The New Yorker Radio Hour

Janelle Monáe, from the Future to the Present

October 30, 2018
Host: David Remnick
Guest: Janelle Monáe

Episode Overview

This episode features David Remnick’s candid conversation with genre-defying musician, actress, and visionary Janelle Monáe. The discussion spans her unconventional musical journey, early inspirations, evolving artistic identities, and the personal, political, and emotional themes of her then-new album, Dirty Computer. Monáe reflects on her roots, artistic challenges, and the responsibility she feels to her community amidst turbulent social and political times.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Inspirations and Musical Imagination

• Fact-Checking Childhood Stories ([01:23])

  • Monáe confirms she wrote a musical inspired by Stevie Wonder’s Journey through the Secret Life of Plants as a child, weaving her school lessons on photosynthesis into her art.
  • "We were in between houses... I started to write about me and just this attack on — or not attack — attack on humans from plants." – Janelle Monáe ([01:41])

• Musical Upbringing in a Large Family ([02:16])

  • Grew up in a family of 50+ cousins, surrounded by music in church.
  • Monáe describes herself as a “rebellious Christian,” breaking into Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” during church services ([03:00]).

• Experience in Theater ([03:29])

  • Played Cinderella at her predominantly Black and Latino high school but recalls the disappointment of not landing the lead in The Wiz ([03:55]).

2. Aspiring Beyond the Ordinary

• Discovery of Larger Ambitions ([04:01])

  • Realized greater potential after moving to New York and attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
  • Left formal education to pursue more “fresher stories” in her own way.

• Artistic Heroes ([04:47])

  • Inspired by Lauryn Hill for authenticity, motherhood, and creativity; Judy Garland for being a dreamer from Kansas and her unique strength.
  • "[Lauryn Hill] was a polymath. And that was how I wanted to model my career." – Janelle Monáe ([05:45])

3. Genre-Bending Works and Sci-Fi Concepts

• Blending Influences ([06:30]–[07:37])
  • Early work, such as Metropolis: The Chase Suite, drew inspiration from silent film (Metropolis), science fiction (Asimov), and iconic musicians (Bowie, Pink Floyd).
  • Monáe sought to merge theater, R&B, rock, visual style, and sci-fi into an original musical identity.
  • "How can I blend all these different elements and innovate in the space of music?" – Janelle Monáe ([07:35])

4. Creating Alter-Egos and the Meaning of Cindy Mayweather

• Aspiring Through Science Fiction ([08:00])

  • Cindy Mayweather as an alter ego in her early music, representing a more evolved, egoless self.
  • "She doesn't have ego. All the things that make me imperfect, she's able to master those." – Janelle Monáe ([08:10])
  • Admits using the character to process feelings of being misunderstood and “too weird” for mainstream industry.

• Industry Pressures and Non-Conformity ([09:19])

  • Faced pressure to be “more commercial”—from looks to musical content—but resisted.
  • Describes financial struggles: losing her job at Office Depot for replying to fans, selling CDs out of her car.
  • "I was broke. I didn't want to go home." – Janelle Monáe ([09:57])

5. The Making and Significance of Dirty Computer

• Transition to Personal Storytelling ([11:02])

  • Dirty Computer marks Monáe speaking as herself, exploring identity, oppression, sexuality, and marginalization.
  • The concept of the “dirty computer” as a metaphor for non-conformists.
  • "A dirty computer is someone who is told their bugs and their viruses are negatives... as attributes, as features." – Janelle Monáe ([13:00])

• Political Context and Impact of 2016 Election ([11:34])

  • The album, mostly written during the Obama era, shifted tone after Trump’s election.
  • Movement from self- to community-centered art in response to the erasure of marginalized voices.

• Community and Activism ([12:09])

  • Emphasis on building a supportive community for “all the dirty computers in the world,” in the face of political hostility to LGBTQIA, Black, and immigrant communities.
  • "Right now the people that I care about and the things that I care about are being erased through laws, through media." – Janelle Monáe ([12:32])

6. Themes of Identity, Sexuality, and Representation

• Discussing “Make Me Feel” ([14:53]–[15:44])

  • The song encapsulates openness about sexuality; Monáe addresses her history of not shying from the subject.
  • Describes the tension between protecting her privacy and embracing visibility and expectation.

• Sense of Responsibility and Guilt ([16:01])

  • Monáe’s audience includes people “told that they don’t matter.”
  • Expresses guilt and a sense of duty, knowing her voice can represent those who fear reprisals for speaking out.
  • "Yeah, I feel a sense of guilt because I’m like, man, I have a voice, like, I’m voicing my frustrations. Some people can’t." – Janelle Monáe ([17:00])

• “Django Jane” as a Response to Oppression ([17:20])

  • Written for herself and other women, as an answer to having women’s rights trampled.

7. A Bittersweet Farewell to the Obama Era

• A White House Party Memory ([18:18])
  • Recalls a late-Obama-era celebration at the White House, marked by celebratory spirit with an undercurrent of sadness about impending change.
  • "All the hard work that he had done and was going to be unraveled and undone and control-Z deleted." – Janelle Monáe ([19:18])
  • Now, Monáe is focused on activism, particularly voter engagement through the organization “When We All Vote.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Early Rebellion:
  "I actually was that five, six year old kid who... would bust out and sing Michael Jackson’s Beat It and then I’d be escorted out to the children’s church." – Janelle Monáe ([03:00])

• On Industry Pressures:
  “People would call me weird... It was like, the quick thing would be, change your hair, your outfits, you need to be sexually appealing... [But] I needed money, I needed to be successful.” – Janelle Monáe ([09:19]–[09:56])

• On Identity and Community:
  "This project is about the erasure of identity and what it means to hold onto your identity despite what the world says about you." – Janelle Monáe ([13:00])

• On Audience Responsibility:
  "When I look out, I see people that every single day are told that they don’t matter. And that feels like a direct attack on the people that I love and that I care about." – Janelle Monáe ([16:01])

• On Moving Forward:
  “I want to focus on now. And right now I’m working with an organization ‘When We All Vote’ to help get awareness out.” – Janelle Monáe ([19:31])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:23]: Childhood musical inspired by Journey through the Secret Life of Plants.
• [03:00]: Rebellious Christian—singing “Beat It” in church.
• [05:50]: Lauryn Hill and Judy Garland as role models.
• [06:30]: Early music—sci-fi, musicals, and influences.
• [08:00]: Introduction of alter ego Cindy Mayweather.
• [09:19]: Industry pressures and personal struggles.
• [11:02]: The evolution to Dirty Computer—shifting to personal narrative.
• [12:32]: Creating a community for non-conformists.
• [13:00]: Definition and significance of the “dirty computer.”
• [14:53]: "Make Me Feel" and speaking on sexuality.
• [16:01]: Audience, community, and responsibility.
• [17:20]: “Django Jane” as a protest song.
• [18:18]: White House party memory—a bittersweet milestone.
• [19:31]: Activism with “When We All Vote.”

Conclusion

The episode offers a deeply personal and revealing portrait of Janelle Monáe. From her eccentric childhood creativity, through battles with industry conformity, to her eventual emergence as a bold voice for marginalized communities, Monáe’s journey is illustrated with candor and wit. By linking her art to activism, Monáe emerges not only as a musical innovator but as a cultural and political force determined to celebrate difference and inspire her audience to action.

For further context or to experience Janelle Monáe’s work, listen to her album Dirty Computer or view the emotion picture companion.