Betty Anne Monga’s ‘Slow Burn’: Healing, family, and solo chapter

Since the 1980s, Betty Anne Monga has been a cornerstone of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Pacific music scene, giving soul and heart to the Poly-Fonk sound of Ardijah.

This Friday, she takes a bold step forward with her debut solo album, Slow Burn, a “rootsy” mix of blues, soul, and live instrumentation.

But the album is more than a collection of songs. It’s a personal journey of rediscovery and healing.

“For me, it's really about when the wind blows and those embers brighten and then they die, but they're still there,” Monga tells Pacific Mornings. “So it's that kind of feeling that doesn't really quell the feeling and the slow burn of certain emotions.

“Slow Burn and this body of work really was about the time that it took me to be okay with some of these songs and these stories that I’m sharing.

“Some of the songs that are a little bit kind of very lonely and they’re still all doom and gloom because there are some joyful songs on there as well.”

Watch Betty Anne Monga's full interview below.

Monga reflects on the unexpected nature of a solo album at this stage of her life.

“Well, I never thought I would be in this position, really, or this place, at this stage of my life. But, you know, it's come to be...I mean, I love it. It's beautiful. There's some beautiful moments on the album.

“It's helped me kind of find my way at my stage in life...it's helped me heal from some of the happenings in my life of late. And if anything, there might be a song or two that resonates with people.”

Betty Anne Monga. Photo/Supplied

The album is a family affair, featuring contributions from her three sons.

“It's not just about me, It's about the collective that have been on the journey, the musicians in the studio, the producer, some of the songwriters, and also they’re whanau-based too.

“My sons either co-wrote songs with me or presented songs. They play live with me, they’re exceptional actually. Not because they’re my whānau, but because they are really solid artists in their own right.”

Slow Burn blends soul, R&B, blues, and reggae with a focus on authentic sound over artificial production.

Monga is excited by the album’s release on vinyl and CD, giving listeners a connection to the music.

Monga describes the title track, also called Slow Burn, as setting the emotional tone, drawing on country influences and emotive instrumentation such as a slide guitar.

“Slow Burn is freaking, musically wow!” she says. “You’ve got this swooning emotion from this instrument, it just makes you want to bloody cry.”

For longtime fans, the album may sound different. But Monga sees it as a natural evolution, not a break from her past.

“Ardijah is my heart and it's evolved me into the person that I am today. So, yeah, of course it's different, we have a different story to tell.”

Slow Burn by Betty Anne Monga is set for release on Friday 10 April on all major streaming platforms.