Mon Laferte

The great singer-songwriter Mon Laferte, born Norma Montserrat Bustamante Laferte, is a popular Chilean, born in 1983. She has a varied musical style based on Latin rock, blues, pop, and bolero music as well. Like many Latin pop stars, she began at the very young age of 9, singing on stage while playing the guitar in contests throughout the country. Then, still only 13, she entered a conservatory for musicians to study more intensely the writing and reading of musical notes. As happens in her native country, many young musical talents sing in bars and dance clubs to earn money.

Mon Laferte Released Her First Album At Age 20

In 2003, at just age 20 years old, she released the first studio album called “La Chica De Rojo” or “The Woman In Red. “ The album debuted at number one in her home country of Chile but didn’t get widespread attention elsewhere in the Latin World. But in just one month, the album went platinum and gold in Chile. The top single on the album was “Corazon Bandido” or “Heart Bandit” which received widespread radio play in the country. Nearly all of the songs were cover songs, written and sung previously by other bands but delivered in her own style. Other singles on the album included “Yo Sin Tu Amor” or “Me Without Your Love,” “Maldita Ignorancia” or “Bad Ignorance” and “Cuerpo y Alma” or “Body and Soul.”

Her second album was titled “Desechable” which means “Disposable” in Spanish apparently referring to a love lost. This album concentrated on romantic songs and Latin Pop/Rock and was launched in 2011. This would be the first album that she released under her new name Mon Laferte as well.

Since the album was released in Mexico, rather than her home country of Chile, it received more airplay on the radio and thus more sales. The single “Soy” or “I Am” was the first single released and then came “Depresion” easily translated to “Depression” in English. In this song, she sings of the trials and tribulations of being abandoned by her boyfriend. 3 more singles would eventually come from the album which is still considered a hit in Latin America.

Mon Lafete Received Two MTV Millennial Awards In 2016

With the Latin Video of The Year Award and two nominations for Latin Grammy Awards in 2016, Mon Laferte began to get the recognition that she deserved. Her best and the most highly acclaimed album would then come in 2017 with the release of La Trenza which means “The Braid” in English. She ended up winning the Best Alternative Latin Song at the 18th annual Latin Grammy’s in 2017 with the song “Amarrame” which means basically “Tie Me Up” but emotionally rather than physically.

That same year she began to stack up awards and nominations with Best Alternative Latin Album, Latin Record of The Year, and Latin Song of The Year as well. Although she has had limited exposure, much of it because of coming from Chile, she has racked up quite a few singles that are very popular in South American countries like Chile, Peru, and Argentina. Much of her success has been due to heavy radio play rather than expensive production company marketing.

Mon Now Lives In Mexico

While her home country of Chile is quite large, it is very difficult to travel because of the lack of roads through the various mountain ranges. There are also only 18 million citizens which makes becoming a big star a little more difficult as well.

On the other hand, Mexico, with it’s 128 million residents offers more opportunity for Mon to get radio airplay and excited fans. Singing at the Latin Grammys with Colombian star Juanes also helped gain more notoriety too. Then the two of them went on a tour of the United States together starting in South America and finishing up in the US. Mon will always say in interviews that her favorite songs to sing are the upbeat ones, rather than the sad songs since the stronger the beat, the better they are to dance to.

Many critics are quick to point out the Mon Laferte is far better than what her album sales reflect. Her melodies are not only catchy but use a combination of Latin beat and multilayered harmonies at the same time. Add to that her distinctive vocals you’ve got a rising Latina Pop/Rockstar in the making.

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