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.
Gorillaz - Andromeda (feat. D.R.A.M.)
Norah Jones - Day Breaks
Dirty Projectors - Up in Hudson
Sleigh Bells - I Can Only Stare
Bonobo - Break Apart (feat. Rhye)
Sara Watkins - Without a Word
Dropkick Murphys - Blood
Nicholas Britell - Moonlight
Solange - Cranes in the Sky
Metallica - Moth into Flame
Justin Hurwitz - La La Land
DJ Shadow - Mutual Slump
Angel Olsen - Shut Up Kiss Me
Jóhann Jóhannsson - Arrival
Flatbush Zombies - Bounce
Oathbreaker - 10:56 / Second Son of R.
James Vincent McMorrow - Get Low
Phantogram - You Don't Get Me High Anymore
Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks
Mitski - Your Best American Girl
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