aja monet is an American poet, performer and composer from East New York, Brooklyn, now based in Los Angeles. At 19 she became the youngest-ever winner of the legendary slam title at the Nuyorican Poets Café, and she describes her own style as 'surrealist blues poetry'. She has since built a wider musical practice fusing poetry with jazz, blues and electronic textures, and her 2023 debut album 'when the poems do what they do' earned a Grammy nomination. Her work frequently explores social justice, Black feminism and personal memory, delivered in a distinctive rhythmic voice.
Aja Monet released her second studio album 'The Color of Rain' on May 22, 2026 via the record label Drink Sum Wtr.
She announced her international 'Elsewhere' tour, which includes Montreal Jazz Festival and Toronto's Great Hall as well as several European venues.
The single 'Hollyweird', produced with Meshell Ndegeocello and Justin Brown and featuring rapper Vic Mensa, was her first new music since 2023.
She made her Carnegie Hall debut on May 20, 2026 in Zankel Hall as the first concert of the tour.
Her debut album 'When the Poems Do What They Do' (2023) was nominated for a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album at the 66th Grammy Awards.
