Janelle Monáe, one of today’s most celebrated artists, is an eight-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer as well as a performer, actor and fashion icon. Not only is Monáe acclaimed for her music and acting roles, she is also recognized for her unwavering activism for social justice and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Monáe’s latest album is The Age of Pleasure, released on June 9, and she recently connected with The Current’s Ayisha Jaffer to talk about the new album and what it means. Monáe also reflected on her friendship with Minnesota’s greatest artist, Prince.

Use the player below to listen to the interview. You can also read a transcript of the interview below.

Interview Transcript

Edited for time and clarity.

Ayisha Jaffer: Janelle, I'm probably going to get fired, but I want to honor you in how I'm going to introduce you, so we're going to just go into it.

Janelle Monáe: Don't get fired! Please don't!

Ayisha Jaffer: I won't, I won't, I won't; I promise. So, hey, what's up? I'm Ayisha Jaffer, and I'm joined by freeassmuthaf**** Janelle Monae on The Current. Thank you for joining us, Janelle.

Janelle Monáe: Thank you for having me. I love your intro!

Ayisha Jaffer: I want to honor you. I'm so excited about The Age of Pleasure. But I first wanted to just rewind and see if you remember coming to The Current for the first time ever in 2010: It was your debut album, you had two very nervous morning hosts in the studio with you, and you calmed their nerves by giving them a hug in the studio, which just speaks volumes of your character. Do you remember that at all?

Janelle Monáe: I do. I always remember my time there because of Prince and being from the Midwest, and you guys have been so supportive of me. So when I came, I was very, very just excited to finally be amongst people that have been supportive since the beginning of my career.

Ayisha Jaffer: Absolutely. And in that sentiment, they remembered, and they made sure to tell me and say hello, which I think is really beautiful. And I know you have ties to Minnesota; you've lived here. And of course, Prince was a mentor to you. And I know Prince has gone on to the next frequency, but I wondered if there were any last sentiments that Prince left with you that you still use in your work today.

Janelle Monáe: I think that Prince is forever, you know? And as somebody who knew him very well, of course, there are private, personal moments, conversations and things that I can't share but hold dear with me. And I just think like the rest of the world, too, his music lives on. He just was such of service musically, artistically, pushing us to go to the next level and to evolve. And that's what I take from him, is to keep going, to keep finding out and discovering new things about who you are, what you can be, how far you can take things artistically, to stay rooted in community, to have purpose. And that's definitely something that continues to inspire me today.

Ayisha Jaffer: And that brings me to The Age of Pleasure, of course, out now. I don't think of The Age of Pleasure as just an album, but a movement and a lifestyle. But not something new for you; it's new for us to know about you. And so I wonder, in revealing The Age of Pleasure to everyone, what has that meant to you?

Janelle Monáe: It is a movement. It is a movement, and it is something to see, it's something that I live, you know? I look at this album not as just an album either but as a soundtrack to a lifestyle. And I think what we're seeing is that people are radically staying rooted in joy; like, I'm radically staying rooted in joy. And that's really all I can say. And people who feel that, you can see it, you can feel it on all of us; like, we are trying our best in the midst of everything that is going on, in the midst of a world where so many things are going on, we are fighting for our joy and doing it unapologetically.

Ayisha Jaffer: I love that. And actually, it's like joy and liberation seems to be a theme. And in a recent interview, you said this: "My level of freedom will always trigger somebody that has not decided that they are ready to get free." So I think your level of freedom is igniting some revolutionary joy as you're talking about. Can you kind of expand on that sentiment a little more? Like, do you think of this as somewhat of joy as a protest?

Janelle Monáe: We're in the Age of Pleasure, baby. That's all I can say.

Ayisha Jaffer: Yeah. Yeah. That's it. That's it.

Janelle Monáe: That's it.

Ayisha Jaffer: And then you dropped the music video for “Waterslide” which just, it screams Age of Pleasure. It's beautiful. I'm gonna guess that it was filmed at Wondaland West, is that right?

Janelle Monáe: No.

Ayisha Jaffer: Oh, I'm wrong! Oh, no, I'm sorry.

Janelle Monáe: Another magical place. I know, I know! But everything is connected, and I wanted to keep the same frequency. You know, it's definitely the sister song to "Lipstick Lover," and it's so much fun and just so much joy. And it's summer! I wanted to make sure — I co-directed it with Alan Ferguson — and we just basically are highlighting our lifestyles. I live this, you know? These are real friends. These are real people that I've made experiences with, I've been joyful with, and I'm just so happy that we can share this with the rest of the world.

Ayisha Jaffer: It's really beautiful. I feel like I'm partying with you all around the world, especially when I think of these collaborations, too, these very thoughtful collaborations on the record, from Sister Nancy to Seun Kuti, Grace Jones, Nia Long, an endless list of globally known artists, thoughtfully picked artists. I do feel like I'm a little closer to you and closer to your world, listening to this record in, The Age of Pleasure, like you say, that's what we're in, that's what we're doing. Do you feel like there was some sort of moment that kind of brought you back from the future and into the present to kind of share your world with us here and through this album?

Janelle Monáe: Yeah, you know, I think that I'm a “presenturist” [a word Monáe coined, which she describes in The New Yorker] right now; you know, just currently actively being present. And I think that all of my work has led up to this moment of sending, protecting this, this is what Cindi [Mayweather, Monáe’s adroid alter ego in earlier albums] protected, this is what the albums were protecting, is us and this joy. And to see it is revolutionary; to feel it is liberating; to be a part of it is an honor.

Ayisha Jaffer:  Yeah, and you're documenting it, as well; like, you're talking about seeing it and experiencing it, and we're hearing it, but also with these videos, like "Lipstick Lover," like "Waterside," they're on film, aren't they?

Janelle Monáe: Yeah, they are. Yep, 8 mm, 16 mm. It was so important to just to show that, and to show us, especially Black and brown folks and queer and trans folks, and all of us who understand the importance of, even in the middle of oppression, radically finding their joy. To see us all banding together and having a safe space to explore, a safe space to be not be looking over our shoulders and worried about anything else other than smiling at one another, hugging one another, taking care of each other. Because without safe space, there's no pleasure, you know? You cannot relax into finding your Age of Pleasure.

Ayisha Jaffer: That's right, and documenting it is important to have that joy. Now, one of the questions I've been dying to know, especially as a DJ, is that I know you were slipping in songs in these parties to test out for The Age of Pleasure. And you were looking for reactions on those songs. And I just must know — because I do feel like people watching is part of why you DJ — what's the best reaction you got of a track that got on the record or was off the record when you were slipping these songs in during these parties?

Janelle Monáe: Yeah, it was so interesting, because literally, growing up — like being in the sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade — I was always throwing parties with my friends. I was doing the same thing then, you know, having our friends be the DJs and wanting to play songs and curate experiences, but when it's your own music, it’s kind of terrifying, so I didn't tell anybody that it was me when I was slipping my DJ the songs at our parties because I really wanted them to like it and I didn't want them to feel like they have to perform for me; you know, like, "Oh, yeah, we're at Janelle’s space, let's like her music." And if I knew we were having a party on a Saturday or Friday, on a Monday or Tuesday, we would go into the studio and just write songs that we felt like would work in our playlist.

And so, I think when people were Shazam-ing, like when I saw some of my friends who know me Shazam-ing, "Who is this? Who is this? What is the song, 'Float'? 'Float'? What is this? What is this song, 'Waterslide'?" Like, it was just great hearing people trying Shazam in the middle of the pool, grabbing a towel, and like, “Ahhhh!,” running to try to go get their phone to Shazam and see who it is. That was the best feeling, and those were the songs that made it on the project.

Ayisha Jaffer: That's perfect. I love that. Well, Janelle Monae, thanks so much for sharing your superpowers with us today. The Age of Pleasure is out now, and we'll see you in September at The Armory. Thanks for hanging out with me today.

Janelle Monáe: Yes, I cannot wait to come and perform, and to see you guys, like one of my favorite places to perform at. And thank you so much for your support. And you guys just keep on finding your pleasure and having a wonderful summer. I'll see you soon.

Ayisha Jaffer: See you soon.

Janelle Monáe: Bye bye.

Ayisha Jaffer: Bye.

Credits

Guest –  Janelle Monáe
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Technical Director – Erik Stromstad
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor

External Link

Janelle Monáe - official site