NEW SOUNDS

JANELLE MONAE

After spending some time working in front of the camera, appearing as an actor in several movies including "Glass Onion", the recent hit sequel to "Knives Out", Janelle Monáe has returned to what first brought her attention: music. A new song, "Float" is the first studio venture from the queer, Afrofuturistic artist since her third album, "Dirty Computer" in 2018. Using Muhammed Ali's amusing riff, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" as a starting point, this uplifting song takes on rising above challenges and not allowing anybody to get you down. And if the track sounds a bit familiar, that's because a snippet of "Float" (which features horns by Nigerian musician, Seun Kuti and Egypt 80) had been used for NBA promos on ESPN. This seems like just the beginning with more music on the horizon from Monáe.

KELELA

It has been almost seven years since the alt-r&b chanteuse, Kelela released her debut album, "Take Me Apart", a progressive collection that combined electronic beats and classic soul to create a shimmering futuristic sound. Now the follow-up to that critically acclaimed album has arrived. The Ethiopian-American performer, born Kelela Mizanekristos, had dabbled in jazz and heavy metal before settling into neo-soul and with "Raven", she has continued on her innovative journey into beat-driven funky jams and pulsating, sensual ballads yet this adventurously stylish record also dives further into intimate reflections. The openly queer artist had been vocal about her concerns regarding Black women in entertainment, particularly feeling isolated working in dance music, with the songs focused more on personal relationships and identity than on the previous album.