Janelle Monáe Announces Their Latest Album and Releases a New Single
Janelle Monáe makes their long-awaited return to music with “Lipstick Lover,” the latest single from their upcoming album The Age of Pleasure.
On Thursday, Monáe unveiled The Age of Pleasure and released their new track, “Lipstick Lover,” with an official music video. The sensual video, which was directed by Monáe alongside Alan Ferguson, is filled with good vibes and divine feminine energy.
The comments on the video are filled with excitement over the iconic musician’s official return. About the video, one user wrote, “I love how she highlights natural beauty!! All shapes, colors, and sizes!” while another shared, “The symbolism, the art of black femininity, the rawness of sexuality and PLEASURE Ms. Monáe, you’ve done it again!”
I mean… I say this all the time, but I REALLY love @JanelleMonae! Everything about Lipstick Lover is the kind of freedom we believe in. Welcome to the age of pleasure 💄💋
— Jon ✊🏽🏳️🌈♿️ (@LiberatedByGaga) May 11, 2023
Along with “Lipstick Lover,” The Age of Pleasure will include “Float,” another recent release from the artist. “Float” features Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 and was described by Pitchfork as “swaggering, brass-heavy…the sound of a top-tier talent doing a little victory dance.”
Monáe’s creativity has long transcended mediums, as they constantly move between music, acting, fashion, and writing. Recently, the multidimensional artist starred in Netflix’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The film received countless prestigious nominations and wins, including two Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Acting Ensemble and Best Comedy.
Earlier this month, Monáe made an appearance at the biggest night in fashion. Wearing Thom Browne, the star stepped onto the Met Gala red carpet and revealed a daring sheer dress with a bedazzled bikini underneath.
Now, Monáe is celebrating the dawn of their new era on the cover of EBONY Magazine. The cover photo provides a kaleidoscope view of the singer wearing a red crocheted dress, seated in a rattan chair. In the intimate interview that accompanies the cover shoot, Monáe described their creative process in relation to their recent music. On the matter, the musician stated, “With each project, I’m always trying to discover something new about who I am as an artist, as a writer, as a musician, what it is that I want to say. I think this time, I’m present.”
Monáe’s interview with EBONY Magazine also touched on the many different aspects of the artist’s identity and how they influence their work. At one point, the singer shared that coming out as non-binary has allowed them to feel freer in their work.
As the interview concluded, Monáe explained, “My hope is that Black people can listen to this as a soundtrack that elevates them—that in their happiest of times, they want to put it on and really ascend to the highest, most beautiful version of who they can be.”
The Age of Pleasure will be released on June 9. Until then, watch the full video for “Lipstick Lover” here.
