Aja Monet
Aja Monet is a Grammy-nominated surrealist blues poet. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she won the legendary Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam title at just 19 and follows the long tradition of poets who engage in and organize social movements.
Her poetry is a force of gravity—a fundamental pull that everything is drawn toward, reflected through, and acted upon. Her work constantly moves between origin and consequence, allowing them to exist in dialogue with one another.
On her debut album, when the poems do what they do, we get a glimpse into her relentless commitment to speaking truth. The album's thematic roots often revolve around Black resistance, love, and the unstoppable pursuit of joy. The songs throughout are intense and unyielding—some capturing the virtuosic energy and chaos of live performances, while others serve as a healing balm in Gilead, moving like a call to intercession.
Aja Monet surrounds herself with the absolute elite of New York’s jazz scene and brings a phenomenal quartet to her concert in Molde.
Aja Monet – spoken word, poetry
Javier Santiago – keys
Justin Brown – drums
Micah Collier – bass
Sax – TBA
"She creates a unique kind of musical intimacy… invoking the grandeur of the natural world in her writing." – Pitchfork
"A rousing, nearly transcendent experience, putting the unfamiliar into text and making familiar words seem sacred." – NPR
"A fluid mix of jazz and poetry… The LP is a nuanced exploration of Blackness." – New York Times