The Electric Lady by Janelle Monáe

I’m crushing so hard on this album at the moment. Janelle Monáe’s music is fun and inventive and even though I know it’s too early to say this - I have a sneaking suspicion The Electric Lady is going to be my favourite album of the year.

Janelle continues her Metropolis series (her debut EP Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) and album The ArchAndroid (Metropolis: Suites II and III) form the first two parts) which follows the fictional tale of female android Cindi Mayweather. A messianic figure sent back in time to free the citizens of Metropolis from The Great Divide - a secret society who use time travel to suppress freedom and love - Cindi is an empowering role model for this particular listener.

With featured guests that include Prince (!) and tracks that slide unexpectedly but easily between genre touchstones - funk, soul, gospel, jazz, pop-punk, dreamy ballads (see Janelle’s duet with Miguel, ‘Primetime’) - The Electric Lady is unrelentingly danceable and I can’t recommend it enough.

(I’d also encourage you to read through Janelle’s online interviews as she presents herself as this supremely excellent mix of pop-culture and raw political angst that you can’t help wanting to know more.)


Bronte Coates