Janelle Monáe graces Variety magazine looking like a Q.U.E.E.N

Janelle Monáe features in Variety's Power of Women issue looking all kinds of fly. She is one of 3 women who feature in the issue and have their own cover, alongside Cate Blanchett and Patti LuPone.

Monáe talked about being honoured by the power she has as a woman, how she embraces collaborating with other women, the work that she and her company the Wondaland Arts are doing to help those in need during the COV-19 pandemic and what it means to her to portray a queer woman in an interracial relationship with a non-white woman on TV.

It's truly been amazing as a fan since her Metropolis days to see Janelle evolve not just as an artist, but as a person. From her coming out, to her style, to her move into acting, for which she seems to get more attention for than her music. It's beautiful to see. And I'm starting to get the itch for new music from her.

It's going to be interesting to hear where she takes her music now, and how she frames the narrative of it, given that her android tale concluded with Dirty Computer. The sound of the album felt like both a conclusion, but a new beginning, as Janelle embraced Pop and her newfound freedom in her style, her sexuality and just who she was generally. The rules for Janelle are that there are no rules. So it's going to be fun seeing where this takes her musically, because she could truly go anywhere.

You can read the full interview with Variety here.

📝 Album reviews: Metropolis | The ArchAndroid | The Electric Lady | Dirty Computer