The maybe-cyborg, definite genius Janelle Monáe shared two new tracks off her upcoming Dirty Computer out April 27. “Make Me Feel” and “Django Jane” were both dropped this afternoon along with accompanying videos (or “emotion pictures,” as Monáe calls them), each giving a glimpse of what’s to come from the singer’s third LP. “Make Me Feel” is the standout of the two, emulating the sounds of Prince in a whopping tribute to Monáe’s mentor and spirit guide. Hear it and watch the music video (directed by Alan Ferguson) below.
On the album concept as a whole, she told Zane Lowe from Beats 1: “I actually had this title on this concept before my first album The ArchAndroid, and it scared me because a lot of the things that I knew that I needed to say were very deep, very personal, from the heart. You know, this is an extremely vulnerable album and it took me a while to make it because I’m a self editor.”
While “Make Me Feel” unlocks the singer’s vulnerability, the latter, “Django Jane,” puts her anger on full display. The differences between the two, both in tonality and affection, highlight her power. Check out both videos below.