Five Fast Facts: Monique Angele on her New Cinematic Single “Be Alive”
- Isabella Basile
- 15 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Monique Angele is a Canadian-Australian singer-songwriter redefining the boundaries of piano-driven pop with her soaring operatic vocals and emotionally charged performances. With a strong foundation in classical music, opera, and musical theatre, Monique has built a reputation for creating cinematic soundscapes that are as technically masterful as they are deeply personal. Her latest release, "Be Alive," is a haunting, genre-defying anthem that explores the raw journey from emotional numbness to rediscovered vitality.
IB: Hi Monique Angele! We are so excited to sit and chat with you!
MA: Thank you so much for having me, and I’m excited to chat with you too!
1. IB: Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get your start in music?
MA: I’m a Canadian-Australian singer-songwriter and classically trained vocalist and pianist. My music blends cinematic piano-pop with operatic and emotional intensity. I’ve always been passionate about storytelling through performance, and I began expressing that from a young age through dance, musical theatre, piano, singing, and live stage work. My journey in music started with piano lessons, followed by formal vocal training in both opera, musical theatre, and contemporary styles. Over time, I began writing my own songs as a way to process emotions and share meaningful stories. Performing live and witnessing how my music can move people emotionally confirmed that this is my purpose to create powerful, honest music that connects and uplifts.
2. IB: How did it feel shifting from a classical operatic style to pop?
MA: The shift came quite naturally. One day, I started writing my own music, and it just flowed. I wasn’t trying to follow a formula or be like anyone else, I was simply expressing what I felt. I just wanted to be my true, authentic self. While I have a background in classical music, I’ve always been inspired by artists like Queen and The Beatles. These bands pushed boundaries, blended genres, and wrote with emotion and musical depth. I didn’t want to leave my classical roots behind, so I began incorporating operatic vocals, dramatic dynamics, and classical piano into a more modern, cinematic pop sound. It’s become my own fusion of styles that feels both authentic and creatively free.
3. IB: I read on SoundCloud that "Be Alive" is about exploring “the raw experience of emotional numbness, isolation, and the powerful rediscovery of one’s inner fire.” Was it challenging for you to write about your inner turmoil?
MA: Yes, it was definitely challenging on an emotional level, writing about numbness, isolation, and that struggle to feel alive again brought up a lot. But for me, songwriting is a very cathartic and therapeutic process. It allows me to express things freely and honestly. When I’m in a deeply emotional state the creative flow tends to come more naturally. "Be Alive" was born out of that space; it helped me release what I was holding inside, and in doing so, it helped me reconnect with my sense of self. I hope that honesty resonates with others going through something similar.
4. IB: Do you typically start writing a song with instruments or lyrics? And what was your process for "Be Alive?"
MA: My writing process really varies. Sometimes the lyrics come first, sometimes it’s a melody, and other times I’m just improvising on the piano, and something unexpected emerges. It’s never quite the same twice. For "Be Alive," the lyrics and melody came to me almost simultaneously while I was at the piano. It was a very emotionally driven moment. My state of mind and personal reflection were really the spark that ignited the song. Everything seemed to come together organically around that feeling.
MA: The recording process for “Be Alive” was a very personal and collaborative journey. I wrote and performed the song myself, including the vocals and piano parts. The track was produced and recorded by Sean O’Sullivan at Highway 9 Productions. He also played additional instruments and really helped bring the cinematic vision of the song to life. Drums were performed by Shawn Burgess, whose dynamic playing added depth and drive to the arrangement. The final track was mastered by Joe Carra at Crystal Mastering, giving it that polished, expansive sound.
For the visual side, I worked with Shawn Burgess again, who shot both the album cover photo and the official music video. The cover art was designed by Hampus Danielsson, and I conceptualized the video myself, incorporating a mix of symbolic imagery and dance, which I choreographed and performed. The music video was filmed at Yorkeys Knob Beach in Queensland, Australia. One of my favourite beaches in Australia - an incredibly serene and raw setting that matched the emotional intensity of the song.
IB: What is one song you wish Monique Angele wrote?
MA: "Chandelier" by Sia.
IB: What’s next for Monique Angele?
MA: I’ve recently recorded some new songs in the studio that I’ll be releasing in the future. I’m constantly writing, creating, and recording more music, so there’s definitely a lot to look forward to. I absolutely love bringing my music to life through both sound and visuals, so I’ll also be working on new music videos to accompany these upcoming releases. In addition to that, I’ll be performing live internationally, so stay tuned for upcoming tour dates! I’m really excited to keep sharing this creative journey with everyone.
IB: Thank you for talking with us, we can’t wait to see what you do in
the future!
MA: Thank you so much for having me! I’m excited to share my upcoming projects with everyone!
Listen to "Be Alive" below!
Credits
Songwriting, Performance: Monique Angele
Vocals, Piano: Monique Angele
Drums: Shawn Burgess
Other Instruments, Producer, Recording Engineer: Sean O’Sullivan (Highway 9 Productions) Mastering Engineer: Joe Carra (Crystal Mastering)
Album Cover Art: Hampus Danielsson Album
Cover Photo: Shawn Burgess