Janelle Monae (they/them, she/her) is ushering their fourth studio album “The Age Of Pleasure” into the world, and this record is truly a celebration whilst also a reminder that so many people are still fighting to be seen and heard. As a pansexual, non-binary, and BIPOC, Janelle channels all of their perspective into a record that is all about living in the moment. Written and produced to feel like the parties they were throwing post-covid where they just wanted to be around people and connecting again, this record genuinely feels liberating. They were touted as “Pleasure Parties” and were all about freedom and coming as you are, and that is the exact sentiment that feels engrained in this record.

From start to finish “The Age Of Pleasure” feels deeply important, while also feeling refreshingly liberating. It’s a cohesive listen all the way through with interludes sprinkled between songs to perfectly transition into the next setting. It’s been created to listen in one setting, and is immaculately designed for the listener to soak it all in. The journey it takes you on is summer soaked, and especially living in Australia where it’s Winter at the moment, I needed to feel this warmth and energy.

Opening with “FLOAT, Janelle immediately sets the celebratory and freeing tone of the record with this anthemic production that feels like an elevation of their earlier funk inspired material. Steering into the confident “Champagne Shit”. “Phenomenal”, “Haute” and “Lipstick Lover”, this record is undoubtedly queer as fuck and proud of it. And it’s sizzling hot all the way through, and the uncensored video of “Lipstick Lover” can attest to that. As the album steers in the second half they deliver smooth sultry moments like “The Rush”, “Water Slide”, “Only Have Eyes 42” and “A Dry Red”, which provide a nice balance. 

This record celebrates you, and all of your potential. It’s about finding what you feel comfortable in and with. It’s about finding what makes you feel free, while also holding onto what is super important to you and what you want to fight for. There’s a quote Janelle said in their recent interview with Blare perfectly sums up the importance of this record; “don’t follow their blueprint, follow the you-print”. 

This is Janelle’s “Lemonade”. This is their moment. And this record will welcome into a new chapter of their musical career as the endorse self-liberation, and help others become comfortable and confident within their bodies and minds.