Janelle Monáe Expresses Her Innermost Thoughts on America in 'Allure's July Issue
She dons Molly Goddard and Valentino in the glitzy spread.
Janelle Monáe‘s third studio album, Dirty Computer, shed a light on her current state of mind while America battles against the onslaught of political issues. The artist and activist is the latest cover star of Allure‘s July 2018 magazine titled the “Freedom Issue.” The feature profile written by Ashley C. Ford details Monáe’s innermost thoughts on existing in this country as a queer black woman. Photographed by Camila Falquez and styled by fashion editor Jaime Kay Waxman, Monáe’s dons lavish pieces by Molly Goddard and Junya Watanabe to name a few.
Monáe goes into detail about the reasoning behind recording Dirty Computer. She expresses that the album was a creative way of moving past Donald Trump being elected as the 43rd president of the United States.
On her feelings following President Trump’s election:
“I felt it was a direct attack on us, on black women, on women, on women’s rights, on the LGBTQIA community, on poor folks. I felt like it was a direct attack saying, ‘You’re not important. You’re not valuable and we’re going to make laws and regulations that make it official and make it legal for us to devalue you and treat you like second-class citizens or worse.’”
Later in the feature, she shares that her most recent album originally started from a place of anger and later evolved into a cohesive compilation. The combination of music came after she acknowledged her feelings and led to ultimately creating “self-empowerment” tracks like “Django Jane.” In total, this year has been filled with transformative moments for Monáe beyond music. Back in February, she came out as pansexual in an interview with Rolling Stone. And in April, Monáe debuted the visual for her single, “Pynk” which starred Tessa Tomspon as her love interest.
Head to Allure to read the entire feature and to view the glamorous shoot.
