Singer/songwriter/dancer Janelle Monae is featured in the newest issue of Glamour Magazine. The rising star spoke about her style, music and inspiring the kids. Check out some snippets below and also make sure to peep the behind the scenes photos from the shoot.
On what made her start wearing tuxedos:
“I’m just really attracted to a very tailored,classic look that commands attention. The tuxedo, especially on women, does that, I think, because of the stark black and white. It’s not a trendy thing. It’s timeless. It’s transcendent. The kind of thing you can give to your grandchildren.”
On if she ever breaks her black and white style routine:
“Do you ever just wear sweats? asked Glamour. Of course, yes. But they’re still black and white!”On what she thinks of her fans versions of “Tightrope” on YouTube:
“It makes me so proud that I have created something that somebody can wear in their own heart. That’s what creating music is like for me. I want it to be part of your daily regimen. I want this song to be your drug.”On seeing a schoolroom of kids singing one of her songs:
“I always think about the next generation and creating a different blueprint for them. That’s my goal: to let them know there’s another way. We don’t all have to take the same coordinates to get to the same destination.”
What Janelle is Wearing
Photographed by Bruce Weber in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District, Janelle Monáe wears Louis Vuitton jacket and pants, D&G shirt, H. Stern gold and diamond earrings. For her second look, Monáe wears a Jason Wu shirt and Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection diamanté and emerald earrings. To get Janelle’s red lips, try L’Oréal Paris Lip Colour Riche Lipcolous in British Red ($9 at drugstores).
BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO
To each their own with their style of clothing but she’s so pretty in a her own way and the uniqueness of her voice is what sets her apart
Black White Cupid) c/o-m
Ｔｈｅ ｂｅｓｔ ｃｌｕｂ ｆｏｒ ｓｅｅｋｉｎｇ H O T ｓｉｎｇｌｅｓ，ｈｏｔ ａｎｄ ｓｅｘｙ ｂｅａｕｔｉｅｓ．
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i really wish more ppl could appreciate what a remarkable, refreshing talent she is. have the courage to step outside of your box and stop following what society consider the norm. Janelle Monae is REAL MUSIC. the end. that’s all.
She is very pretty and talented….but those damn tuxedos get on my nerves. That’s all she ever wears, I bet she wears them when going to sleep.
Agreed. It’s weird. I understand that she’s trying to cultivate am image and wants people to recognize her, but it’s been years that she’s been wearing that same outfit, hairstyle and facial expression. I like a couple of her songs (“Sincerely, Jane,” for one), but I get distracted by how this look irritates me. Her handlers shouldn’t fear allowing her to try different looks…if her music is quality, and barring her getting drastic facial reconstruction, people will recognize and like her.
I think she is really talanted but .. her look is become stale.
I feel what she tryin to do. These artist are going to great lengths to be different. It jus get so repetitive. I kno she tryin to make her mark but she not really relevant nd I doubt she will. She is her own enemy becus her style nd presentation takes away from her music.
LOL… you hear music with your ears and feel it with your soul. The fact that her “presentation” takes away from her music for you is a reflection of your inability to understand the depth and poeticism of Janelle Monae’s lyrics, and a reflection of the degeneration of the youth. …And why so much crap is on the airways contributing to the further debauchery of our youth.
Couldn’t see SHIT in the 1960′s or 70′s where all the artists you probably like are sampling their music from, and yet it holds a timeless air that transcends the generations. You need to get your friggin ears fixed. Also, there’s a breadth of artists who aren’t going to be “relevant” on the pop charts, but talent often is not synonymous with “popularity”.
//JUMPS OFF SOAPBOX… people get on my nerves only validating what the media tell them too.. droids.
regsrdless of your essay, i didn’t care to finish reading it. Jus becus i don’t believe janelle is going to put a mark in the music industry doesn’t mean that i overlook good music. Artist like adelle,bruno mars,cee-lo and lots more have been recognized without following the commercial norm.
@Diamond…
Lol Cee-lo has been around for decades, & you are just now paying attention to him b/c of this commercial album. Adele has been around for years, & again, you’re just now paying attn to her b/c the media told you to. This further proves my pt. Also, it’s sad that a few sentences read essay to you. Perhaps you should pick up a book. Then you might know that whether or not you thought Janelle would make a “mark” on the industry was not the concern of my “essay”. but the fact that you determined her success on how she looks! How superficial and silly! I guess if — like Adele & Cee-lo — she strikes gold with a “commercial success” you’ll be singing her praises five years from now hmm?
Again.. DROID.
This girl is so pretentious. The black and white attire is played as well as the masculine bu.tch les.bian tuxedo look she always wears. She also needs to get a new hairstyle bc all that pulling back is receding her edges.
Lov her. Love her shows. Love her video. Love her style. She is big.
SHE IS A GENIUS!
she is dope. love her style and her music. she always kills it!
that’s my girl!!! i love jm soooooooooo much : )
SHE LOOKS WONDERFUL!
I love her so much. She has the voice and face of an angel.
I can’t wait to hear what she releases next. I hear she is working on a new album! *all smiles*
she looks amazing as usual. i absolutely LOVE her!
she fine. her hair is funny but she fine as hell.
she is pretty. i like her in all her looks. she have change. why do people always say stupid things about her looks. she is a individual. let her do what she wants. its her life. i like her and her songs. she is a inspiration to girls, why would you say foul stuff about someone like that?
Love Janelle’s music. Could give an eff less what she wears — she sings her ass off and has soooo much energy during her live shows. Nevertheless, she is beautiful here as always.
idomind
took the words rt out of my mouth
truth be told
and second why all the gimmicks if you truely have a commercially viable voice
the whole other planet stuff is a joke
she would much better suited doin vegas or singing on a cruise ship
some people push too hard in a direction that they really aren’t gifted in
who knows what true profession she really should be in
but in my opinion singing + entertainmnet aint it
again being fair why not play your own music for a clip if it’s like that
she just wants to be famous
Jussayin’, I love you. Janelle’s album is fantastic. Too bad she signed with Puff Puff. We all know how THAT will end.
She’s co-signed with Puffy, but she and her team have creative control of her album via her publishing company. Even if she weren’t signed with Puffy, the industry is different now and judging by some comments above, her type of music would sail past their ears anyway. I’m just happy to find someone who sings honest, meaningful music. Not to render the mainstream artists null, but she is a breath of fresh air since her musical style and what she offers is a complete deviation from the norm. I am living on the fumes of artists like her Aloe Blac, Mayer Hawthorne, Lee Fields, & Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears just to name a few.
I like her unique style. It still would be nice to see a little more of a variety, like maybe an afro, different color suit, or something. I like to see artists change it up a little, not meaning sex it up though.
She’s stunning
this chick is fly. need i say more?
I like Janelle’s style and her voice. Say what you want about what she wears but there is nothing to say about her voice other than she SANGS her ass off. Seriously. Did anybody see that Glastonbury show. Youtube it if you haven’t. She’s a true talent.
I did- her Glastonbury show was fierce as hell! Absolutely brilliant…I want to be in her band!
love this girl
i can’t ever get my friggin’ hair to look like that! i been tryin to. ugh! i want janelle hair badly.
she’s weird but she’s pretty so i guess she’s pretty weird.
jk
i like her. she is fine. i wonder what’s underneath those tuxedos she be wearing!!!
she can sing. i don’t care about what she wears. i can’t see her clothes when i listen to her album to anyone who has something to say about that needs to sit down somewhere. what does her black and white have to do with how she sounds?
get over it people. move on.
i like the way she dress
i love her eyelashes. she is so pretty.
omg she is my favorite right now. her cd gets me through my treacherous workdays.
oooooh i liked that video.
the funny thing about janelle is my grandmother actually introduced me to her music which says a lot about her ability to capture all sorts of audiences.
and it doesn’t hurt to be classy while doing it. the same people talking shit about her look can be heard talking shit about how naked beyonce is. pick a side and shut up. at least she isn’t promoting slutin’ it up as a means to success. and that isn’t a slight against bey. but people need to realize janelle is absolutely necessary right now when most of our black female role models promote sexuality over talent.
she’s dope as hell. i just seen on the youtube the other day at work. she’s a little different but can sing!
janelle is the truth
Those who aren’t feeling this chick’s music or can’t appreciate what she does must be fans of manufactured, untalented or barely talented chicks like Rihanna, Katy Perry, Kesha, Gaga, Britney, Ciara, Keri Hilson, and JLO. Janelle is the only recent singer who hasn’t sold her soul to the devil for fame. She has such a cute shape and a pretty face, but isn’t the type to sell her a** for money. I am sick and tired of these chicks that can’t sing and use gimmicks, their body and fashion to sell. She wears tuxedos for a meaningful reason. If you don’t like her music, that’s fine, but to just bash her is unacceptable when she creates music that speak to people. She can sing, perform, and write. She’s the epitome of a music artist. She’s very low key, but somehow managed to get into A-List, high fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, Glamour, Rolling stone, and many more. I think with the right promotion, she will go far, especially overseas.
i love janelle monae. she make me feel happy when i see her.
gorgeous!