R&B artiste Monica and her dog pose at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards in New York in August last year. - Contributed

Davina Morris, Contributor

With her new album, 'The MakingsOf Me', about to drop, R&B singer Monica tells about her 'honest' approach to making music.

After another lengthy breakaway from the music industry, R&B singer Monica returns with new album, The Makings of Me, out on February 26 on RCA Label Group. The Atlanta-born songstress has come a long way since bursting on to the music scene as a fresh-faced teen back in 1995, with her debut single, Don't Take It Personal. Over a decade on and with four albums under her belt, the Grammy Award-winning singer is still going strong.

Her career hasn't been without its hard times, with the suicide of her one-time boyfriend, Jarvis Weems, and the imprisonment of another former lover, rapper C-Murder (Corey Miller), who was jailed on second-degree murder charges. But in the last two years, Monica has discovered a new love.

"I have fallen in love with the most incredible person, and that's my son. He's almost two years old. I recorded much of the new album while I was pregnant, but when he was born I waited a while before releasing the album because I wanted him to have my undivided attention," she said.

Honest

Evidently, she's a proud mother, even featuring a picture of her and her son in her album sleeve. As for the album itself, it's been nearly two years in the making, and without any hesitation, she describes it as:

"Honest - very honest. I think that a lot of the things I speak about in my songs are things that a lot of people have experienced, so I hope I'm able to reconnect with a wide audience as I've been out of the music business for a little while. I think it's important to take the necessary time away so that you can be totally ready when you return. Now that I am back, I hope people can identify with me through my music."

One of the album's most notable tracks is Sideline Ho, in which Monica addresses the 'other woman' who she discovered was getting it on with her boyfriend.

"The song is based on a relationship I was in years ago and that person cheated on me. It's basically me having a conversation with the other woman. That's not to excuse the man and what he did, and I did end my relationship with him after I found out about his cheating. But the song doesn't address that. The song is simply about my conversation with her," Monica said.

Ah, so it was all make-believe, wasn't it?

"Oh no, I did confront her. Initially, she was apologetic and was acting as if she didn't know anything about me. But over the course of the conversation, the truth came out," Monica said.

Monica is no stranger to being under media spotlight during difficult experiences, having lost her 'first love', Jarvis Weems, who killed himself in front of Monica back in 2000.

"That was my lowest point," she says solemnly. "It doesn't feel as though it was as long ago as it really was. It still plays so clearly in my mind, particularly on occasions like Christmas or his birthday. I don't think that will ever change."

Now, Monica says she's "single and happy". Having split from her son's father not so long ago, she says that any reconciliation between them would be "God's decision", but adds that her ex is a "wonderful father".