Munchkin Ouano is a passionate artist. She always has been and always will be.
As early as two years old, Munchkin was already scribbling with crayons—on scratch papers and walls. In 2nd grade, she started playing the guitar (thanks to her dad!) and taking piano lessons.
In 2010, Munchkin saw a video of Idina Menzel performing “Defying Gravity”, and that was the turning point for her. She knew right there and then that she wanted to be an artist. It ignited her passion for music and Broadway. She even has a dream role: any character from “Waitress”, her favorite Broadway musical.
Since then, Munchkin has had numerous opportunities to showcase her acting and singing skills, including short films and musical plays. But what really occupied her time post-COVID-19 was singing. While she had been creating original music and uploading videos of her songs and covers on her YouTube channel for years, she hadn’t had a lot of experience performing live.
In 2022, Munchkin was invited to KOMUNIDAD’s open mic, something that she immensely enjoyed. It opened up opportunities for her—she was exposed to the local music community here in CDO. She met passionate artists and supporters of local artists. She felt so at home that she started helping organize open mics and volunteering at events. Eventually, Munchkin began co-organizing events with Indie CDO.
Her exposure to the indie music scene in the city has made Munchkin even more determined to write stories, weave them into songs, and perform them live to as many audiences as possible. In an article by Ecstasene (Choose Me is More Than a Song, It’s Munchkin Ouano’s Emotional Breakthrough), Munchkin describes the experience as inspiring. “The passion here is unreal,” she said, while describing how Kagay-anon artists work tirelessly even if there is no guarantee of mainstream recognition.
Today, Munchkin’s dream of being a performer has finally reached its peak. Influenced by music icons Ella Fitzgerald, Etta Jones, Victoria Monét, and RAYE, she came out with original compositions that blend R&B, neo-soul/funk, and pop—songs that tell beautiful, heartfelt stories anyone can relate with.
The first song to serenade us is Choose Me, a song that was inspired by “a fleeting but perfect moment”—an unforgettable moment with a person that she met at a party.
Munchkin shares that while she was writing the song, she thought a lot about Persephone and Hades and their myth. However, instead of telling their story, Munchkin used it as inspiration. She shared, “I was drawn to him (Hades), yet I know I couldn’t go to his world, the underworld. All I wanted was a little more time, asking him to stay with me a minute longer before he had to go.” The song is a confession, a yearning to be chosen if only for a moment.
I have listened to Munchkin’s songs and song covers quite a lot, and Choose Me is right up there in the top spot. Her unique, dreamy, and soulful voice adds playful drama to the song. You can feel the longing, but at the same time, you’ll also hear hope, happiness, and even a little flirting. She doesn’t belt out high tunes—she doesn’t need to—but Munchkin delivers a punch worthy of a knockout in this song.
My favorite lines:
“Savor spring before winter
Come, my Hades
You’re mine until the
night is over.”
“Oh-I-I-seek for forever
Too soon, will they wither?
Guess the stars above
Could tell me if it were wrong or
right.”
I believe that this is just the start for Munchkin. She’s bound to find even greater success than what she’s already enjoying. Looks like performing in “Waitress” on Broadway (or any other stage) will have to wait, Munch!😉
Go on and choose (to listen to) Munchkin! Choose Me was released last October 24 and is available Spotify, YouTube (@munchkinouano), and all other streaming platforms.
Happy listening!🎶🎵
