Calling all Androids (a letter from your Chasemasters!)

It is time.


We have been getting your emails and your tweets. We have seen your blog entries, tags, and your status messages. You have told us about catching the spirit and running red lights listening to “Many Moons” and walking out of work to the tune of “Letting Go!” We’ve seen your dance recitals and You Tube covers of Sincerely, Jane, and we want to make sure that each and everyone of you know that you have inspired Janelle Monáe and the Wondaland Arts Society to complete Suites II and III. You have no idea how much you have been a part of this process-- in fact we can still hear the screams of support from each and every show that you have been to!


This week the first two singles off of Janelle Monáe’s debut album, The ArchAndroid, will be released on www.Janellemonae.com. The first, “Tightrope,” is going to make you dance all day, and its companion track “Cold War” will be the soundtrack to your self-discovery. [It is suggested that you prepare to cancel all appointments upon the release of this new music. If you can’t get out of your shift that day, go on and make it the official “Take Your Songs to Work Day.”]


You, The Chase, who have always known and always believed in the transformative power of this music, are still our early adopters and ambassadors. We will be looking to you all week to conduct this ArchOrchestra on your subways, in your cars, in your dance studios, on your blogs, and most importantly in your earbuds and earphones (make sure to jam extra hard so that people have to ask you “What are YOU listening to?!?”).


We are asking each and every one of you to take the image you see attached to this letter and use it as your current profile picture on Facebook, Twitter, or any of your online playgrounds. It is important that we, The Chase, be the first ones to announce this music to our friends, enemies, loved ones, and complete strangers!!


Stay tuned to www.janellemonae.com this week! It is time to Dance or Die. It is time to embrace your superpowers. It is time to lead the Chase!


The Chasemasters-

George 2.0 and Jovian Zayne

*Follow The Chase!!!*
twitter.com/TheChasemasters

Janelle Monáe nominated for an MTVU Woodie Award!!!

MTVU Woodies Awards '09: Left Field Award Nominee Janelle Monáe from George Twopointoh on Vimeo.

Janelle Monåe performs in London to benefit Austism research

I W.A.S. there.

follow The Chase on twitter @TheChasemasters

Pictures from No Doubt Tour!

Check out these great picts from the tour! Taken by our own Jovian Zayne!

Janelle Monae on NPR's Fresh Air

An interview with Janelle Monae aired yesterday on NPR's Fresh Air radio show. Full audio can be heard online at www.freshair.npr.org
Fresh Air, is an hour-long interview show broadcast on 500 public radio stations across the country with 5 million listeners weekly.
Songs from Metropolis:The Chase Suite (Special Edition) will be played.

Click here Listen to Janelle Monae on NPR's FreshAir!

Enlarge

By: Scott Gries

Janelle Monae has said she uses her imagination as an escape from a rough childhood, which was marked by her father's addiction to drugs.

Fresh Air from WHYY, June 17, 2009 · Janelle Monae, the singer, songwriter and performer from Kansas City, blends cabaret, soul, funk and rock 'n roll in her music.

Her 2007 debut album Metropolis: The Chase Suite featured a character named Cindi Mayweather, Monae's android alter-ego from the year 2719. "Many Moons," a single off the album, earned the singer a Grammy nomination, and helped Monae catch the ear of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who signed her to his Bad Boy roster and re-released the album.

In 2005, Outkasts's Big Boi included two of her songs on his compilation, Got Purp?, Vol. 2. Monae also performed in Outkast's Idlewild soundtrack.

See this article here!

Like Candy (Ow!)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN YOU CYBERGHOULS, MARSGOBLINS, VENUSFREAKS AND...MERCURYMONKEYS!!! This is our day and since I'm feeling WAY...lon Jennings better (no more sick sick) I'm gonna shove as much candy down my throat as my lil bam bam esophagus will allow and bounce off the walls for 24 straight.

I LLLOVE HALLOWEEN. It's not about the costumes...it's about the candy ya'll. ATL has thug motivation...I've got candy motivation...Let's Get IT!!! as a wee babe in NYC, I pioneered a vicious candy hustle on this hallowed day...change costumes 3 times and keep trick or treating round your apartment building all night long. i'm talkin garbage bags worth of sugar booty...months of red stained lips and chocolate crusted sleaves. my lil heart is beating faster and faster and faster and faster...

Better believe that by 1am I'll be quoting Ice Cube...Today Was A Good Day. But first I'll be sangin' Cameo... strawberry! raspberry! all those good thangs! violets and gumdrops...And Iggy Pop...candy candy candy I can't let you go!! Ok...so right about now my bro bro, kakes, is having a mini heart attack cause he knows about the severity of my candy addiction...and i'd been on the wagon for oh so long...gimme the loot gimme the loot!! I used to ask/plead/beg/force my brother to go the bodega on the corner in the middle of the night to get me twix. I was like 8 and he was 16. I wasn't allowed out of the house, but he was. GET ME TWIX!!!

ENOUGH! LET'S TALK BOUT SOME MUSIC:

Bam Bam was in bed bed for a week so I was mining the music on myspace like crazy crazy... talking on the phone, hearing about new bands, missing shows, hearing about shows i missed... Wanna share some of that goodness...

Kenna's got a new album and there are 2 trax i'm jammin out to in my mini hardcore...check out say goodbye to love and out of control while you're getting dressed and check the outfit you end up rocking!

Mark Ronson's Version album makes me so happy!! check out oh my god feat. lily allen and valerie (baby J remix) feat. amy winehouse. Horns by the Dap Kings, vocals by some bad asses.

If you got that MIA crush going on you need to check out Santogold. Listen to the Shove It Switch Remix. And MIA will be live in the ATL this evening but you can catch her up close and personal at her in-store at Criminal Records. 6:30pm ATL Standard Time. Get er done, Lightning and Mitchow!

My guilty pleasures of the moment (besides candy and pedialyte) are 7LEsoteric and Apathy. Wapppers out of the Masshole & CT that make me giggle and shake my arse. Check Typhoons in Japan and Daisycutta feat. Kool on 7L's page and You Look Like You Come From the 80's on Apathy's.

When I'm missing all the cute skinny indie better than emo-ness coming outta the BK I'm listening to Bishop Allen (Click) and Mates of State (Goods All in Your H...).

And when I'm wanting to rock pop rock pop rock pop I'm listening to my old fave Imperial Teen (Yoo Hoo).

And on the Yoo Hoo tip...It's candy time!!!

The sis of Kakes and Bam Bam dropped thru the Oakland show last weekend. She lurved Ms. Mayweather, Pete and Kakes and the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra. Her hubby even got his face painted by the Good-Knews Krew...smiling faces in photo says it all and damn JM can throw that pose can't she!?!

Oops...Almost forgot...We may have Janelle Monae Saddle Oxfords coming to a janellemonae.com/store near you real soon like ya' hear!?! Just got an email from a manufacturer that can make it happen. Whoopee!!!!

Post Script: since I referenced Waylon Jennings up top, you should sneak a peek at his boy Shooter Jennings. He's got a country album I can listen to over and over and over...

Feeling Good

Birds flying high, you know how I feel. Sun in the sky, you know how I feel. Breeze drifting on by, you know how I feel. Reeds driftin' on by, you know how I feel. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me. And I'm feeling good- Michael Bublé I love Michael Bublé & this song. I am not ashamed to say it. That is, at least, until one day I was singing it around Bam Bam and she stated that she loved the Nina Simone version. So I decided to take a listen. Now, anyone that knows me, knows that I am a great Michael Bublé fan. I ride for my man in most of his musical endeavors but there is no way that he comes remotely close to what I heard when I listened to Nina. It was as if she was harnessing the power of her ancestors to bring forth this soulful & amazing sound. Mike you lose this one hands down.

Listening to the song had another fantastic affect on me. It reminded me that there is so much music out there that I have yet to listen to and experience. I haven't begun to touch all of Nina's work or a Stevie or a Nirvana for that matter. It also reminded me of how blessed I am to be a part of the creation of fantastic music such is being created by the likes of Janelle Monáe and Deep Cotton. The sound that is being developed with each project is just exquisite. The places it takes me and will take you is incredible. I can say that every time that I think of that fact I feel like I get a brighter perspective on life. I can look forward to tomorrow with an even greater sense of excitement, anticipation and purpose.


So anytime you feel yourself getting down, upset a bit or simply have a free moment. Pause, and think: "I have the first suite of Metropolis and there are still 3 more that will be released. And Deep Cotton has yet to release their album. Thanks God for music." Now isn't it a wondaful day. -Wolfmaster Stank

Wondalunch

What's up Wondaworld? This is probably your first introduction to me, Delvin Franklin aka Wolfmaster Stanklin aka the Experience Architect aka Smakous Blackous - although a little unwanted (thanks Chuck Lightning). We have ingrained a few principles here at Wondaland such as Excellence, Truth & Beauty and especially Innovation. Innovation in the light of an Apple or Google. For instance, Google created a free meals program for its employees in which it boasts 15 cafeterias, each with its own theme and menu. The options range from regional American cuisine to tapas to dishes emphasizing locally grown ingredients. Taking this cue from Google, we created Wondalunch. Everyday we cook a huge Spanish style lunch in which all of your favorite Wondalanders such as Janelle Monáe, Lord Disassembler, Deep Cotton & Bam Bam gather to eat, discuss our world and ways that we can further inspire people. Its a fantastic idea that we truly enjoy because of the opportunities it provides us to catch up with each other in our busy world. It also prevents us from the daily panic of "what am I gonna do for lunch" - which takes us away from our inspiration work. So the next time you see Janelle Monáe and wonder how in the world does she do that hyper cybertronic lightspeed move or you see Deep Cotton electric shaking and destroying microphones you will know that all of that energy is fueled by the delicious Wondalaunch.

Today was a "Good Day"!

Greetings earthlings,

Well, I thinks its been a little more than 2 days since we last spoke...but here we go.

For those who don't know, JM did Good Day Atlanta this morning and killed it of course. But before I get to that, let me back up a little bit.

I couldn't sleep at all last night, waaaaaayyyyy too many butterflies in the 'ol stomach. Why you ask? First the obvious, JM is about to do Good Day Atlanta! Let's keep in mind JM has no distribution deal and no song on the radio and she's about to do GOOD DAY ATLANTA!

Secondly, I was steadily thinking about today and hoping for nothing but positives. JM was in St. Kitts this past weekend and I knew she got in late and rehearsal still had to be done. So I was a little concerned about her and the band making it on time because we COULDN'T be late for this...remember, this is live TV. I decide to get out of the bed at 5am and send one last blast letting everybody know to tune in this morning, I then proceed to call JM at 5:30...no answer...5:40 no answer...not good! Then I call my fellow W.A.S. member Wolfmaster Stanklin and it sounds like he just rolled over, which means no one else is in motion...not good. It's 6am now and I need to hit the rode, so I leave with the hopes that everyone is getting ready and will be on time...remember, this is live TV.

While I'm driving I receive a text from JM saying that she is up...it's 6:25, now does that mean she just got up or had been up and just received my text? Panic mode is starting to penetrate my mind at this point, but I proceed to keep it moving towards the station.

I get there around 6:40. Wolfmaster Z calls me at 7am and says they're on the way...now are they REALLY on the way or trying to calm me down because they know where my mind is at this point? But...they make it inside at 7:20...halleujah!!! 1o minutes early...woohoo!

The interview and performance were a success! Special thanks to Joy Crump, Suchita and the whole FOX 5 Atlanta team for having Janelle on the show.

Also, a VERY special thanks to all the fans and supporters of JM and The W.A.S. that tuned in early this morning.

Signing off,
Lord Rico Rodriguez

The W.A.S. in Miami

The W.A.S. is in Miami right now. Janelle Monae tore the house down last night at a place called the Bohemian Room... Afterwards there was partying. We see you Chowski! You too Black Betty!

(Check out the pic of Lightning actin UP. Chuck's steal is in the photos too.)

METROPOLIS IS NOT CHINESE DEMOCRACY

So I know some of you have been worried about Metropolis. Worried that Metropolis will become Chinese Democracy, devolve into creative chaos and other woes. Worried that Wondaland will screw it up. That we're going to create something that only a few Star Wars geeks can understand. Or let it become a black rock beast, you know, something you'd love at home with your afropunk friends but never hear on the radio. And then there's the biggest travesty of it all: What if it never comes out?

Well rest ye weary souls. Here's a little concrete information about the release to put your heart at ease.

• Metropolis will be released quarterly in four suites. Each suite will be a mini-album complete with collectible ephemera (stickers, posters, oh boy!). Each suite will be numbered and limited edition.
  

• The first single "Violet Stars Happy Hunting" will be released on June 1, 2007. The first suite of Metropolis (Suite I: The Chase) will be released on Auguest 1, 2007. Look for the first JM video to come your way in late July (more details on that later).

• The full album Metropolis will be released next year. The album will contain all kinds of goodies: bonus tracks, live tracks, videos, etc.

• In terms of major distribution, we've been in talks with a few majors here and overseas. We'll keep you posted how those thangs go. In case you haven't heard, there's a lot of problems in the music industry right now. Superstars can't buy a hit. And they just turned the historic Capitol building into condos. Getting a major record deal right now is a little like getting invited to a five course meal on the Titanic...
  

• The suites will be distributed through iTunes, Amazon, MySpace and BlabStar. If you don't have a BlabStar account, and if you've never heard of it, you know nothing about the future of music. And that is something to worry about.

• The album is the debut release of a new label that is a joint venture between Wondaland Productions and Big Boi. The name of this label is the Wondaland Arts Society. The WAS is the home of the Wonderground, a collective consisting of JM and Deep Cotton.

• In addition, the WAS will be collaborating with Purple Ribbon and the Atlanta Ballet Company to convert Metropolis into a rock opera/ballet. We are still putting the finals and particulars together. And we're beginning the creative process this summer. But the performances are already booked: April 10-13, 2008 at the Fox Theatre. So get ready to see JM on stage singing her heart out in the midst of twenty moonwalking androids!

See, now don't you feel better? Here, if that didn't help. Perhaps this will. I'm waiting for Chinese Democracy just like you. Damnit, Axl, just release the damn thang.



--c.lightning