Cop a gander of Janelle Monae!
The multi-talented songstress releases new album ‘Dirty Computer’ (together with a 44-minute visual) later this week and trumpets its arrival in the newest issue of FAULT Magazine.
Beyond posing it up for a striking shoot (which was lensed at Jimi Hendrix’s preserved London flat), Monae seized her interview feature to reflect on racism in America, parenthood fears, and how staring in Oscar-winning ‘Moonlight’ helped her decide to “walk in her truth.”
More after the jump…
How starring in ‘Moonlight’ helped her “walk in her truth”:
“I was inspired by many movies, some of which I’ve been a part of and it all resonated with me.
I have soul searched, and this time around, I think being honest is most important. It’s about being able to say “hey I’m ok if people don’t like that I’m embracing this side of me”, it’s the side that my friends and family get to see and they still love me the same.
I’ve been talking about it, but I feel I wasn’t entirely embracing the things that made me unique. I was telling others to as part of my music, but I wasn’t living it, and I think that I was afraid I would lose supporters for doing so.”
Fears of not having a family:
“What scares me is that I won’t have a family within the time frame that I want to have a family. I want to have children, but I don’t want to miss that time because I was so focused on my career and because I didn’t plan accordingly. That scares me most now more than anything.”
On Trump:
“My ancestors built the White House, but despite that, we [African Americans] are disregarded and not brought to have a seat at the table.
I live in the USA where one of the most hateful people can get into office and become our representative on the global stage. I don’t think that’s a positive thing.
But I do see hope and feel a sense of unity as a result of having such a divisive, islamophobic, xenophobic, racist, sexist person as president. I’ve seen us unite as a result of that but we’ve also got to do that with our votes and can’t just do it online, we have to really put our votes where our mouths are.”
On being used by the far-right to “slut-shame” other women:
“It was vital for me to draw that line on this album and say I’ve always been about agency and women being in control of their narrative and their bodies. If the whole world were wearing suits and tuxedos, well then I’d be naked!
For me it was personal, but there were respectability politicians that missed the message and used me to for their agenda.”
‘Dirty Computer’ hits stores on April 27th. It’s companion “emotional film” premieres on BET and VH1 stations a day prior.