Former PVCC student starts musical career on high note

Sally Rose Monnes is no stranger to music, and if her success continues, she will soon not be a stranger to anyone.

Monnes is a modern folk singer-songwriter, whose unique voice and well-trained musical ear lend a timeless yet current quality to her work.

A former PVCC student hailing from Nelson County, Monnes has been writing songs since she was eight years old, and playing the guitar since she was 11.

“When I write songs, they are all completely inspired from the heart. They all come from real life experiences like love, loss, heart-break, the things you see on the road and the hardships we go through that make us who we are,” Monnes said.

Monnes, who performs as Sally Rose, put her voice on stage in the show choir and in drama musicals at Nelson County High School. She also began playing live at open microphone nights at Rapunzel’s Coffee and Books in Lovingston.

“I feel really comfortable on stage. I wasn’t always. I feel that acting and drama have really helped that. Some artists have a wall or barrier between them and the crowd, I just be myself. I interact with the crowd, I talk and tell stories,” Monnes said.

Monnes’ first album “Home” has sold over one thousand copies and her sophomore release, “Heat Lightning,” dropped on January 1. Records are available for purchase during her live shows, and “Heat Lightning” will soon be offered on the iTunes Music Store as well.

Monnes usually plays at least a couple of shows a month, and will be supporting her latest album with several shows in Charlottesville, Crozet and Nelson County over the summer.

She has been featured on Richmond’s CBS-6 news station twice, where she has performed and done an interview.

Her first appearance was a very memorable moment for her.  Monnes said, “I was sitting there in my little sundress and cowboy boots, and I looked up, and saw little me on all the TV screens.”

Monnes is her own manager and she books all of her own gigs.

“It’s crazy, but I love it. I think a lot of venues are impressed when a musician is handling it all on their own,” Monnes said.

Being a full-time musician takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

Monnes said, “It’s every day, every hour. I’m on the phone booking a gig or trying to find a new bassist. It never ends. I took off from school to do this. This is my school.”

Monnes teaches guitar lessons to youth and beginner students at Blue Star Music in Lovingston, the same place that she took lessons and learned to play the guitar.

Monnes is on track to do big things, but she keeps herself humble. “My dream is to someday support myself by my name, by my music. But I don’t ever want to be the person on the front of a magazine who has lost [herself]. I always want to be Sally Rose,” Monnes said.

Monnes will be performing with The Design at the Mudhouse in Crozet on Saturday, April 23 at 7 p.m. For a list of upcoming shows, check her out at Sally Rose Music on Facebook.

 

CHRIS ASHLEY
FORUM STAFF WRITER