Call Her Daddy
Call Her Daddy
"I wasn't always in my Age of Pleasure. I've been an Age of Fear, Age of Anxiety, Age of just worry, a fight, you know, fighting back against systems that seek to oppress folks like myself and the people that I love and centering that." — Janelle Monáe
"I think that for me, I have to know that this is my life here on earth. I wasn't put here to, um, to follow every rule. I was, I was put here to help rewrite them." — Janelle Monáe
"I wish I had discovered vibrators a long time ago. Like honestly, it's so fun to experience that with your partner. It's phenomenal. It's so great." — Janelle Monáe
This episode features a candid conversation between Alex Cooper and Janelle Monáe, centering on Monáe's latest work, "The Age of Pleasure." Monáe describes the album not as a collection of songs, but as a "soundtrack to a lifestyle," emphasizing its origin in her personal experiences and gatherings with friends. She details her journey from periods of fear and anxiety to embracing "The Age of Pleasure," a phase marked by healing and self-acceptance. A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Monáe's healing from childhood trauma, particularly related to her father's addiction and absence, and how this has influenced her art and personal relationships.
The conversation expands to explore Monáe's approach to relationships, including her preference for privacy in her dating life, attributing it to the protection of her partners and maintaining personal peace. She discusses the evolving nature of her communication style in partnerships, emphasizing the importance of open dialogue, emotional evolution, and the exploration of polyamorous dynamics. Monáe also touches upon her experiences with societal judgment regarding her sexuality and identity, and her decision to reframe "coming out" as "coming in," signifying an invitation into her personal world rather than an announcement from the margins.
Further into the episode, Monáe shares her personal mantras for dealing with dissent and negativity, highlighting the importance of self-power and internal validation over external opinions. She also offers advice on discovering pleasure, advocating for self-exploration and the use of tools like vibrators as a means of empowerment and self-discovery. The episode concludes with Monáe discussing the rewarding aspects of her album, the importance of community, and the bravery required to live authentically and rewrite societal norms, particularly concerning love, sexuality, and identity.