Janelle Monáe & Nate Wonder

Janelle Monáe has had a lot to smile about this year. After a run of successful albums over the last decade, in June she released her fourth album, The Age of Pleasure. The album was just nominated for two Grammys including Album of the Year. This project is important—it signaled a big tone shift for Janelle whose past albums have centered in part around a recurring character named Cyndi Mayweather, an android who represents society’s new “other.”

Esthetically Janelle has always been buttoned up. For her first few album releases she made a point of always appearing in public in some iteration of a tuxedo. For The Age Of Pleasure though, she literally stripped down to almost nothing, flaunting a newfound freedom centered around Black joy and acceptance.

On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks to Janelle Monáe and her long time music partner Nate Wonder poolside, at their creative home base in the Hollywood Hills called Wondaland. Nate explains how The Age Of Pleasure album started with the simple conceit of making Janelle smile. Janelle also talks about why she decided to ditch a career in musical theater after college, and how THE Grace Jones ended up topless in Wondaland’s now-infamous pool.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Janelle Monáe songs HERE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Avsnitt(367)

S.G. Goodman

S.G. Goodman

When S.G. Goodman released her debut album, Old Time Feeling, in 2020, critics hailed it as a stunning introduction to a bold new voice in Americana. Co-produced with Jim James of My Morning Jacket, t...

18 Nov 202547min

Heavyweight Presents: The Messenger

Heavyweight Presents: The Messenger

We’re excited to share an episode from one of our favorite podcasts, Heavyweight, a new addition to the Pushkin slate of shows. Heavyweight, hosted by Jonathan Goldstein, creates space for difficult c...

11 Nov 202538min

Joe Boyd

Joe Boyd

Joe Boyd has spent more than six decades as a producer, label executive, and writer whose influence extends far beyond the studio. From producing Nick Drake's luminous folk albums to working with Fair...

4 Nov 20251h

Jensen McRae

Jensen McRae

Jensen McRae writes songs that cut straight to the bone—intimate, unflinching examinations of identity, relationships, and the complexities of coming of age in today's world. Since releasing her debut...

28 Okt 20251h 13min

David Gilmour

David Gilmour

David Gilmour is one of the most influential guitarists in rock history. Since joining Pink Floyd in 1967, his songwriting, vocals, and distinctive guitar tone have helped shape classic albums like Th...

23 Okt 202544min

The 500 Presents: Jeff Daniels

The 500 Presents: Jeff Daniels

We're sharing an episode from another podcast we think you'll enjoy, The 500 with Josh Adam Meyers. Adam counts down Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all time with musicians, comedians, and acto...

21 Okt 20252h 1min

John Oates

John Oates

John Oates—one half of Hall & Oates, one of the best-selling duos in pop history—is going back to his roots with his new self-titled solo album. Before forming Hall & Oates, John was steeped in folk a...

14 Okt 20251h 2min

Chino Moreno

Chino Moreno

Chino Moreno is the lead singer of Deftones, the Sacramento band experiencing a resurgence as a new generation discovers their ’90s hits on social media. This year, Deftones have been selling out aren...

7 Okt 202551min

Populärt inom Nöje

mellan-himmel-och-jord-med-jlc
mardromsgasten
filip-fredrik-svarar
badfluence
nemo-moter-en-van
schulman-show
rss-p3-musikdokumentar
skalla-dagen-med-mia-skaringer
fordomspodden
schlagerkoll-special
dialogiskt
chilla-med-de-vet-du
podme-bio-4
fem-i-topp
gott-snack-med-fredrik-soderholm
mannen-utan-spar
hollywood-love-stories-3
hemma-hos-strage
skandal
hundaren-motgangspodden-av-tomas-andersson-wij