Algonquin Talent Ready for Ontario’s Got Talent
Monique Messier is out to prove Ontario’s Got Talent.
Published: March 5, 2025
UPDATE: Monique Messier finished third at Ontario’s Got Talent on March 7, 2025. Algonquin College band Sun Dried Flies won first place, the second year in a row an Algonquin group has won the provincial contest; watch a recording of the full event here. Read a profile of Messier below to learn more about the Algonquin’s Got Talent winner.
Monique Messier is out to prove Ontario’s Got Talent.
The 19-year-old Music Industry Arts student is hoping to build on her recent success as winner of Algonquin’s Got Talent. On Friday, March 7, 2025, at 7 PM in the Algonquin Commons Theatre, she will go head-to-head with the finest talent from Ontario’s colleges; tickets are available here. Ahead of the competition, she discussed how she is preparing for the biggest stage of her career and her future ambitions.
Q: How would you describe your sound and influences?
A: I would describe my sound as a little melting pot of pop, rock, and folk, with some acoustic moments. My main influences are The Cranberries, Shania Twain, and all the Disney pop stars that I grew up watching. Being Brazilian, my mom made sure to introduce me to all of the major singers and bands such as Marisa Monte, Tribalistas, Clara Nunes, Rita Lee, and Ney Matogrosso.
Q: How does your Brazilian background influence your music?
A: I was born in Brazil and moved to Canada in 2019 when I was 14. My mom, Alexandra Nicolas, is also a singer. And she introduced me to all of the great Brazilian performers. I feel like the Brazilian influences come more to me when, as a performer, I’m on stage. And, of course, I also take some of the sounds from the songs that I used to listen to – especially Marisa Monte. My dad’s Canadian, so I used to listen to a lot of like North American songs as well. I experienced a blend of both.
Q: What song are you singing at Ontario’s Got Talent?
A: I’m playing the same song that I played at Algonquin’s Got Talent. The title is “Never Done.” My main inspiration for it comes from the transition from my teenage years to my twenties, the real “adult life.” I would say that I was taken aback by how different people move and evolve at different paces. So, the song is about feeling like you’re kind of behind. It resonates with being in your early 20s. It’s a folky pop song, heartfelt and mellow. (To check out Monique’s music, you can listen to her debut single “Soulmates”)
Q: Have you ever played a venue the size of the Algonquin Commons Theatre, and how are you preparing?
A: I don’t think I have ever played a venue this big. I am super excited to experience it. I’m just playing my song over and over and visualizing the space and the opportunity to emotionally connect with everyone in the audience. I’m also so excited to see all the other amazing talents. At Algonquin’s Got Talent, I was already mesmerized by all the other performers.
Q: You’ve already won a province-wide talent show in Quebec. What lessons did you learn that you hope to apply in Ontario’s Got Talent?
A: It was in 2023, a province-wide high school talent competition called Secondaire en Spectacle. I would say the experience taught me to be the artist I want to be, regardless of the competition or performing environment – knowing that you did yourself justice on stage is the most important thing.
Q: What are your career aspirations as a musician?
A: Performing music for a living has been my biggest dream for as long back as I can remember. I want to be on a stage as much as I can, play as long I can, and release as much music as I can. My mom being a singer also fed into my dream because I was always seeing her backstage preparing and rehearsing. So, I want to be doing this for a long, long time, and connect with as many people as possible through music.
Q: How is your Music Industry Arts program preparing you for the future?
A: I adore the program with every single bone in my body. You will learn almost every single thing you need to know to succeed in the industry. You learn production, live sound, the business side, the entrepreneurship side, social media, how to like release strategies, everything. And I love the fact that I’m able to fully immerse myself in my passion because we have this misconception that music is not a real job, and it’s not a real thing that you go to school to learn.
Q: What’s next for you?
A: I want to release more music. I want to record more songs and release an EP. And I want to be performing as much as I can, connecting with people and continuing to learn.
Monique Messier performs alongside Algonquin’s Got Talent’s second place finisher, Sun Dried Flies, at Ontario’s Got Talent on Friday, March 7.