This summer, in June 2023, Janelle Monáe put out her fourth album, The Age of Pleasure. Listening to it made me want to revisit her Song Exploder episode, from 2018. One thing on Song Exploder that I personally love is when we get to hear an artist’s raw voice memo, from the moment when they’re first coming up with a song idea. This episode has one of my all-time favorites.
Janelle Monáe is an award-winning musician and actress who released her first record in 2007. She’s been nominated for multiple Grammys, and she starred in the Oscar films Moonlight and Hidden Figures. In April 2018, she released her third album, Dirty Computer, which includes this song, “So Afraid.” In this episode, Janelle Monáe takes “So Afraid” apart, to explain how she built it, step by step—beginning with a trip to the dentist.
For more, visit songexploder.net/janelle-monae.
War - Low Rider
Shania Twain - You're Still The One
Danny Brown - Y.B.P. (feat. Bruiser Wolf)
Rhiannon Giddens - You Louisiana Man
Re-issue: Arlo Parks - Black Dog
Green Day - Basket Case
The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Deluxe Anniversary Edition)
Foo Fighters - The Teacher
Raye - Escapism (feat. 070 Shake)
Sampha - Spirit 2.0
Paramore - Liar
Kesha - Eat The Acid
Alvvays - Archie, Marry Me
Laufey - From The Start
Siddhartha Khosla - Only Murders in the Building (Main Title Theme)
Local Natives - Dark Days
Bakar - Hell N Back
Natalie Merchant - Sister Tilly
Re-issue: Julien Baker - Appointments
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