“When you thought that you didn’t deserve it, well you’re wrong. And you’ve got so much on your shoulders, stay strong.”
Mon Rovîa’s “Big Love Ahead” is a quiet anthem of perseverance and strength. Just under two minutes, his voice and a ukulele is making a splash in today’s folk music.
Mon Rovîa, also known as Andrew Lowe, was born in Liberia and came to the United States during their civil war towards the end of the 20th century. Now based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, his tumultuous childhood is the reason his music is grounded in peace. He says some of his biggest influences are Paul Simon, Tracy Chapman, and Labi Siffre.
Lowe released seven singles in 2022 and didn’t slow down with the start of the new year. He has a unique voice that pairs well on any playlist alongside Bon Iver, Lomelda, and Bird and Byron (previously featured by Actuality here.) And was recently on the cover of Spotify’s Fresh Finds Folk playlist.
Back in 2021, Lowe performed a six song set at Audiotree, who described his music as “expansive, moody tunes.” His live vocals combined with colorful lights and cool sunglasses is the quintessential indie artist performance. Watch the entire performance here.
Although he rarely posts on Instagram, Lowe has turned to TikTok to promote his new music. With a following of 114.3k on the app, his videos promoting “Big Love Ahead” have garnered millions of views.
On this Valentine’s Day, we hope that you have love for yourself and for those around you because there is “Big Love Ahead” in this new year.
Reminder! Actuality has a playlist on Spotify! Click here to hear more from Mon Rovîa plus our favorites from every musical artist that have been or will be featured in our newsletter!