Janelle Monáe is in the midst of a rebirth. Sitting down with Kyle Meredith, she reflects on The Age of Pleasure, her latest album that doubles as both a sonic love letter to joy and a lifestyle manifesto for the diasporic community. It’s an album that’s lush, celebratory, and distinctly her, packed with all the energy of a poolside party in the sun. For Monáe, who’s spent much of her career exploring layered concepts of identity, freedom, and futurism, this album is a personal declaration as much as a communal offering.
“It’s about giving myself permission,” Monáe says. “Permission to transform, to embrace this new chapter, and to bring everyone with me.” The journey into this new era begins with one of the record’s first lines: “I’m not the same.” It’s a candid admission that Monáe initially thought of cutting but ultimately kept as a raw, vulnerable starting point. “Sometimes the process of becoming is just as important as the result,” she muses.
If The Age of Pleasure is a soundtrack to a lifestyle, then that lifestyle is undeniably rooted in Black joy and pan-African celebration. Featuring iconic voices like Grace Jones and Sister Nancy, the album embodies a kind of borderless communion through music. “Grace and Sister Nancy are soundtracks to the parties I’ve had with my friends,” Monáe explains. “Their voices have been part of our celebrations for years, so it only felt right to include them.” Monáe describes the album as a love letter to the diaspora, blending reggae, Afrobeat, and Caribbean rhythms into a seamless flow. “This album was made with my friends, for my friends,” she says. “It’s about joy, liberation, and connection—things that are vital to all of us, especially now.”
Monáe’s vision for The Age of Pleasure extends beyond the music. Drawing inspiration from 1950s and 60s musicals, particularly the kaleidoscopic choreography of Busby Berkeley, she sought to create a visual aesthetic that reclaims the joy of Black and Brown bodies on film. “When you look at old footage from that time, so much of it shows violence against us,” she says. “I wanted to flip that. I wanted to document us in joy, in freedom, in our power.” Shot on eight- and 16-millimeter film, the videos for The Age of Pleasure are a deliberate throwback to an analog era. For Monáe, the decision to use vintage formats is both an homage to history and a statement about creating a brighter future. “We honor our past, but we’re also creating something new,” she says. “This is about showing the next generation what liberation looks like.”
As if creating one of the year’s most intoxicating albums wasn’t enough, Monáe is also preparing to embody the legendary Josephine Baker in the upcoming A24 series De La Resistance. For Monáe, Baker’s life—filled with espionage, activism, and uninhibited artistry—is a source of endless inspiration. “She was so liberated, so ahead of her time,” Monáe says. “She definitely would’ve been at our parties, and we would’ve been at hers.” The series will chronicle Baker’s time as a spy during World War II, among other highlights of her extraordinary life. “She spoke five languages, owned a chateau, had a pet cheetah—she was just incredible,” Monáe says with admiration. “She lived unapologetically and paved the way for so many of us.”
As Monáe speaks about the construction of The Age of Pleasure, it becomes clear that flow is at the heart of everything. “This isn’t just an album; it’s an experience,” she says. Crafted to be listened to in one sitting, the record’s tight runtime and seamless transitions mimic the feeling of a perfectly curated playlist. “I wanted it to feel like a vacation, something you can take with you wherever you are.” While the album celebrates joy, it’s also a testament to collaboration. “I have to give credit to Nate Wonder, Nana Kwabena, and Sensei Bueno,” Monáe says of her creative team. “We caught a flow, and everything just clicked. It was one of those rare times where the process felt effortless.”
Monáe ends the conversation by reflecting on the journey she’s taken since her debut album, The Audition, turned 20 earlier this year. “I feel reborn,” she says. “This album, this moment—it’s all about joy. I’m so grateful to be here, making art, living in my truth, and sharing it with the world.” With The Age of Pleasure, Monáe invites her audience to join her in a celebration of life, love, and liberation. As she puts it, “This isn’t just my joy—it’s ours.”
Listen to the interview above and then check out the video below.
