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.
The Books - Smells Like Content
Julia Holter - Horns Surrounding Me
Valley Lodge - Go
RAC - Let Go (feat. Kele & MNDR)
The Thermals - No Culture Icons
Anamanaguchi - Prom Night
Spoon - Inside Out
Brian Reitzell - Watch Dogs
Open Mike Eagle - Dark Comedy Morning Show (feat. Toy Light)
The Microphones - I Want Wind to Blow
Converge - Dark Horse
Nite Jewel - One Second of Love
Garbage - Felt
Poliça - Smug
Loren Bouchard - Bob's Burgers (Theme Song)
Jeff Beal - House of Cards (Main Title Theme)
Daedelus - Experience
Sea Wolf - Kasper
Baths - Miasma Sky
YACHT - Plastic Soul
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