20s but continued to session-sing whilst she attempted to rebuild her relationship with God.
In 2012 she began focusing her time on singing in church, and through using her gift to share the gospel, she finally felt the fulfilment she had longed for. As well as performing as a solo artist, Monique loved singing with her big sister Denise Wilson, who is an accomplished pianist and one of Birmingham's best Choir Directors......... and also beside her big brother Reed Bass, who is one of the UK's leading bassists.
BBC SONGS OF PRAISE
In 2020 she received a message with a link to the trailer for the BBC Gospel Singer of The Year competition. Initially Monique dismissed the message but she couldn’t shake it from her mind. “I was in a different place spiritually and although my desire and passion for singing was great, I had no intention of doing anything outside of God’s will for my life”. Not wanting to move without God’s endorsement, she put the decision in His hands through prayer. Two days before the closing date, she received a ‘yes’ from God, and submitted her entry to the BBC.
To Monique’s astonishment, she was crowned the first ever BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Singer of The Year 2021. Her heart stopping rendition of Lionel Richie’s classic, ‘Jesus is Love’ received rave reviews from judges Alexandra Burke, David Grant and Heather Small, solidifying Monique’s status as a bonafide gospel artist. “After so many knockbacks, it was hard to believe that I had actually won. I understand now that God had a plan for my life and that He wanted me to use the gift He had given me to share the gospel and not for entertainment...… My aim is to share the gospel in song as far and as wide as God allows".
Since winning the title of BBC Gospel Singer of the Year 2021, Monique has ministered alongside various artist/groups such as Yo'landa Brown, Ken Burton, The Military Wives Choir and The RAF Spitfire Choir; she has also been blessed to share the stage with opera sensations Katherine Jenkins and Aled Jones at Westminster Abbey in London.
In 2022 Monique hosted her own weekly gospel radio show on New Style Radio 98.7fm and fell in love with sharing the gospel on air!
More recently, with strong connections with the Ministry of Defence, Monique and her sister Denise have been part of the leadership team that formed the first ever Tri-forces Gospel Choir (RAF, Navy and British Army). The Choir performed together in 2022 and 2023 at the Defence Christian Network 'Worship Retreat' at Beckett House in Shrivenham.
Community Work
Living within an inner-city area of Birmingham Monique is passionate about helping youth fulfil their potential, especially those who have slipped through the net or have been written off by the 'system'.
Up until 2021 Monique managed a Christian led youth organisation called CRIB 3:16. With funding from various streams CRIB successfully ran many community projects, most notably 'Girl Smart' (a weekly club that served to build the character and confidence of girls) and 'UNARM' (an anti-hate crime project funded by the Home Office (watch the video featuring the youth involved in the project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtZtGPU_lBw )).
Monique is married with four children and is a member of Life and Light Fellowship Church in Handsworth, Birmingham.
Question: Who introduced you into music?
Monique: My mum and dad. They were both into music. My mum sang and played the guitar and my dad managed the group she was in called 'The Soul Seekers'. The band would regularly rehearse at our house in the early days, so we were always surrounded by live music. My siblings and I had no choice as to whether or not we sang or played an instrument, that was decided for us by merely being born into a family of musicians.
Question: What was the first solo/lead song you recall singing?
Monique: Walk Around Heaven (Might Clouds of Joy) when I was around 8 years old. My sister Denise sat with me for days teaching me the song, we practiced the 'I need you, I need you to be my guide.....pleeeaaaase' high bits continuously until I got it right!
Question: What was your first experience of writing music/songs?
Monique: My first attempt was when I was in a group called Black Voices. Up until that point, I had never written a song and didn't understand the art of creating music. There was something about experiencing the raw oral tradition of singing a-cappella, and understanding how harmonies and sounds blend that gave me a new appreciation for music.
Question: Which recording artists were your earliest musical influences?
Monique: Shirley Caesar, Jim Reeves, Andrae Crouch, Danniebelle Hall, The Winans, The Hawkins Family, The Clark Sisters, Take 6 and Commissioned. As much as our home was filled with gospel influences from the USA, my dad's reggae 'Tabernacle Records' was more akin to what we heard every week at church. Both my parents were born in Jamaica and they came to the UK in the 60s. Reggae was one of my earliest foundational music influences. Every chorus and hymn we sang at church, no matter how traditional in design, had a reggae vibe. When I left church, I preferred listening to ragga/reggae over the more popular genres of soul, hip-hop and RnB. My favourite artists back then were Dennis Brown, Beres Hammond, Barrington Levy and of course, Bob.
My love of reggae spilled over into my choice of gospel music when I returned to church, with Papa San and Chevelle Franklin topping my playlist. More recently, included in my Gospel reggae favourites are Samuel Medas, Dwayne Fyah and DJ Nicholas.
Question: Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Monique: Easy....The First Lady of Gospel.....Pastor Shirley Caesar.
Question: What is the best advice you’ve been given as a vocalist?
Monique: "It's not about you!"
Question: If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?
Monique: Ageism. Yes, it exists in the music industry and unless you have achieved any notable success in your youth.....there's no chance of you ever being picked up by a major record label in your later years. In saying that, with the growing use of social media, it's a bit easier for artists to get their music out independently.
Question: What’s next for you?
Monique: I serve a God of 'open doors'. He orchestrated for me to win BBC's Gospel Singer of the Year in 2021, and I have placed my ministry and mission in the palm of His hands. In all things I am mindful to ensure my steps are ordered by God and that I remain obedient to His calling. So.....watch this space