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.
Re-issue: Julien Baker - Appointments
Feist - In Lightning
Madison McFerrin - Run (feat. Bobby McFerrin)
New Order - Blue Monday
Re-issue: Mobb Deep - Shook Ones, Pt. II
Yaeji - Passed Me By
Seal - Kiss from a Rose
Kenny Beats - Still
Re-issue: Kimbra - Top of the World
MUNA - What I Want
Noah Kahan - Stick Season
Sampa the Great - Let Me Be Great (feat. Angélique Kidjo)
Son Lux - This is a Life (from 'Everything Everywhere All at Once')
Omah Lay - Never Forget
Book Exploder: James McBride - Deacon King Kong
Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth
Book Exploder: George Saunders - Victory Lap
Santigold - Ushers of the New World
Book Exploder: Celeste Ng - Little Fires Everywhere
King Princess - Let Us Die
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