MTV:The Wrap Up JANELLE MONAE: THE INTERVIEW! Janelle Monae is not like any other artist out at present. Her music is not the only thing that may catch your eye. Her uniform of black and white is very unconventional but she’s all about breaking conventions, promoting individuality and inspiring those around her. Denise Kodia caught up with the American star to talk about her latest project ‘The Arch Android’, being compared to the late James Brown and...androids? All exclusively for The Wrap Up...
TWU: What information can someone not find about you on Wikipedia?
Janelle Monae: That I don’t make music for kings or queens, I make music for regular people. I wear my black and white uniform to pay homage to those who are working every single day like my mother and father. TWU: Who do you feel you represent? Janelle Monae: I represent the working class and I try to create songs that are uplifting because this world can drive you insane, which is why I try to create songs like ‘Tightrope’ and ‘Cold War’. To give them inspiration on how to deal with balance and how to realise your strengths. TWU: You've been compared to the late James Brown, how do you deal with such comparisons? Is it a lot of pressure or you just take it on your stride? Janelle Monae: I’ve learnt a lot from James Brown, he’s a huge inspiration. We definitely write music for the people and the only pressure that I have is the pressure I put on myself. I don’t allow myself to get too high with the praises or get too low when there are critiques or opinions. TWU: How do you stay true to who you know you are, rather than what people say? Janelle Monae: You have to be disciplined and not go on blogs, the internet and literally believe what someone else is telling you that you are. I know where my power comes from which is my creator who is responsible for my path. I don’t look for validation, except from the people who I know love and care about me. TWU: P Diddy has had he fair share of setbacks and successes. Do you feel that his setbacks could have an affect on you and your career? Janelle Monae: He’s Sean Combs. He’s a strong black man who’s been in the music industry longer than me and he can handle his ups and downs. I caught him at a very great place in his life where he wanted to help an organisation like mine (The Wonderland Arts Society). We both want people to know about this music and the mission. Plus I know who I am, I don’t have to do anything, I’m his (P Diddy) boss. TWU: What is the mission? Janelle Monae: To make music that unites, I really want to promote individuality. I want people to be able to look at the music we have as one that makes them feel comfortable in being unique and I want us to celebrate our differences. TWU: Who is Cindy Mayweather?
Janelle Monae: Cindy is an android and I love speaking about the android because they are the new “other”. People are afraid of the other and I believe we’re going to live in a world with androids because of technology and the way it advances. TWU: How is Cindy different on The Arch Android to the first album 'The Metropolis'? Janelle Monae: The first album she was running because she had fallen in love with a human and she was being disassembled for that. This time around we’re talking about The Arch Android the chosen one, the neyo of the matrix or the Archangel from the Bible. She (Cindy) finds out that she is indeed the one and is the mediator between the haves and have not. She’s the one who can get rid of all the discrimination within the android community. It deals with self realisation as she realises that she is that. TWU: Has her story affected you? Janelle Monae: Her story has helped me realise a lot about myself. It has lead me to become even more fearless and also more hopeful. TWU: Were the similarities between the Archangel in the Bible and The Arch Android intentional, or did it just happen? Janelle Monae: Yeah, it was intentional. I believe there were a lot of parallels between the two. TWU: Why have you described The Arch Android as an emotion picture? Janelle Monae: It evokes emotions that you hadn’t been in touch with or you didn’t realise you had. There are too many to name but it’s an emotion picture for the mind. You can visually feel exactly what it is that the song is intending you to feel. TWU: The albums first single ‘Tightrope’ which features Big Boi from Outkast one of the lyrics says: “You either lead or you follow.” Do you feel you do this with your music? Janelle Monae: Absolutely, yeah! I mean you try to learn as much as you possibly can from those that have come before you. It’s a self help song, whenever you’re feeling down or your need some motivation. TWU: How will you stay passionate about your gifts? Janelle Monae: By knowing what I’m doing has to be done. I believe that I’m necessary in terms of creating music in the world that we live in. I don’t just believe it’s just with me; there are a lot of artists who are for the people and all about inspiring them.
TWU: Have you been inspired by the differences between London and Kansas? Janelle Monae: I have not really experienced London but I’m excited to though. I think the only thing that we should let divide us is the water. But we shouldn’t even let that separate us; we should support each other to show that there is good in this world.
Submitted on Wed, 05/12/2010 00:44. Words: Denise Kodia