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.
Black Pumas - Colors
The 1975 - The Birthday Party
Waxahatchee - Fire
Khruangbin - So We Won't Forget
Apparat - Goodbye (Theme from "Dark")
Mobb Deep - Shook Ones, Pt. II
Re-issue: Michael Kiwanuka - Black Man in a White World
100 gecs - Money Machine
Laura Marling - Song for Our Daughter
Tame Impala - It Might Be Time
FKA twigs - Mirrored Heart
Nathaniel Rateliff - And It's Still Alright
Eric Nam - Love Die Young
Soccer Mommy - Circle the Drain
Caribou - Home
Vagabon - Water Me Down
Semisonic - Closing Time
Vampire Weekend - Harmony Hall
Intro Theme and Thao's Farewell
Meek Mill - Trauma
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