[Prado](https://www.instagram.com/pradomonroe/) is not here to play any games, she’s here to become a household name in the music industry. Arriving with her own unique swag, style, and genreless sound, the rising star puts everything from pop and hip-hop to electronic and alternative into one melting pot, something which can even be described as bubblegum trap.
Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer injects passion, truth, and emotion into each release, simultaneously showcasing her vibrant, quirky personality. To date, Prado’s come a long way from taking computer science courses in school, shifting her focus and innate talent for computers into the recording studio.
Most recently, Prado unleashed her newest visual for [“Gucci Store,”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDzTFV6sRPg) reminding the masses around the world to not give two shits about the haters and be yourself. This follows her last release with “MEN IN BLACK,” with both records holding fans over until her debut EP _PRADO MONROE_ releases on June 18th of this year.
_Flaunt_ caught up with Prado via Zoom, who was posted in her hometown of Vancouver. Read below as we discuss her roots in Vancouver, her sound, wanting to change her name, new single “Gucci Store,” filming the visual, inspo behind “MEN IN BLACK,” her forthcoming EP, studio essentials, stepping into the director role, and more!
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**What was it like growing up in Vancouver?**
Growing up there, it was super outdoorsy. Everything was really outdoorsy, but I was a real computer nerd. That’s how I moved up there. \[laughs\] That’s how I got into music, as a computer nerd and didn’t like to go outside. Even though Vancouver’s so sunny, but it rains a lot too. It’s some shit.
**At what point did you realize this music thing was forreal?**
I saw Britney Spears or Björk, definitely on some MTV stuff. I was watching a lot of people I thought were interesting, Britney Spears definitely stood out to me. Whitney Houston stood out to me so much growing up. Those are the people that I looked up to. Not really anybody in the Canadian market, but I’m from a Native Aboriginal housing here. All we had was a lot of pop stuff, everything was pop.
**How would you describe your sound?**
My stuff is very pop, extremely pop, and hip-hop. That’s it. I’d say alternative. It’s alternative hip-hop and pop, because my voice is so annoying. \[laughs\] Genuinely annoying. It’s so high pitched. \[sighs\]
**What was the inspiration behind your name?**
Prado is my last name. I want to do a full name change one day. I’m actually working on my name change, I want to be full Prado Monroe across everything. I’ve changed my name 3 times in my career already. This is my last name change, but yeah Marilyn Monroe. That’s the vibe.
**Why do you change your name so often?**
Over the span of 4 or 5 years, I’ve had different names. I thought Prado was going to be the one, I said “yeah, I’m gonna do that!” Now, oh my gosh I need another name. \[laughs\] I think it’s cute, so that’s why I want to do that.
**What’d it mean to catch the attention of Skrillex early on?**
When I was that young, I was still shopping stuff on the internet. It was on Twitter. I just started working with a whole bunch of people I didn’t know were A&Rs, or good artists that had connects. In my brain, I didn’t quite know how the industry works. I still don’t quite know, I’m learning as I go right now. You never know the full shit until everything keeps happening. Online. On Twitter. That was it.
**You just released “Gucci Store,” who or what inspired this record?**
When I recorded “Gucci Store,” it was a lot of anger. All of these songs transformed into endurance anthems for me, things that will give me power and give me life. I want it to have that same effect across on other people, also for other queer and Black artists especially. They’re pop anthems, they’re one of one. I can’t forget “Gucci Store,” it’s a great record in my opinion.
**Best memory from the video shoot?**
The best memory from the video shoot was the two directors. They saw me at first and said “oh, she ain’t that polished.” After I slapped on literally 30 pounds of makeup, they’re like “you look incredible! Get out there.” That was the best part because the makeup artist was so fucking good. I love her, she nailed that shit. I was shocked, I was sitting there like “is this me?!” I couldn’t believe my face when I looked in the mirror. \[laughs\]
**What is it you want fans to get from your story?**
I want fans to understand themselves through my music, maybe a little bit of escapism. I want them to smoke more weed. I want them to find themselves. All good things for those n\*ggas! Stream my music, that’s all I have to say.
**What inspired “MEN IN BLACK”?**
Me and my friends were at the club and this guy accidentally threw a drink on her J’s. I started laughing really hard because she tripped out about her J’s, she freaked out about this man spilling a drink on her J’s. I ended up going home, writing the song being like “fuckin’ men are sluts because we got them into the club. These are some broke ass n\*ggas, how dare they spill a drink on her J’s!” I said, “Men in black, all sluts no lie.” N\*ggas are sluts, they ain’t really for shit.
**Debut project _PRADO MONROE_ EP releasing June 18th, what can we expect?**
A cinematic experience. A soundscape. Some of the additions onto it, from the past singles and adding 2 more tracks on it, really we spazzed out on production. It’s glistening.
**3 things you need in the studio?**
Water, food, cell phone. I answered that like it was the end of the world. \[laughs\]
**What food do you like?**
I like burgers. I like Colombian food, home-cooked. I love Filipino food. They’re so many different kinds. I love Chinese food, what the fuck. I’m from Vancouver so I like all types of different cuisine. The one thing I won’t eat is white people food. No thank you.
**What would you be doing if you weren’t doing music?**
I’d probably be a lawyer, or a computer scientist. I took some computer science courses in high school. I was really good at computers so I was always on my way to do that. I’d go where the bag’s at.
**What are you most excited for this year?**
I’m excited to get to work with other artists again, in person. That’s the one thing I’m thankful I might be able to do again. I’m almost fully vaccinated, I get the second one in a week. Patience. Trust the process of staying your ass inside, that’s my message.
**How would you describe your fashion sense?**
My fashion sense is okay. Some days it’s super grungy, some days I’m a complete thot. No in between. I look scrubbed out and super thot.
**Talk about stepping into the director role as well.**
I’m directing music videos for different artists. It’s some weird Kreayshawn shit. I didn’t expect to do this U-turn like Kreayshawn did, but here I am. A lot of projects coming up this year. I directed 3 music videos so far, those will all be coming out. I’m working hard to deliver fun content that’s cool, that’s all I have to say.
**How does that feel to be directing?**
So good. I love power, I love telling them what to do. On set, “no, no, no, this is mine. I get to do what I want.” They’re all game for it, it’s a lot of fun.
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