aja monet (USA)

Acclaimed American poet, vocalist, and bandleader aja monet brings her highly anticipated Sydney debut to the Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival. A Surrealist Blues Poet known for goosebumps and heart-gut truths, monet has forged a singular voice at the intersection of poetry, music, and activism, performing at prestigious venues from the Guggenheim to the Barbican and earning recognition including a Grammy nomination. With her dynamic quartet of Brian Hargrove on piano, Micah Collier on bass, and Zach Morrow on drums, monet will present works from her powerful sophomore album the colour of rain. A compositional tour-de-force blending jazz, soul, hip hop, and blues, the album features live instrumentation and collaborations with artists including Meshell Ndegeocello, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Brandee Younger. Works move between urgency and stillness, weaving surrealist imagery with incisive reflections on contemporary life. In performance, monet's vocal delivery is a rare art, her tone, rhythm, and cadence interact with music melodically, inviting audiences into a space of introspection, courage, and emotional resonance.