[2] At the age of 19, Monte went to Italy to study bel canto, while also performing Brazilian music in bars and clubs, leading her to meet famous producer Nelson Motta.

While most of her music is in the style of modern MPB, she has also recorded traditional samba and folk tunes, largely in collaboration with such musicians and songwriters as Carlinhos Brown, Arnaldo Antunes, and Nando Reis and producer Arto Lindsay.

She has also collaborated with the New York pop music vanguard, including Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Marc Ribot, Bernie Worrell and Philip Glass.

[3] In 1988, Monte signed with EMI and took the opportunity of Rede Manchete wanting a TV special covering her live concert to release it as the LP and VHS MM in 1989, a critical and commercial success pushed by the single "Bem Que Se Quis", a Motta-penned Portuguese version of Pino Daniele's "E Po' Che Fa'".

[4] Her 2008 single "Não é Proibido" was used in the soundtrack of a video game by EA Sports, 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.