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.
Phoebe Bridgers - Scott Street
Wonderly - The Daily (Theme)
Japanese Breakfast - Boyish
Hozier - Nina Cried Power (feat. Mavis Staples)
Yo-Yo Ma - Prelude, Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major
Re-issue: Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - Astonished Man
Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way
Breakmaster Cylinder - Reply All
Empress Of - When I'm With Him
Big Boi - Order of Operations
John Carpenter - Halloween (Theme)
Janelle Monáe - So Afraid
Cat Power - Woman
Blood Orange - Saint
Re-issue: Patrick Carney feat. Ralph Carney - BoJack Horseman (Main Title Theme)
The Decemberists - Once In My Life
Re-issue: Mitski - Your Best American Girl
Christine and the Queens - Doesn't Matter
Neko Case - Last Lion of Albion
Re-issue: Courtney Barnett - Depreston
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