Janelle Monáe is the name on everyone's lips these days. She's in the latest production of the Atlanta Ballet with Big Boi from Outkast. She was involved in some of the soundtrack to Idlewild. She was on the cover of Atlanta's hippest alternative weekly, Creative Loafing. She is performing in NYC this week. She just got signed by P. Diddy to Bad Boy Records. She's cute. She's new. She's collectively undefinable. I heard her for the first time on on my university's student run, student operated, student produced radio station, WRAS 88.5. Her voice soared through my car speakers so intensely and passionately I nearly stopped in place. I like music that stirs my soul. That song, "Sincerely Jane", stirred my soul then, and it still does today. But when I tried to explain it to Regina, I was at a loss for words. She's got this R&B/Rock n' Roll kind of style. Her lyrics are powerful and contemplative. Last December she played at WRAS Fest on a Friday night. Regina and I had to work because during Christmas season no one who works at UPS gets a day off. A friend of ours went to the concert and called us to let us know that she didn't go on until 10:30pm. Regina and I slid out a side door and into the car at 10pm. My boss called me to ask if I was wrapped up while I slammed the car to my door and took off. I was passionate about going to see her. I didn't know much if anything about her. I liked that one song and I had to see her. I don't go to concerts. I don't typically leave work early without permission. I don't like to go out after work. But all those apprehensions I had before went out the window when it came to Janelle Monáe. I'll say this about that concert, I had chills through most if not all of it. I didn't know the words to any of it but I sang and I danced. She was electrifying. She's an entertainer. She and her band were clad in black and white formal wear. Her lead guitarist had on a black bob wig that would make Cleopatra envious. She sung songs about a robot in love with a human. There was so much fog in there it was hard to breathe. I wondered what planet she and her band was from. But the crowd was lit up, to say the least. She had such a strong following that knew every word and every beat. If you walked in and weren't a fan, you left a Janelle Monáe fan.
Then in January I started a PR internship here in Atlanta with ZDennis Marketing and we were working with the Atlanta Ballet--involved was Big Boi, Janelle Monáe, and more. I was thrilled to get the chance to spread the word around about her because she really moved me, and After Careful Consideration I'm sure she'll do the same for you.