Last week, Janelle Monáe surprised fans when she announced that she will be releasing her third studio album sometime this year. After taking a five-year break to focus on her successful acting career, the songstress has returned with not one, but two new songs from the upcoming record as well as its official release date. On Thursday (Feb. 22), the Kansas native unleashed two music videos; one for “Make Me Feel” which can be seen above and “Django Jane” which can be seen below.
The video “Make Me Feel” was directed by Alan Ferguson and, according to a press release, “captures the spirited, celebratory voice of Monáe as she affectionately nods to the ripe sounds surrounding the 1980’s music and dance revolution. Delivering electric vocals, pop hooks and confident, female-driven lyrics, Monáe brings the song to life in a vibrantly colored video highlighted by provocative silhouettes moving across the screen.”
If “Make Me Feel” sounds like an ode to Prince, then the song did it’s job. According to an interview The Guardian, Monáe reveals that Prince was helping her with her new album before he passed away. It’s difficult for me to even speak about this because Prince was helping me with the album, before he passed on to another frequency,” she tells the publication.
Unlike “Make Me Feel,” “Django Jane” finds Monáe rapping and celebrating black girl magic.
“The song is a powerful black girl magic womanifesto that celebrates the strength of black women and black culture while addressing the trials and tribulations of identity in the 21st century,” the same press release reads about the new song.
“Django Jane” was directed by Andrew Donoho and Chuck Lightning while the additional vagina monologue footage was directed by Lacey Duke.
Both “Make Me Feel” and “Django Jane” will be featured on Monáe’s upcoming new album, Dirty Computer. Dirty Computer is set to be released on April 27 through Wondaland / Atlantic Records. Pre-orders for the album are currently available on Monáe’s website will all pre-orders including instant downloads of both tracks.
In addition to the record, Monáe also revealed that the album will be part of an emotion picture project which will also feature a narrative film. The project made its debut last weekend before the screenings of Marvel’s record-smashing new film, Black Panther.
Monáe’s last studio album was 2013’s The Electric Lady.
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