Brewster High School alum Sabrina Monique has been singing since she’s been able to talk. Since then, she’s appeared on American Idol in 2020, spent nearly a decade at Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Manhattan, and appeared on national TV. Fans can tune into her next live performance on November 26, when she will be performing from Times Square.
Monique’s path from Brewster to the bright lights of New York is one that required grit, resilience, and transformation, but she says performing is something she knew she would always pursue.
“Music is a way for me to just get everything out cathartically and help myself grow and develop, especially in my young adolescent years,” says Monique.
The singer grew up in White Plains with her single mother and grandparents, finding herself as the family’s source of joy. She sang and performed to bring light into their everyday lives.
“I was always putting on shows in my living room,” she says. “I was always performing and I grew up dancing competitively so I was just always in the arts in some way, shape, or form. I was never not doing this. I can’t remember a time when I was doing anything else.”
At Ellen’s Stardust Diner, home of the world-famous singing waitstaff, Monique had a chance to connect with a larger audience and began building a following. TikToks of her multitasking while singing and carrying food to tables have gone viral. More importantly, it gave her the opportunity not only to showcase her vocal talent but also to develop her stage presence and confidence to pursue her dream seriously.
@thesabrinamonique Reply to @charlielane30 Give the people what they want, am I right? @ellensstardustdiner #ellensstardustdiner #PringlesCanHands #fyp #fypシ #TalkingTree #singers #pov ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show
“When you’re trying to pursue your dreams, you think the last thing you’ll be doing is singing at a restaurant, but it’s been a home base for me to get to experiment and find my artistic sound,” notes Monique. “I get to perform every single day for 300 people all day, every day. It’s an opportunity not many people get.”
American Idol is where she met a management and support team that really believed in her and encouraged her to pursue her singer-songwriter and recording artist dreams. “It’s a part of my story and who I am,” she says.
Monique’s debut album, It’s Not Me, It’s You, tells the story of her growth from a young dreamer to an artist who is now fully embracing her voice and vision. With bold dance-pop tracks, the album reflects her journey through Manhattan’s music scene and her path to self-discovery, touching on the challenges she’s faced to fit into the industry’s narrow beauty standards and finding the strength to embrace her individuality.
“It was something that was a long time coming,” says Monique, who began writing the album in 2020. “I definitely made sure all of my ducks were in a row, and it took me a long time to get this album to a certain place. I really wanted it to be something that people could relate to.”
She says the whole album is focused on taking her power back and realizing a lot of behavioral and growth patterns that she had to break to mold into the young woman she is today.
“It was definitely my power project,” adds Monique. “I took my time and really wanted to make sure it was perfect.”
Moving forward, people can expect to see more new music and performances, especially after the holidays settle down. “It’s going to be Sabrina Monique like people have not seen or heard before,” she says. For now, on November 26, fans can tune into Monique’s social channels for a live stream of the performance in the heart of Times Square. It’s a part of Rise New York’s song series on the Times Square torch stage.
“It’ll be a wonderful experience that I’m so grateful for,” says Monique.
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