Janelle Monáe Janelle Monáe artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music
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Janelle Monáe

Amaarae's new album Fountain Baby tops our shortlist of the best new albums out on June 9. Josh Croll/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Josh Croll/Courtesy of the artist

New Music Friday: The best releases out on June 9

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On her new album, The Age of Pleasure, Janelle Monáe concocts a vision of sensuality that is open to complication but goes down easy. Mason Rose/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Mason Rose/Courtesy of the artist

In a new sci-fi book, musician Janelle Monáe expands on themes from her Grammy-nominated album Dirty Computer to tell stories about a community of individuals whose identities are being erased. Jheyda McGarrell hide caption

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Jheyda McGarrell

Janelle Monáe's 'Dirty Computer' comes alive in a new collection of stories

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Frank Ocean's song "Nights" is on Gerrick D. Kennedy's Pride playlist, which includes songs he says "remind me to stand in my power as a Black queer man in America." Jason Merritt/Getty Images hide caption

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Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Janelle Monae attends the Hollywood premiere of Black Panther in January 2018. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Janelle Monáe On Her Dirty, World-Dominating Year

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Pussy Riot's performance at SXSW — one of Ann Powers' favorite concert experiences of 2018 — felt like an occupation of the senses. Hutton Supancic/Getty Images for SXSW hide caption

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Hutton Supancic/Getty Images for SXSW

Childish Gambino (left) performs onstage during the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival. Rosalía speaks onstage during the 19th annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Janelle Monae performs in Los Angeles in June and Kacey Musgraves performs at the 2018 Stagecoach Festival in April. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia; David Becker/Getty Images for LARAS; Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Stagecoach hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia; David Becker/Getty Images for LARAS; Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Stagecoach

All Songs Considered: The Year In Music 2018

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Beyoncé performs onstage during Coachella on April 14, 2018. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Coachella hide caption

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Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Coachella