Growing up as a home schooled kid in the small town of North Goer, Ontario, heavily touted 27 year old singer/songwriter/producer Colin Munroe says he always knew that music was his destiny. "Everyone has a purpose, something they are chosen for. Music chose me," says Munroe over the phone from Atlanta, Georgia. "Growing up in a small house with a large family, music always presented itself as an escape for me. I loved sitting alone in my room with headphones on listening to the radio, tapes and CD's and it was like being in a completely different universe." Even with such ambitions, Munroe surely had no idea about the musical journey ahead of him over the following years.

After teaching himself to play every instrument he could get his hands on, as well as how to record on an 8-track, Munroe packed his ambitions to make a name for himself in the music industry and moved to Toronto to attend University. In his attic apartment he began writing and recording songs, as well as trying to find any space he could for himself in the local music scene. Despite growing up on classics like the Beatles, Van Morrison and U2, Munroe answered a local ad in a magazine seeking out a hip hop/ R&B producer. He began making a name for himself by producing in the Toronto urban scene. "When I came to Toronto, I was looking to get involved in any music scene I could," explains Munroe. "It started as a necessity. I was really eager to work, so I said what the hell! People in the urban scene started to recognize my talent and wanted to work with me." Munroe's credibility as an urban producer quickly rose above the local scene as he began working with variety of talented artists such as Grammy nominee Chauncey Black, Brassmunk, Saukrates, Glen Lewis and Divine Brown. In this time span, Munroe also co-wrote and produced ten songs on Ray Robinson's Juno-nominated album What It Is.

Apart from the urban scene, Munroe was interested in exploring his own musical desires. He was working diligently as a one man band on his personal brand of catchy pop/rock infused musical expressions, by writing, recording and producing the demos that would eventually comprise his debut album Don't Think Less of Me. "Being a do-it-yourself type guy never felt that important, but it was just the way it worked out for me," says Munroe. "I was never really in any high school bands, and was always alone both socially and musically. Music was a new frontier of artistry for me to explore, and I really liked seeing what I could do alone with all of the technology I had in front of me. It was just me on tape, and I liked that, and so did other people."

Munroe, the model of a modern musician as well as an internet advocate, used a variety of new music websites such inDiscover.net to build a fan base, and allow a mass audience access to his songs. "Websites like inDiscover and YouTube have played a major role in my success so far," explains Munroe. "They are really the new town square or time square for artists. Their presence on the internet can be better than a million dollar marketing campaign. They allow artists an opportunity to be heard and to make friends, and can offer so much." Munroe, one of inDiscover.net's first registered artists, also cut his teeth as a performer by co-headlining an inDiscover Canadian University tour with fellow Canadian act Walk off the Earth. "That tour was a great experience because I never had done anything like it before. It was a lot of hard work but also a lot of fun, and I made some really great friends."

As Munroe finished recording Don't Think Less of Me in Toronto's Metalworks Studios, bigger names began taking notice of his efforts. Munroe had the opportunity to have his songs mixed in LA by Mark Needham who had previously worked with a handful of modern rock music's biggest stars such as The Killers, Bloc Party and My Chemical Romance. Munroe decided to make an artistic video in his attic for his first release off the album, 'World of Pain,' and it ended up being a Youtube smash, with an eventual add to rotation on Much Music. Following this internet explosion, Munroe was put in touch with legendary Grammy award winning producer Dallas Austin, who has produced for everyone from TLC and Bjork to Gwen Stefani and Madonna. Austin became an immediate fan of Munroe's and quickly signed him to release Don't Think Less of Me worldwide on Rowdy Records. "Having Dallas' trust on my side is an amazing thing. He allows me to do whatever I need to do, and take however long I need to," explains Munroe. "Although I didn't at first, I'm starting to really see similarities between Dallas and myself. I was familiar with his work with Gwen and TLC, but when I got to know him I discovered that he and I are both genre-less musicians. We're listeners of everything. Neither of us want to be in or belong to a particular crowd."

While in the midst of hammering out his big contract, Munroe's notoriety gained international status when he released an unofficial remix and video on his take of Kanye West's hit single 'I Want Those Flashing Lights.' The video quickly exploded on YouTube, at it's height becoming the second most highly viewed video on the site, as well as getting recognition by media giant Perez Hilton and Kanye himself in both of their respective blogs, and having the video posted on Sympatico and MTV.ca. The popularity of the cover also drew enormous attention to all of Munroe's previously posted videos.

"I feel blessed, but I also feel cursed," confesses Munroe in regards to staying level headed with all of his success to this point. "I have a constant fear that it can all be taken away at any moment because there is no assurance in this business. I like to look at everything as being a great experience as well as something to learn from. It's another chapter."

"With something like the Juno nomination, I have such little experience with recognition. I was happy, and it was great, but the world wasn't a different place," Munroe continues. "I don't want to take anything for granted, and my head is usually too deep in the sand of working. I can't even let myself take a vacation because I don't think I've earned it."

In terms of where he sees his place in popular music, Munroe feels he's separated from a lot of other current artists because he's not afraid to open up and be himself. "A lot of people right now seem to be making our parents music, and are just trying to be cool. Everything right now is all about referencing. There's definitely a place for that, but it's everywhere and I get sick of it. I believe in being vulnerable. You have to open up and be yourself."
"I would never want to put out an album and say 'this is me as an artist.' Focusing on an album like that is a thing of the past, just like watching black and white TV. I look at creating my music on a song by song basis. Everything I do from originals, to covers, to remixes, they're all me."

The future certainly seems bright for Colin Munroe. With the upcoming release of the new digital song and video release for 'Will I Stay' (to be featured on inDiscover.net), a new cover of U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', and Munroe's first worldwide major label release of the newly remixed Don't Think Less of Me at the beginning of 2009, Munroe may very well become one of Canada's most popular exports. In addition to his solo career launching, Munroe is still receiving requests to write and produce songs for popular American artists.

As for his take on the future, Munroe maintains a humble stance. "If people are interested, they're definitely invited to follow me and watch the journey," says Munroe. "If it's anything as interesting as it's been so far, it should definitely be something to watch."

Check out ColinMunroe.com for all of his latest updates.