Gina Mari Lo Monaco

I am starting to think it’s best to tell my own story by myself,plain and simple without all the flattery.So here goes.

Born in Anchorage,Alaska I was raised like a wild Aleutian goose migrating with the seasons between the icy tundra and the hot sun of California.My family being passionate Mediterranean folk taught me early on to own my emotions and fiery nature which has contributed greatly to the way I approach life and music-with absolute honesty and about zero censoring of my true feelings.Just say it like it is.

And I was born to a bunch of songbirds.It’s kinda in the blood.My parents sang.My grandparents sang.There is even family lore of my great-grandfather serenading my
great-grandmother from below her balcony window,Romeo & Juliette style.

So when I was 6 I either wanted to be an astronaut or a gospel singer when I grew up. But I never gave it a second thought until I had what I feel was a Divinely inspired dream when I was 12.I was given a golden violin personally by the Creator and played the most beautiful music I had ever heard in my life.I awoke in tears from it’s beauty.

And that began my musical journey.The next day I sought out a violin teacher who allowed me to exchange house cleaning for lessons because my parents couldn’t afford to pay for them.

But I had immense trouble reading music due to some pretty intense dyslexia,so at 14 I switched gears and launched into rock guitar and songwriting.Finding exhilarating strength and freedom in rock&roll;and garage bands.

By 17 I was a seasoned live performer using my lyrics to express not only my teen angst but also the shock of how unbalanced and precarious the awaiting outside world was.

Songs like “Culture Shock”,“Protest Song” and “Devil’s Dance” were spawned in this era and were so well received by local audiences that the sudden demand for my music became quite overwhelming and after telling off a few predator producers who wanted me to be their mindless little puppet,I took a break from serious performance for awhile.

A long while.A Someday-I’ll-talk-about-it-on-Oprah kind of a long while.

In the years in between I have grown tremendously as a musician,a woman and a freedom fighter.I have fought outright battles in the court system against incredible injustice and overcome insurmountable odds that no one should ever have to face,while simultaneously blazing my trail in the world under the label of “single mom”.Lucky I had the worlds most beautiful baby girl on my hip,giving me strength to keep pushing forward no matter how difficult or heart breaking.

But amazingly I am back in action musically,stronger and wiser than I ever was the first time around.And since I found my ass-kickin’ boots along the way I am approaching my music career with renewed passion,vigor,and joy for the future!Now I am ready to take on whatever comes my way – because now I know I CAN.

So in addition to working with bands like Sol Horizon,Top Shelf,ANANTA,Pandora’s Tribe,and Communication Syndicate,recent accomplishments include “Culture shock” winning first place out of 500 female singer songwriters last February on Ourstage which attracted the attention of Mtv which initiated the making of my music video .

My most recent accomplishment is that I have just been awarded “Best Female Act” in the the “Think Tank International Music Festival" to be held in Milano,Italy later this year,where I have been invited to perform, which will kick off an epic season of live performance and promotion for my newly released E.P. “Ground Work”

Winter 2010 forecast includes a West Coast tour and summer 2011 harolds the festival circuit
with hopes of returning abroad to continue building my international fan base.

And I am so grateful.