Though funk artist Janelle Monae has never met James Brown, she says he was her muse for her hit single Tightrope.
“I feel like his spirit is around. People don’t die. You can help keep their spirit alive so they are with you.”
The Godfather of Soul is one of Monáe’s influences. One can recognize his funk and soul sound on her new album The ArchAndroid, and in her stage presence.
“There’s a lot of mystery and magic behind the way [James Brown] commanded the stage and transformed people. He was punk to me, rock ‘n’ roll. He was all of those things … even though he wasn’t labeled with those. In addition to already being a soulful singer, I too feel like the music we are creating at the Wondaland Arts Society, defies all labels and genres,” says Monáe, whose 2008 CD, Metropolis: The Chase Suite was nominated for a Grammy.
For more on Janelle Monae and her bold, fearless style,
pick up a copy of JET magazine, on newsstands July 26.
Monáe also brought her blend of soul/R&B/funk/pop/ to her live performance on 18th Annual ESPYs broadcast July 14 on ESPN/ESPN HD.
“There are no categories that I’m married to…I’ve grown up in the iPod generation and you listen to anybody’s iPod, including mine, and it’s not all hip hop and R&B…my iPod goes from Jimmy Hendrix to Judy Garland.”
The 24-year-old Monáe wowed the audience and TV viewers during her recent BET Awards performance as well. She said it was an honor to pay tribute to Prince, another one of her musical mentors.
“Immediately when I take the stage, I transform into a different being. It’s a spiritual experience and I allow the music to take over me,” she explains. “I didn’t choreograph anything on the BET Awards. That was just merely me feeling the energy. I’m glad that Prince had asked me to perform [Let’s Go Crazy] because I was able to connect with those lyrics.”
She adds: “Prince has given me lots of advice. He’s a mentor and we’re friends. He’s come to a lot of my performances. After the BET Awards performance, he brought Quincy Jones to see us (Wondaland Arts Society) at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and that was beautiful for him to do because Quincy has been a huge inspiration to us.