When I tell people that I’ve been inspired by Janelle Monae, 90% of the time they say, ‘Oh, I’ve never heard of her.’ Why? I think she is the most exciting thing to come out from pop and RnB. Her stuff is musically interesting, and oh so wonderfully produced and put together, like the way the tracks mix into each other seamlessly. And in interviews she comes across as extraordinarily intelligent and articulate, with a good answer for everything related to her craft, like why she wears tuxedos, her vision for her album, her family background. Her manner is just so calm and considered, and that she’s given the answers a lot of thought. Maybe she’s rehearsed really well. However, that measuredness can come across as a bit intense, as a friend of mine proclaimed upon seeing her on Youtube for 5 minutes. I’m not sure what she meant; maybe she found it all too serious. But then again she’s not heard Janelle’s album – and probably never will – and come to appreciate her breadth of talent, personality and capacity for imagination!
Anyway, this weekend I’m seriously digging her track Dance or Die. The groove is so phat and sexy. It’s like Fela Kuti repackaged for the 21st century dancefloor.
