Let's Talk About Monét Ngo

I’m upset, my friends. I thought we were cool. I thought we shared everything. I try to bring you a new wave often but none of you even thought to put me on to Vietnamese-American artist Monét Ngo. Let’s not focus on the negative though. Instead, let's talk about how great “Ruby Sparks” is - it’s the final song on Ngo’s After School Club, album. An album full of ambitious sounds, perfect mixes, and euphoric vocals deserves more spotlight in its own right. If Ngo keeps going on his upward trajectory it’ll be the album we come back to hear where it all started.

From the reverb-laden guitar plucks that draw you in, to the acid trip stacking of vocals and hypnotizing reprise “Ruby Sparks” wins on every level. “I saw you in my dreams” Ngo croons about Ruby. Very accurate line considering this song sounds like the result of a lucid dream about that girl you were cool with in high school but never attempted to date cause you felt she was out of your league. It’s great to watch an artist put it all together and not a lot of people can make a record as well put together as this. The production here floats under Ngo’s soaring singing performance. It’s almost like Monét sang the words first and had the beat crafted around it. Just as “Ruby Sparks” is winding down the song hits a shift at 3:17. Nothing I enjoy more than a well-placed unexpected beat switch or song slowing. Chef’s kiss.

I say all of that to say that “Ruby Sparks” and “After School Club” sound like polished works from a veteran artist who’s been perfecting his craft for years which is an amazing feat when you realize he just released his debut single “LoneStar” earlier this year. Whether this is just the beginning or not time will tell but either way I’m glad we got to sit down and have this talk. Now I’m going to go stream more Monét Ngo and you should too. And remember, stay out of Walmart there is no clarity or understanding in those aisles. Stream “Ruby Sparks” below.