[TheChicagoBaron]

Janelle Monae returned to her hometown of Kansas City, Kan., on Friday to visit her family and to appear with Kansas City Mayor Sly James at the Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Crown Center on Friday night. Before a pre-ceremony reception in the American Restaurant, she met with members of the local media. Here's what she had to say during our brief interview:


Word is you're working on the next record. What can you say about it?

I am happy to be here and see my family, and I am eager to get back to the studio and work on finishing my album. I stopped touring so I could finish the album. Actually, I plan on releasing two albums next year.

Any idea when?

I will release them according to my soul clock; so I reserve the right to change that. But I will try to stick to the scheduled release dates, which I know but can't say. I will be thinking about Kansas City and all the people here who have supported me as I continue to write songs that empower, encourage and make you dance.

Will these new records build on the themes you established in your first two recordings?

Again, that's all according to my soul clock. Right now all I can say is, the music comes from the space I'm in.

How far along are you in your writing?

I would say 84.799 percent of the writing is done.

Will you tour next year?

Oh, absolutely. We already have a tour set, but it hasn't been announced yet. I'll be with some really big artists. We'll hit the Staples Center three nights in a row in L.A. It's a really big band. I can't say who it is. I think next week you should probably hear something.

You've performed in this area three times as an opening act: with Of Montreal in Lawrence; with Bruno Mars in Independence; and with Katy Perry at the Sprint Center. Will you headline a show in Kansas City next year?

Absolutely. Everything is about timing. This year was about the beginning of my career and working with established artists. Next year, we'll step it up a little more.


P.S.: Monae has one more live show on her schedule this year, and it will be under some bright lights. She will be in Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 11, joining Jill Scott, Sugarland, Ellie Goulding, David Gray and others in the Nobel Peace Prize Concert.
The concert is a tribute to this year's winners, three women honored for their nonviolent campaigns for women's safety and women's rights: Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee of Libya and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen

Link To BackToRockVille

YES! I'm excited for this shit!

[Josh Pinder]

Oh my lawwwwd!!!

So excited for this....two albums by Janelle in one year...cannot wait! I loved when RObyn did her Body Talk trilogy....and here is Janelle WOOO!!!

Thanks for this thread....Music in 2012!! I am ready for this shit too!

[TheChicagoBaron]

I really love the last line. Stepping it up indeed...
I hope she performs in Ireland.

[Josh Pinder]

Originally Posted by TheChicagoBaron

I really love the last line. Stepping it up indeed...
I hope she performs in Ireland.

Yes well personally i hope she eprforms everywhere she can next year.

I think we may hear new material in the Spring and album number 2 will be out after the summer methinks then she can sustain promotions, have videos, tour and perform on live shows.

I am so excited for this...i really feel that she will establish a name for herself next year...after glasto this year etc....cannot wait

[musicismylife]

I am another janelle fan and did hear she was releasing an instrumental album

[maggiemalone]

Really looking forward to a new album, loved loved loved her last one!

[danielleh]

YES! She is one of the most creative artists out there - can't wait to hear some new stuff. I've been playing The ArchAndroid for ages now - would be amazing for some new material.

[Josh Pinder]

Yeah The ArchAndroid i love playing still...my fave album of 2010....just so cannot wait.

Madonna, Batman, No Doubt, Xtina, Janelle, Lana Del Rey, Doctor Who, Emile Sande, Kylie aKoustics...........my pants are wet!

[lumiere]

Oh I so hope this is true. Metropolois EP and ArchAndroid are brilliant. She better tour in the UK again!

[Josh Pinder]

Well i really hope she tours the UK a lot more for these albums! More coverage will help establish her name as an artist....out of all contemporary Pop....Janelle is definitely an artist i would call THE one!

She has a style and energy and presence that is so killer and old skool but brings it all to a contemporary edge...and i cannot wait to hear how far she will push it all with the next two albums....very excited!

[gelbma0991]

I would like Suite 4 from the Cindi Mayweather saga! Which I hope is maybe the first 'album' of next year.

The Archandroid was one of the best albums of 2010 so i can't wait to see what's next!

[PR0J3CT]

i remember thinking 'bullshit' when i read this. not to make obvious comparisons but erykah badu said she'd do something like this and it never happened. i never believe albums are coming out unless it's like radiohead or i see a tracklist

[unclekevo]

I can't wait

[w00sh]

I cannot wait!

I adore Janelle's music. I always have and always will. I've been a huge fan of her for the past few years, before Diddy signed her (she was in an Outkast's 'Morris Brown' video as well) and she's always had that something special within music. An amazing artist, so creative!

[Josh Pinder]

bump...couldnt find her AT!

but Janelle is the new Cover girl!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...80567803_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...53327201_n.jpg

new material soon pleeeeeease!

[GlassBalloon]

Is there any news at all on this album since the thread was made last year? I'd love to hear some new Janelle material, ArchAndroid is a masterpiece.

[neongumbo]

the new album is called electric lady
http://thatgrapejuice.net/2012/08/ja...electric-lady/
also performs the title track

[Josh Pinder]

Originally Posted by neongumbo

the new album is called electric lady
http://thatgrapejuice.net/2012/08/ja...electric-lady/
also performs the title track

Archandroid IS a masterpiece definitely.

And Electric Lady sounds brilliant...i hope its out soon!

[gelbma0991]

Oh my god, how did I MISS this?! It's been so long since TA (or it feels like it!) So I'm excited for another album from Janelle - she's a genius!

[tunewaffle]

For me, the Archandroid was one of the biggest eye openers of 2010 and despite getting rave reviews, it never took off, sadly. Since Janelle sang one line on the third biggest selling single in the UK last year, We Are Young, do you think we can expect Janelle to have more success this year with her second album?

I hope it's not too political, what with all her Obama waffling recently. Is anyone else looking forward to it?

Blog: Most anticipated albums of 2013: Janelle Monáe

http://tunewaffle.wordpress.com/2013...13albumsmonae/

[tracystapes]

I would say her music is very deep and different and requires a type of person to enjoy and listen to it. Maybe what I mean is, it's not too commercial (which is probably a good thing).

I can't quite explain it to be quite honest.

[Josh Pinder]

Man I am so up for more Janelle...she will be a breath of fresh air with all these "Poptart COmebacks" this year ....Only one full studio album with The ArchAndroid and she is already one of my favourite artists EVER! Love her...so insane and innovative...harking back to her roots and bringing fresh concepts to the table....cannot wait to see and hear what she will be doing for 2013!

[Servalan]

Originally Posted by tracystapes

I would say her music is very deep and different and requires a type of person to enjoy and listen to it. Maybe what I mean is, it's not too commercial (which is probably a good thing).

I can't quite explain it to be quite honest.

I would say her music may have layers, but it is accessible - Tightrope should have been a massive hit - but her record company has done next to nothing to promote her. In the UK, that track was given away as a freebie on iTunes one week - automatically preventing it from ever securing a chart placing.

It's pretty obvious that her record company can't cope with her unpredictability - yet it's precisely that quality they should be pushing to the fore. That's exactly what made artists like David Bowie, Kate Bush and Prince so enduring - they're difficult, opinionated and won't do what they're told. Unfortunately, the music industry wants compliant saps who will Autotune their way through someone else's song - so props to Janelle for sticking to her guns. It would have been easy for her to capitalise on her presence on the Fun single - and instead she's remained as elusive as ever.

We do, however need her back now. On her terms, of course ... but three years is too long!

[Josh Pinder]

Ugh man...i want The Electric Lady soon! Very much hope they promote her more in the UK...please!

[Hound of Love]

Hope she pulls her finger out this year. Don't want her to just remain known (by and large) as the woman who sang on that annoying Fun tune!