What's so good about Janelle Monae?

I'll be perfectly honest. I have absolutely no idea what to expect when Janelle Monae takes the stage.

Okay, that's not entirely true. Based on her 2010 release The ArchAndroid, I expect an awesome blend of soul, funk, R&B, pop, disco and even punk - and an unstoppable energy evident in the smash single "Tightrope." If you haven't yet heard the tune, check it out:

This is a catchy tune - definitely made for radio release. But what intrigues me about Janelle Monae is not just the catchy singles - it's the variety of music she's produced. Every tune on The ArchAndroidis different. One tune sounds like it could have been made in the height of the disco era; another would sound at home on the Motown label...and yet another - complete with lush strings - could be classic soul.

So what's this all about? Why such a variety? According to Monae, "Musically, The ArchAndroid is an epic James Bond film in outer space. In terms of influences it’s just all the things I love — scores for films like Goldfinger mixed with albums I adore such as Stevie’s Music of my Mind, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, and jamming experimental hip hop stuff like Stankonia.” Here's the official trailer for the album - one could be forgiven for being a bit confused about what to expect from the finished product:

In my mind, Janelle Monae is not the average pop star. She seems to be giving her music a lot more thought. Her musical influences are as diverse as the styles in which she performs - she truly seems to be interested in creating something unique. Plus - who writes a backstory like this for an album?

"The album realizes the next chapter in the story of Cindi Mayweather, the heroine of Monae’s debut album Metropolis. She has been sent to free the citizens of Metropolis from the Great Divide, a secret society using time travel to suppress freedom and love throughout the ages. It’s said that when the ArchAndroid returns, it will mean freedom for the android community. Cindi Mayweather realizes that she is indeed the ArchAndroid." Here's another track:

Finally - it seems clear to me that Janelle Monae wants to have fun. And that for me is one of the most important parts of music-making. Of the recording process, she says: "We were up dancing on couches, jumping around, having jam sessions for hours and hours, just really enjoying ourselves." Without fun, music is just a bunch of notes. When Janelle Monae takes to the stage, you can expect so much more.

Janelle Monae performs on the Maintsage at Nathan Phillips Square opening night - Friday, June 22, at 8 pm. For more information, visit Janelle's concert page. And, for more sound clips, check out Janelle's MySpace page.

Josh