Vanguard Award

Janelle Monáe

Singer, songwriter and high funkstress Janelle Monáe has effortlessly captured the imaginations of fans, critics and fellow artists with her genre-devouring amalgam of soul/R&B/funk/pop/rock and inimitable sense of style. Vogue Magazine called her “a different kind of diva,” while Sean “Diddy” Combs hailed her as “a true visionary… one of the most important signings of my career.” And this young innovator is just hitting her stride. Monáe’s debut release, the concept EP Metropolis, Suite I: The Chase, earned her a Grammy nomination for the delirious dance track “Many Moons;” tour dates alongside Erykah Badu, No Doubt and Paramore soon followed.

Monáe’s new album The ArchAndroid rockets her even further into uncharted territory. Monáe describes the album as influenced by “scores for films like Goldfinger mixed with albums I adore such as Stevie’s Music of my Mind, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, and jamming experimental hiphop stuff like Stankonia.” Holding this musical cosmos together is the story of Monáe’s android alter-ego, Cindi Mayweather, who must free the citizens of Metropolis from a secret society bent on using time travel to suppress freedom and love throughout the ages. With a full schedule of tour dates on the horizon, a graphic novel and a video collection already in the works, Monáe’s clearly got a lot on her plate. But her focus remains on stirring your soul, moving your feet, tickling your fancy and creating great music. ASCAP is proud to honor Janelle Monáe with the 2010 Vanguard Award.