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| Photo: Courtesy Wondaland Records |
When Taylor Swift’s comments about Apple Music’s performance artist’s royalty policy forced the industry giant to change their views, she proved that female artists could be and should be seen as industry leaders and pioneers, not only as music artists but women are building the future of the music industry as well.
The same could be said for artist Janelle Monae. While not as high-profile or as highly-ranked on the Billboard charts as Swift, the Grammy nominated singer and songwriter with such songs as “Tightrope” and “Yoga,” is making strides of her own, both as an artist and as the head of her own recording label, Wondaland Records. Monae talked about her career at The BET Experience “Genius Talks” Series panel last month in Los Angeles.
Monae’s Wondaland label, which has a roster of up and coming artists including Deep Cotton, St. Beauty, Jidenna and Roman GianArthur, lets the artists be themselves – something that is hard to do with some many trying to find an identity that gets people noticed.
Jidenna’s summer R&B hit “Classic Man” is climbing the charts thanks in part to Monae’s support. Monae is very protective of her artists as they put their music out for all to see, something the singer thanks, Puffy (Sean Diddy Combs) for doing for her.
“I had a few doors open for me through Puffy,” Monae said. “He came to be and said ‘Listen, I don’t want to part of the creative, I just want people to know about you.’ I said okay, put that in the contact and we can do it. (Laughs) this is the moment. I have to do this. I’m thankful that I’m now able to have four incredibly gifted artists.” Monae also spoke about her efforts to make music in spite of the restrictions the industry and world try to place on an artist making music today.
“What we like to say at Wondaland is that we do things according to our soul clock,” Monae said. “You have to do things according to your inner compass and that’s what I go by.”
Monae is known for her unique style of music that reflects the history of her parents as well as her ancestors. She supports her artists in the same way.
“Wondaland Records is a movement first and then it’s a label,” Monae says. “My job is to be like big sis…say, hey. You know this is what I think, what do you think but at the end of the day, the artist always makes the final decision. I just to you know…the artist always makes the final call – the final decision. I’m just here for guidance and if my brother or sister is ever slipping, just to be there for them.”
As a woman running and owning her own label, Monae hopes that more woman will get behind the scenes as well.
“As a woman, we need more female label heads,” said Monae of the music industry today. “We understand, we are strong yet compassionate. We understand how the music goes… we get it in a way that I have not seen… I want more women running these labels and calling the shots.”
Monae’s current album “The Electric Lady,” featuring appearances by Erykah Badu,, Miguel and Esperanza Spalding, is available now.
This article was originally published in July 2015 on Axs.com
