AGNEZ MO – formerly known as Agnes Monica – is a certifiable acting, singing, song-writing and fashion-designing child prodigy. Hailing from Jakarta, Indonesia, Agnez recorded her first album at the age of six – and to date, the 27-year-old not only has a triple-platinum album under her belt, but numerous international accolades such as the MTV Indonesia Award for “Favorite Female Artist” and more than a couple Indonesian Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards. In her native country she’s a bona fide pop star, but ever since she was a child, Agnez dreamed of making international headlines and taking her career worldwide.

Now armed with iconic hit-maker Timbaland executive producing her upcoming album – and featured (along with T.I.) on her first international single, “Coke Bottle” – the young vixen is posed on the brink of greatness. With her sexy, bold, street-glam aesthetic – and songs boasting of female strength, sexuality and empowerment – Agnez is on the verge of something tantalizing. Mo’ fierce, mo’ passionate, mo’ outspoken and mo’ hot.

While shooting with Pure DOPE at the posh Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood – for her first cover of a U.S. publication, no less – Agnez allowed our Brittany Bella Graham (aka “Young Franca”) inside her head and thoughts, revealing her struggles within often rigid Asian cultural expectations, discussing the seemingly predictive powers of her “Huge Pink Folder”, sharing her experiences of working with her musical idols, and explaining why she always seems to fall for the “Cool guy’s best friend.”

Written & Directed by Brittany “Bella” Graham

Images by: Joshua Shultz

Styled by: Ali Levine

Hair by: Brittany Woodcox

MUA by: Jacob Aguirre of MAC Cosmetics

Location: Sunset Marquis, West Hollywood, CA. March 8^th, 2014

Read an Excerpt from the Full Length Interview

(Brittany “BELLA” Graham: BELLA) Previously you went by the name, Agnes Monica, and now we see that you’ve shortened it to Agnez Mo. What was the inspiration or idea behind the name change?

(AGNEZ MO) Well, it actually happened like that because I opened my Twitter account a couple years ago as @AgnezMo and it was supposed to be just for private, so I didn’t open it to the public. Then, a year later, when I opened it for public – and the followers went up to, you know, a million followers – all of a sudden people started calling me ‘Agnez Mo’, which is my Twitter account’s name. Before that my best friend actually called me “MoMo,” and then all of a sudden everybody was like, “Agnez Mo! Agnez Mo!” Or “Hey, Mo!” and I was like, “Okay let’s just use that name instead.” It wasn’t really a strategic plan or whatever.

(BELLA) Besides being a singer, you’re also a songwriter. Now that you’ve crossed over to the U.S. market, how involved are you able to be in the creative process? Specifically, in regards to creating your single, “Coke Bottle?”

(AGNEZ MO) I mean, I’ve always wanted to be involved. For me, music is not just melody and lyrics put together. You have a bit of your personality in the song. You can’t just sing something and not make it your own, right? For the “Coke Bottle” (song) itself, it’s kind of funny because I was in the studio with Tim and Tim’s camp. We had actually already finished about ten songs and then this song just came. We were just in the studio and we were like, “You know what, let’s just have fun with it.” At that time I wanted to create something chill and laid back. More that kind of vibe. And then one of Tim’s camp put the beat on and all of a sudden the song turned out to be.

(BELLA) That’s DOPE and I really love how “Coke Bottle” encourages women to own their sexuality. As an artist, you’re pretty well known for being strong and outspoken, which in American culture is very widely accepted. Is it like that in Indonesian culture? Specifically for women?

(AGNEZ MO) Well, not really. Not really. But I guess now people accept that kind of culture more. Before it was more about how you had to look like a lady with high heels and, you know, it was just all about that. Now, with social media and the Internet and all those other influences from other cultures, it makes it more a part of our culture too, but not as much as how it is here in the states.

(BELLA) Earlier today you were talking about how you were criticized in your country because you wanted to reach for international success. Why do you think there was such disapproval?

(AGNEZ MO) Well, I guess in any kind of business – the entertainment business or whatever it is – the haters are going to hate and the lovers are going to love, you know? You can’t really expect everybody to support your big dreams so when I look at it, I always try to look at the positive and say to myself, “Hey, haters are going to hate, no matter how good you are, so be the best instead.” You know what I mean? Like, it doesn’t really matter. And I think the reason is also because culturally, we tend to just be more submissive.

(BELLA) All Asians or just Indonesians?

(AGNEZ MO) Well, I can’t generalize but it’s still a part Asian culture as a whole. The ladies need to kind of stay submissive. I’m not saying that everyone is like that but still, there are a large group of people that still think like that. It’s crazy some people actually associate having big dreams with arrogance, and for me, it’s not like that. It’s like having big dreams is something that everyone has to do. It doesn’t even have to do with you being arrogant. But then I guess it’s not only in Indonesia, it’s also here. When people say, “Oh hey, I want to go big.” Not a lot of people will understand or accept that.

(BELLA) We’re here having this conversation on International Women’s Day and I’m talking to a woman who really understands the meaning of overcoming struggle. Let’s talk about your mantra “Dream, believe and make it happen.” What’s the back story on that? It was a part of something really big at the embassy in Jakarta, correct?

(AGNEZ MO) Yes, exactly. It’s funny because the U.S. embassy in Jakarta actually heard about that phrase that I came up with and they made an event based on that phrase and called it “Dream. Believe. Make it happen.” I went to the podium with the U.S. ambassador there and then spoke to the kids and all of the invitees about how I overcame my struggles and my different perspectives on life.

(BELLA) You love this role of encouraging people to pursue their dreams by pursuing your own dreams. I love it.

(AGNEZ MO) I love the process. It’s not about the, you know, working with the best producer or literally just working with Timbaland, but working with the best people that can allow me to learn from them. That’s my perspective in all of this. I wanted to show them that, yes, I’m from Indonesia. Yes, I’m from Jakarta. You’re probably my neighbor. I never said that it’s going to be easy but once you set your goal you kind of just have to believe and try to make it happen.

(BELLA) You’re working with Timbaland and you’re recording your album. What are your next steps or thoughts going forward?

(AGNEZ MO) It’s really … I’ve always felt like I’m so blessed really. I’m really grateful for each step that I’ve taken and all the struggles that I’ve gone through. And then in that studio – when I first got star-struck looking at Tim – And I was like, “You’re so, you know, you’re great. You’re all right.” And then the moment the management came to me and said he wanted to produce my whole album, it was like, oh my goodness.

(BELLA) Like surreal?

(AGNEZ MO) Yes, like oh my goodness. It was… It was like confirmation that I was at the right place, and it’s the right call for me to focus here. And then things just happened. I met with Russell Simmons, and he loved the songs and started tweeting about the songs – and then I met with Sony in New York and they were like, “Yes, how can we do this? How can we sign you?” It’s just… Those moments are really the moments that I feel like I need to just put it in my head and remember. Like no matter how high I get, I have to remember where I started because that’s what makes me grounded. Like, remember the feeling when you got that call? Or remember that feeling when you walked into that room and met those guys? That becomes the feel of the energy of this whole entire business.

Follow AGNEZ MO on Twitter & Instagram

Watch AGNEZ MO‘s New Video for Her Hit Single “COKE BOTTLE“

Watch AGNEZ MO On The Scene at Her Exclusive Cover Shoot with Pure DOPE Magazine in Hollywood

Read AGNEZ MO‘s Full Interview & See Her Amazing 18-Page Spread in DOPE Magazine‘s “ICE” Issue - Available April 8th

 

 

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