SA’s ‘Madam President’, Miss Patty Monroe, stops by ClubX to talk womanhood, empowerment and ‘the perfect song’, in celebration of Women’s Month
LEADING LADY
As can be heard within her sound and dope lyrics, Patty is fiercely passionate about her identity as a woman, and has been greatly influenced by many other strong women in her life. Being the youngest of three siblings, Patty lost her father at quite a young age, and often turned to her mom for guidance. ‘My mother has always been this strong female force to be reckoned with,’ she exclaims. ‘From her attitude on life to her fashion sense, and the way she carried herself, to how much she sacrificed for her kids and doing everything in her power to make sure we were good. It’s crazy because I have never seen that woman cry. Sometimes I wondered if she was human.’
She was also inspired by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Florence Nightingale. ‘The elements of the passionate healer in Florence Nightingale, and then Marilyn Monroe’s sensual creativity played a part in who I am today,’ she says. Her journey in the music industry started back in 2015 and she released her first album titled Malatjie in 2018. Today, she is admired for her charisma, animated demeanour and ability to spit the hardest lines that everyone enjoys vibing to. ‘The journey has been a roller-coaster ride for sure,’ Patty admits. ‘Starting out with my first manager selling CDs out of his bakkie on First Thursdays in Cape Town, and then performing outside of SA and being able to do what I love for the rest of the continent, has been amazing. How I am still doing my thing now still surprises me. I’m so grateful for the journey.’
ON MUSIC MATTERS
Earlier this year Patty released her third studio album (made in the first year of lockdown), called Perfect Timing, which is appropriately named since the star is of the belief that there’s no time like the present. ‘This is a project that shows the multiple sides I possess,’ she explains. ‘From the soft, delicate and sensual sounds, to the hard-hitting lyrical flows – which is so far from what people expected.’
This album addresses some powerful themes such as COVID-19 and gender-based violence (GBV), for instance, which can be heard on the tracks ‘Xpress Train’ and ‘Trapped’. ‘There’s a saying that goes: “We are the givers of life but we’re paying for our existence”,’ she says as we chat about the current state of GBV in the country. ‘This touches on the fact that nowadays women are finally stepping into their divine feminine goddess energy, and it’s a beautiful thing to see, but at the same time the stats on how men treat our women are disgusting. It’s as if respect has completely gone out the window.’ As strongly as she feels about this, Patty still has hopes for women in South Africa to continue to push forward and flourish.
MISS GO-GETTER
Patty is currently hard at work, looking to expand and grow her legacy. ‘In 100 years’ time, nobody will remember everything you did in your life, but if you can change a few people’s lives for the better along the way, that would truly be the ultimate gift,’ she expresses. And even though things do get tough at times, it is her strong work ethic and the standards she holds herself to that keep her going and reaching for her dreams. ‘Without a “why” you’ll be lost. You have to remember that your journey will never be the same as anyone else’s,’ she says. ‘Make sure you have a plan and strategy, and, most importantly, remember that consistency is key.’
Words by Charndré Emma Kippie
Styling: Mia Smith
Photography: Chanelle Naudt/hmimages.co.za
Make-up: Stacy Adams/FREELANCE
