The mysterious "Imagination" MySpace page has added a pair of videos in what they are calling "The Imagination Campaign". One for Jonathon and one for Jovian.
E! Online and MTV.ca are reportng that Janelle Monae's "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)" will debut at #115 on The Billboard 200 with sales of 5,200.
This has to be considered a success, for a number of different reasons. The EP concept itself is a challenge, but it's even harder when most of the album has previously been released. This EP is essentially a re-release with two new tracks. She is who she is and she has her fans, but what she has going for her is not something that is raking in big sales right now. That's not to say she can't do it, just that it will be a great challenge.
Due to this, it is tougher to garner press. The majority of press she has received has been limited to the internet, primarily, and Atlanta area media. She doesn't have a video out, though that will be soon. This isn't to say that Bad Boy should have promoted her more. I think Bad Boy's promotion of her was fine. It's questionable how much you can really invest in the promotion of a re-release EP like this. The purpose of it, from my perspective, is to introduce her to some people, setting the stage for the album to do well.
So, I think all parties did a good job with this one. If she hits, she hits - perhaps the video will boost her. But, it'll be interesting to see what she is able to do with a full album of new material where there has been time to get her out there more. The EP will help introduce her to people, leading to sales of the album. But, right now, #115 has to be counted as a good thing. So, congrats to them.
In anticipation of her upcoming peformance at the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, Oregon, Local Cut has a feature on Janelle Monae.
But the ultimate charm of Monae is her unique style; she creatively pairs puffy button-up ’70s secretary blouses with bow ties and crushed velvet tailored drummer boy jackets. High-waisted slacks, thick cummerbunds and ankle socks with two-tone (black and white) saddle golf shoes, the slick bottoms of which allow her to moonwalk across stages. A facial centerpiece, her signature high-piled ‘do leaves a huge puff of hair resting on her forehead for a faux hawk / ’60s beehive effect. The complete ensemble combined with her infectious energy (and that voice!) creates a pretty hypnotizing package. She is treat to watch live, bursting into impromptu, erratic dances between verses, allowing the full bands that back her a few moments to shine. Offstage, she seems like the kind of girl you’d want to get gelato and go window shopping with.
Paste Magazine has a feature on Janelle Monae.
“This is a historic night,” the emcee shouts to the crowd. Waving blue and white inspirational signs, the assembly chants louder. The excitement is palpable. The diversity of the crowd—young and old, black and white, male and female—is itself a sign of the hope offered. When the shouts reach a fevered pitch, the guest of honor emerges. Welcome Janelle Monáe.
Sure, it’s only a club show, but—Barack Obama allusions aside—it does feel historic. You can’t help but feel you’re watching the birth of a superstar. “I’ve just watched Prince, Michael Jackson, Anita Baker, Judy Garland and AC/DC all at once,” a friend exclaims as we leave the show.
From the official site, here are some upcoming Janelle Monae in store appearances.
8/20 - 5PM
Rasputin Music
2401 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley CA 94704
8/23 - 6pm
Easy Street (Queen Ann store)
20 Mercer Street
Seattle WA 98109
8/24 - 3pm
Independent Records
937 E Colfax Avenue
Denver CO 80218
The iTunes exclusive "Fantastic Edition" of "Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition)" will be out in a couple of weeks, according to Bad Boy.
After seeing that the release was no where to be found, I reached out and was told that it would be released after the video for "Many Moons" premiered. The iTunes package will include a copy of the video.
The MyFox Atlanta website has video from Janelle Monae's performance on Good Day Atlanta on Tuesday morning. There is a quick interview at the end.
PopMatters has a feature on Janelle Monae.
After months of Wondaland’s successful grassroots marketing of Metropolis, Combs made an offer to be Wondaland’s partner for a major release through Atlantic Records. Because major label executives already told Monáe that they “didn’t know what to do” with her, she wanted to make sure Combs accepted the Metropolis project as is. She explains, “I wanted our partner to be extremely excited. They had to be able to accept that I’m obsessed with black and white right now. They had to accept this pompadour. They just had to love what they had seen versus the other way around.”
For his part, Monáe says, Combs was ready to evolve. She continues,
“He was ready to give something to the industry that he believed in without record sales. Now it’s a different thing because record sales have declined. There’s no incentive for you to make a radio hit because radio hits are not going to help you sell your records. For him, and I’m sure a lot of the other record execs, now it’s like they can go ahead and try out new things. I wanted to do the partnership to show other independent artists like myself that it can be done. It can happen. This division doesn’t have to exist. Mainstream changes everyday. Now they’re looking to us grassroots independent artists to help so it’s been a really big blessing and I’m excited about it. Of course, it’s a lot of work but I love doing this. This is what I was doing before I met Sean and I get a chance to do it more on a larger scale, for a broader audience.”
Sonia Murray of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Brian Howe of Pitchfork dispense with loads of praise for recent Janelle Monae performances in Oslo and Atlanta.
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