Who is Janelle Monae?

The Kansas-born singer, songwriter, and actress Janelle Monáe started performing at a young age in church and later participated in musical theater while in school. As a young adult, she began performing on college campuses in Atlanta. During this time, she became acquainted with the funk duo Deep Cotton. Janelle eventually released three albums throughout the span of five years Metropolis: The Chase Suite (2008), The ArchAndroid (2010), and The Electric Lady (2013).

After completing an exemplary album run, Janelle spent the next five years devoting time to self-discovery. This reflective period led to the creation of their fourth album, Dirty Computer (2018). While this album was deeply personal to them regarding their self-actualization, it was also intended for their family over the past two decades cultivating along with many others.

“Community’ was one of the words that I kept in my heart the entire time that I was making the project. [I’m] creating this space for other dirty computers like myself, to feel loved, to feel heard, to feel seen, to feel celebrated.” via Smithsonion

In their 2023 release, "The Age of Pleasure," Janelle unveils a newfound vulnerability and passion that captivates listeners. The album delves into their journey, chronicling intimate and empowering stories of sexual escapades while advocating for a message of sexual positivity and freedom.

Janelle demonstrates through her work that even though the journey towards sexual and gender discovery can be rough and even dirty at times, it's a path worth taking. Thanks to her bravery, many others have expressed their gratitude because Janelle has helped them on their journey.