Janelle Monáe: We Should Thank Our Exes [VIDEO]

Janelle Monae, Welcome to call her daddy.

I'm so happy to have you here.

Tell me how your summer's going. You were on vacation, Where were you? Let us pretend we were there with you.

But it was so fun, it was that ooch, ooch, ooch, ooch, ooch ooch, that ooch ooch music. I kind of like ooch ooch, but I need like some hip hop, some something mixed in with it. But it was so fun. The sunsets are beautiful and then the second portion of the vacay was Jamaica Ocho Rios, beautiful people.

The food, the chicken patties, the beef patties, the shrimp curry, the plantains. I had at least 152 plantains. What one by one, oh.

Yeah.

Dinner's going to be at eight. Like, I love making the itineraries, I'm that friend.

We would rent out this location in one of our friends neighborhoods, Little White Building, and we would charge people a dollar to get in. And I would hide in the bathroom because I didn't know who was going to come. I had so much anxiety around it. And then once it would get packed, my friends would come underneath the stall because I locked myself in the bathroom.

They'd be like, it's packed, come out, come out, bitch, get out, get out, get out. And so I've just always loved curating experiences for people.

Have you always been, and what is age of pleasure to you?

I wasn't always in my age of pleasure, I've been in age of fear, age of anxiety, age of just worry. A fight, you know, fighting back against systems that seek to oppress folks like myself and the people that I love and centering that. And with this album, which I actually don't even call an album, I say that it is a soundtrack to a lifestyle. It's a lifestyle.

You know, we live this. I wrote this, this, this project for my friends and for me. And I was just like, if we fuck with it, that's all I care about. So I would throw parties at my house with my friends who own this party collective called Everyday People. And if I knew we were going to be having and hosting them on a Saturday, that Monday or Tuesday. We would go into the studio and we would write like two to three songs that would work in the DJ's playlist.

I wouldn't tell anybody it was me. I would not like make a big thing about it and I would be very nervous. Like, Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. Are people going to sit down? Because if people sat down, it was not going to go on the album, if people were not shazamming, it wasn't going on the album.

And so every song that you hear, all of my friends, all of the people who were with us celebrating in this safe space. They are responsible for the songs making the album.

Like, I would listen to this, like getting ready with my friends, like getting ready to go out, like. But then I'm, oh, I'm wondering, like, so you're sitting there being like, do they like it? do they like it? and then you're like, check, that's going on the soundtrack.

I saw some people shazamming and then some people would be like, Wait is this? But I never would confirm. I would go hide and be like, you know, having somebody else tell me what's going on? But yeah, like, it's, it's as an artist presenting anything before the world gets it like.

For that first time, I talked to a lot of my artist friends and we're all like. It is one of the most like, scary things ever, scary feelings to have because it comes from such a pure place when we create. And for it not to be accepted, you don't know, you know you, you take it, but for me, I got. I was like, I'm ready, I'm okay, I had to heal some shit, you know, cause, cause.

Some of that is attached to to just rejection issues, abandonment issues, like people don't like my stuff. That could go down to the root of an issue that you just need to fix. And I definitely used a portion of this pandemic to to sort of work on that. And to get to to my own, you know, traumas that I had to heal. And to get to a place where I was like, wait, I've been really centering, fighting so much that I don't even know what my life is like. Outside of that, who am I? you know, I taught I like, who am I outside of the fight?

You know, who am I? And so I had to sit with myself and ask myself. And you know, when I think about the word pleasure, there is no pleasure without feeling safe. I didn't always feel safe.

That doesn't make me a bad artist, that doesn't mean that I should just throw away my whole career, you know? And you have to just understand that sometimes we're not always in the same space. That we can take in, you know, take in the message or the energy that an artist is trying to put out. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's just like, Okay, this didn't resonate with you, okay?

But I don't give you that power over me. You're not more powerful. Your thoughts about my art are not more powerful than my thoughts about my art.

I'm more clear on who I am, I'm more secure in certain things that were like eating me alive, maybe when I was younger and going through it. And you can tell, like this album, it makes you smile, it makes you feel yourself, it makes you just like, want to live.

And I don't know if that sounds corny, but like it's facts, no, it's really beautiful.

It makes us want to party, it makes us want to cry, it makes us want to feel ourselves and feel sexy, have sex, all those things. It's such a powerful energy.

And the fact that it's a feeling that I had, that I felt like, man, this makes me feel good knowing that, that makes you feel. And we are just meeting each other. That's such. I think that's such a beautiful exchange, so thank you so much.

You had to heal in order to be who you are sitting here today.

And so he was in and out of my life. And so there were just times where I didn't know if he was really going to come and pick me up.

The trust wasn't there. I felt let down, there were moments that that happened all the way up until high school and other things that happened. And so I had to go back to those times that were painful, those times that I just had to forgive my dad. I was like, I have to forgive you.

You were struggling with drug addiction, you were not the best version of yourself, and now that you are, we get to make up for that, we get to make up for that time. And as I healed that and I talked to him about it, a lot changed for me.

As I forgave him, I forgave my own self for spending so many years in that dark space and connecting that to my art.

I thought that I had done something wrong, why wasn't he showing up for me? And so when you go and you in the back of your head are thinking that you're doing something wrong, that your own dad isn't around. If in your art, you feel like people are not liking what it is that you're doing, or they're judging you or whatever. It's intertwined, the feeling of them leaving you like your dad left you, you never want to feel that.

And so I had to get to a place where I understood what that was and I had to let go. And I had to be okay with knowing that there's nothing wrong with me. If folks don't want to come to my party, even me hiding in the bathroom, they didn't want to come to my party. Okay, that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with me, my dad, it wasn't nothing wrong with me.

While my dad wasn't around, he was struggling, he was battling, and people are battling so many things. People are into different things that perhaps what you're doing doesn't necessarily align with it, or they just plain might not like it.

And that's okay, but do you like it?

Breakups were intense because it just mirrored that. But now there were moments where I was dating someone and we broke up. And I just was like, I will never talk to this person again, the way they made me feel, I will never talk to them again. And after I started to go through therapy and I have an emotional support coach that I talked to after which, by the way, therapy like, we're benefiting from therapy. I just really wish that it was free for every person around the world.

I really, really, really do wish that there was a fund that everybody could access, where they could have therapy, they could have somebody to talk to and work through. I do believe that we will be in a much better shape as a community, as a nation, as a world. So I just wanted to say that because I feel like, damn, I wish everybody could experience these things. So I was like, I will never talk to this person again. And after, I went through understanding and getting to the root of my rejection, abandonment.

Trauma? You know what I did? I thanked the person who I was in a relationship with and it did not work out for us. I thanked them. I said, you know what? And my emotional support coach said that I was going to do that.

Like, you are going to thank this person because you know what this person did for you. They forced you to deal with something that you were not going to deal with.

They pushed you to go back to the root of the problem. You were not going to do it, you were moving, you were too busy moving, you didn't have time.

But that relationship, the ending of that specific relationship, forced that. And I literally called that person and I thanked them. I said, Thank you so much. You have no idea like I was really walking around here hurt, and you forced me to like, you know? And so they started sharing things with me.

They were just like, I just wasn't ready, I was confused myself, I did not trust it was going so well for us. I'm so used to chaos that I didn't. I felt like this was not going to end, how I wanted it to end. I'm also dealing with rejection issues.

So we just kind of healed through each other and it helped me in my other relationships. I was like, here are the things that I was doing because of my trauma. When I'm free from that trauma, I'm like, a really, really, really like beautiful partner to have. And it just helped me to understand how I want to show up for my future partners.

So it's interesting to hear. You talk about, like, how you connected with that person. At first, being like, I'll never talk to you again, and then you're like, wait a second, thank you.

But listen, what do you want me to say? I wasn't ready, I was growing, I needed to grow, and you know, I'm sorry, you know?

And so, like you can wish, yeah, it wouldn't. you would we? I would definitely would not. This new version would have not dated. You know that, that, that that person. I love you. Yes, I love you. But there's just no way that I could put myself back into that sort of like chaos.

Yeah, yeah.

I want the best for you. And if that means that it's not with me at that time or at that season, then so be it. Yeah, yeah.

Um, and you need to not be afraid to do the work. It's going to be painful. It's been a lot of tears, a lot of crying, a lot of just like confusion. But just know that you're growing like, you know better, right? You're, no, you're, you're understanding you a lot more.

And sometimes that that feels confusing to your body, to yourselves, because you're literally being like, rerouted, like the way that your mind is is is being re rewired. So it's going to feel uncomfortable, but just stay the course, cause I promise you that if you do the work, there is going to be, you're going to be like. I never thought I would see the day, I literally never thought that I would be this person.

It's like, I planned, I sort of planned it out. But to live it out and to be living what I dreamt about doing. And and the freedom in which I move. Cause it's not that like you're not going to deal with issues and problems and things like that. But the way that I'm so solid with myself now, I didn't know, you know, I, I, I, I was free. But but there are levels to it. yeah, there are levels to it.

So just stay the course and you'll reach the next level.

Like, it just starts to creep up. And those are usually the moments where, in a good way, like you cannot deny, you need to address it. And I love that you said. It's so fucking uncomfortable, but you got to do the work, cause then you won't be uncomfortable. But you're going against something that you literally have been living this way your whole life.

Right, anyway.

I think I wanted it, cause my dad is cool, like my dad also had a music career, but drugs got in the way of that. And so me and him can talk music, he understands, like all my favorite artists or his favorite artists.

When I put out Lipstick Lover, all of the art that that I'm doing, my dad supports it. Like, he's like, I want you to know as your dad, I think what you're doing is brave, is sick as fuck. I love you, I want you to know I got your back. Like, as a Black man in this living in this country, I'm supporting you.

My queer, non-binary, um, you know, artistic daughter, like, I'm here for you. And I knew he always had that sort of. That's sort of where I get. Both my parents are like shows, like they could each have their own TV show and people they would not care about me. They'd be like your mom and your dad. Like, you know, they're not together because they're very much so alike in in many ways. You know, they're just super like, flamboyant and their personalities can take up a room.

Um, but good sweet people, um, so what, my dad? I always knew that. Like, when it was time to take risks, that was going to be the person that was going to affirm me. And I, and I. And I wanted that, and I needed that, and also for him, I wanted to give him another another opportunity. Post like being sober to know me, you know, to know me. I think, I think that that for both of us, we needed that.

Like, I needed to have the support of of of my dad and I felt like for him to have been. Cause he had also gone to prison, so he had been locked away for years. And I was like, I want him to come out sober and to know what it's like to receive love from me, yeah.

Not guilt.

Just was he still struggling when you first came up and started to get paid?

And there's no jealousy, it's just like, we fucking love you, like your mom outside the talent shows, being like, that's my baby.

You are very private about your dating life.

They they assume that if you're not with them and they're seen with somebody else that you broke up. And now you gotta go answer that question and you have to go do that. And perhaps maybe later on in life, I'll open up a little more, but for now, I love having, I love protecting, and it really is for the protection of of of them. Yeah, um, I, I don't want them to, you know, cause I can handle sort of like paparazzi or whatever. It's annoying.

Sometimes, sometimes it's fun, I love messing with them, whatever, but I never want anybody that I'm dating to ever feel pressure. Um, cause they didn't ask for it, you know, they didn't ask for it. So I just like to keep peace and harmony and no expectation from the public to know our every move.

My partner with me. Because it's like, there's almost like social currency that comes with, like, being this, it couple and having it, whether you're in college or high school. Like this is everywhere now, where people are feeling pressured to prove something on the internet and when you can actually step back from it. I'm not saying, don't post on the internet. But, like, try to find a balance within yourself of like, why are you actually doing this? why are you doing certain things? Is it just to get the photo, to prove something to people?

It's just it's not as healthy, you know, like, live? Some type of privacy is really good for yourself because then you can also be with yourself. Like, do I like this person? or do I like how I'm doing this? or do I even want to do this? You kind of have to, like, make sure you're not just doing it for the gram.

I don't feel like anybody should feel pressure. And I think that if you are in a relationship where they're like, if you don't post me, we're done. I've had like people. We were just talking about this when we were on vacay. And there was a question like, are, would you be upset if your partner did not post you on social media? And there were a lot of mixed questions.

I mean, answers. But I was just like, we have to talk about that first and foremost, and if we agree that we want to keep things private, then no. But also, like, if my love is defined by a post, you don't post me enough on social media. Like, I really need to understand my own damn like priorities in life.

Is that really necessary for me? So I just think it's like, for me, it's not.

I do think people should have conversations around it prior so that there are no expectations. And you know, cause it could hurt somebody's feeling, too, though, if they feel like you're trying to hide them, but that's deeper. That's like, y'all need to really, literally, y'all need to really work through some things. Yeah, no.

So when you go to your next relationship, I bet there are some people that have like lingering feelings about like, Well, why aren't you posting me? And someone could literally be like, Cause I don't think we need to. I love you, we're sitting here together.

Like, isn't this better than us taking a selfie, right? So also check in with yourself of like, are you comparing yourself to your friends or your past relationships? Get on the same page as your current partner.

What's the vibe over there?

Oh my God, anyway. One of the cards.

And we were just like everybody was like, Ooh, wow, that's a good one. Um, I feel like now I am, let me think, I mean, cause, you know, it's like. And so the question when the question made me be like, Well, this is what I think about myself. But what if that isn't what they thought about?

Right, like, Okay, of course, I'm going to say glowing reviews about me, you know, or maybe like a couple of things that I need to work on. But, you know, it could have been some other things. So for me, if I was being honest in a relationship, I mean, I think I used to be a very like, hard to know if I really loved them sort of person. Like, it was hard to get to my heart because I had just been hurt.

And I hadn't really again dealt with sort of that trauma. Or of of someone what it would feel like of somebody leaving me. I never wanted anybody to leave me, and if they did, I didn't want them to ever feel. Like. I really loved you, you know, cause like, if you, if I really told you that I really loved you and you. We still didn't work then, like, Wow, what a stab in the heart, right?

Yep, but now, having gone to this new space, I'm a big communicator. I, you know, believe in evolution, even in your partnerships, and even if you started out one way. I'm always open to us growing, and I want to make sure that as we grow individually and, as you know, together. Um um, I've also been in polyamorous relationships as well.

And I, you know, know what it's like to be with multiple partners. So it's very important that, you know, we're communicating in real time about our feelings and if things are coming up. Like, if if one person feels like, okay, um, I'm having feelings of jealousy. Or I need some more time with both of you. Or, you know, uh, how do we, you know, if we, if we need to, like, work on some things. I like to know that, and I always welcome, you know, feedback.

Yeah, I need to be more expressive in in those things, and um, so I think I'm averse.

I love it, so I can be dominant. Sub like, you know, I'm non-binary as well, so I can go with the I can go with the flow about things.

I love it, meaning like, I don't. I don't just consider myself like to be boxed in as like this type of partner. Like, sometimes you need me to be more like water, okay?

I need to be more like water. You need me to be more like a rock for us. Okay, I'll be more like a rock for us.

Um, to me was also attracted to my partner and so they made it very clear and we just made it work, okay.

And I think they'll love comes in different different variations, and that is what I love about polyamory is. It just shows us, like, just in the same way. Like, I don't have just one best friend, I have multiple best friends and I love y'all. You know, we love each other and we can all hang out. I don't just love one parent.

I don't just love one aunt like, I love all of you and and um, in relationships, you know, I think, when, uh, intimate relationships, partnerships. I think that if we can talk about, um, what we need and what works for all of us. And I'll tell you like, it takes a lot of unlearning. Because we're conditioned, especially in this society, that this is what a union looks like, this is what.

I think for people that see it so clearly, like, let everyone do what they want to do. And then people that are still so stuck in the way that they want things to have been done for thousands of years prior. When you speak about polyamory, like, I can imagine, there are people that are so judgmental of even that word.

You know, certain family members have been like, Hmm, but for the most part, my my circle of people that I have around have been supportive. Even if they have questions and they wonder, like, Okay, all right, cause also people are trying to figure out, well, Hmm, is that what I need? or what we need? Or cause? I definitely been cheating on my significant other for a very long time.

But what if, after all, we just needed a third? We needed somebody else, you know, that, that loved us, and we love them. Um, to to, to to be a part of our union. You know, people are trying and people are scared. I understand that too. Some people are scared to go against tradition, and you know, some people come from conservative environments.

I came from, you know, conservative Baptist background, where I was taught to fear everything. You know, even getting into the music industry, I was taught to just fear. You know, don't be like this artist, or don't be like that. Or, you know, it was just been a lot of unlearning. And and I get that, and I, and I think, I think, though, for me, I, I have to know that this is my life here on Earth. I wasn't put here to um um to follow every rule.

I was, I was put here to help rewrite them, yeah.

And then I did the ARK Android, my first full length album suites, then I did the Electric Lady, Dirty Computer and all the way. Now. To the Age of Pleasure and and all those projects that have come out, um.

I discovered that, I mean, I knew when I was a child, that I was attracted, um, to not just boys, but to women, uh, and to energies. I knew that, and because of my sort of conservative Baptist, um upbringing, it wasn't welcomed. I, I suppressed my sexuality.

I suppressed my sensuality, I suppressed so much of me because I didn't feel safe. And so once I got to a place where, okay, I know for sure, for sure. Uh, that, um, you know, I, I am I, I am attracted to to, to, you know, these energies. Um, I, I. I'm going to honor that. And with each project you could, you can hear me and feel me getting more brave.

You know, I created, um, the Android, Cindy Mayweather, who is representative of, Uh, in my work? Who's representative of the other? You know, the queer person, the the um, black person, the non-binary person, trans, all of all of us who are pushed to the margins of society. And so I use that as a form of, like, a form of coping, a coping mechanism. Until I was brave enough to actually say it, and I think I was always dropping hints and I was getting more brave and, you know, less afraid. Um, and then finally, um. Because also I was in a relationship, in in what some would say, you know, it was a lot of things like, you know, understanding, you know, polyamory is was something that I wanted to explore. Well, if you're already in a relationship, you have to go have conversations with that person's family.

Well, what does that mean for you guys? And so I could not talk publicly about certain things because they impacted my real everyday life. You know what I'm saying like when I got off the stage? I would also have to go see these communities that I was a part of. And like, if they heard about it through, you know any other thing outside of, like me saying it, then what does that mean?

And I just wasn't ready to have those sorts of conversations. And so, I guess, to answer your question. Like, you know, I just got brave over time and once, I also felt like I had community. Because the albums and the art and music. What it also does is it signals like, Hey, I'm out here, I'm out here. And then you meet people who come to your shows and you meet other artists and people. Other humans who, like, are like, Oh, I identify with that, or I fuck with that. And then we become friends and you have a community now that supports you.

Yeah, that sees you that even if your family you were born into doesn't support you or see you, you have support. And so once I felt supported and I felt safe enough, that's when I started to become even more brave. And I, um, I started to be courageous in the way that I started to live my life.

And I think right now what I am doing, I've done this privately is that I'm honoring all of me. I'm not closing off, you know, my sensuality anymore, I'm not closing off my sexuality, my polyamory. If you listen to Only Have Eyes 42, you know, that's honoring that sort of union. Um, if you're listening to Hot Hot from the age of Pleasure or Champagne Shit, or even Float, you know, you know, I, I, I'm feeling much lighter now and float.

I had to let some things go, um, to get to this place, and fear of not being accepted was one of them. And once I got over that hump, everything started to change for me.

Yeah, cause, I mean, there were moments where, um, I felt the pressure to talk like interviewers would. They would just speculate based on my appearance because I was wearing a suit. They were like, Hmm, you're a lesbian, like, that's what I would get.

You're a lesbian, and, you know? As I was trying to discover who I was, and I didn't identify with being a lesbian, I, I, you know, and and I had lesbian friends. I love my lesbian family, but like people would say certain things and try to force me to out what I was. Well, if you're not a lesbian, then what are you? yeah?

And so I wasn't ready. So don't feel, don't feel pressured to talk about your sexuality. It is a private, it can be as private or as public as you want it to be. Um, for me, it was seeping out into my art so much that, like, I'm like, Yeah, this is, this is me, yeah.

This is who I am. And I wanted to also free a lot of people who were in their rooms, who could be in their rooms right now. Listening. Like, you have family, you have a church, even outside of the church that you went to. If they disown, you like, there is a big church around the world. With people who will affirm you, people who are like you, your identity is not new.

Like, it's been happening, we're here, we're showing up for each other and I love you, I love you.

It is bringing people, bringing people into our world. I'm letting you in on who I am versus like you guys are the norm, and I'm just like, Hi, I'm out here, like, No, I'm letting you in to my world. Which is sacred, which should be respected and appreciated, most certainly not apologetic about it.

I don't owe you anything.

I've been here, you just must not have seen me, um, or I not, even you must not have seen me. You must think that you and your, or, you know what? Let's not even talk about it.

Nope, I was going to go down a whole stream.

You know, I think, like when you give your power up to someone, you give your power up to other folks. Like, people's opinions have more power over you than how you feel about you. That's, I think, where things take that turn, where the depression sets in, where the constant need for approval comes in. And I think I'm a powerful ass motherfucker, you know, really, just as you are powerful, we're all powerful, right?

We all hold gifts that we have. And I think that, you know again, how I think about myself has to be more powerful than someone who is trying to take me down through their negativity, who is trying to oppress me through their fear. My power and my love for myself is greater than that.

It's like, what going to the sex shop? like? I remember when I first went, See again, when you come from those sort of like, conservative background, a sex shop. I was full sunglasses on, like, do not have me in here. Oh my god, what am i? Oh my God, please.

Nobody take photos of me. Like, I did not know, right? I did not know the world of vibrators, I did not know the clitoral stimulation that you and your the fun y'all can have with one.

You know, it doesn't necessarily have to be penetration life changing, right? How about you?

Like, this is amazing, like, right, just allowed me to recognize that. Like, I hold the power of, like my own orgasm, and like, I don't need someone else to make me feel amazing. Like I can do it myself. Because being taught like we grow up and it's just like the men will do this for you.

And like you, and I'm like, why am I going to wait for a motherfucker to give me an orgasm?

And that's why so many women, I truly believe. Like, we have such a hard time in the beginning, like figuring out what works for us and knowing how to, like, get off. Because we were like, it was basically like, don't touch yourself, you're a whore, you're a slut and it's like.

It's a lie, it's a lie, and I'm I, I. I will always, just like you know, say like, my heart goes out to. To those of us who have clitorises, and and and and just not just those of us who are with with clitoris, even, you know, for for those of us who have penises or whatever. It is the pleasure that we can give ourselves, like how that was stripped away from us. Um, I just hope that we can reconnect again with our bodies and reclaim our bodies. That's the space that I'm in.

Like, I am reclaiming my sensuality, my my sexuality, my pleasure, like, unapologetically, like, I'm not apologizing for talking about it, for taking time to myself to make up for lost times. I mean, I think I could have avoided a lot of just even sexual interactions with people who I didn't really like. But I just was like, Well, this is the only way that I can feel less shame about sex is if I do it with this person. But like, that leads to so much confusion. Sometimes if you don't really, really, really like this person and they don't really, really like you, and it's a whole thing. And so I think you actually avoid.

Our first show is in Seattle the end of August. We're on tour, so get your ticket if we have some more a little bit more available. Um, but they're selling out right now, and I'll be on tour in North America through October 21st, the Age of Pleasure Tour.

And so to see how people are like making this their album, owning it, and like with their friends, I see them just certain songs. They're like, Oh my God, you're speaking to my heart. Like I needed to hear Float, I needed to give myself permission to to let things go.

And and to go into my, you know, a stage of like, what hot is talking about? like, I look good, I look sexy, I look handsome.

Like non-binary folks are feeling, seeing, trans folks are being seen, seeing like the community in which I intended for it to be. And even outside of that, I think that you don't necessarily have to be a part of my community to to to vibe with it. I think that what it just represents is like, even in the midst of chaos, you got to find your pleasure. You have to make time for yourself.

And I actually brought you something, what?

I was going to say.

Thank you.

I didn't want it to be too long because this one was just on, um, President Barack Obama's, uh, song of Summer Only Have Eyes 42 42.

Uh, so listen to that one, I mean, but I love every last song on this project. I'm having a hard time, like figuring out what songs we're going to play on tour. I think I might have to just play all of them.

I don't know, but because I love I. I also thought about them from a live perspective. And just, yeah, how fun it's going to be to perform champagne shit.

Cause it you almost have to, like, listen to it all together, like start to finish, like feel it.

You know, sister Nancy, who is like, bomb, bomb, you know, we can't go anywhere at a at a party without hearing her Jamaican influence, Patra, her Jamaican influence. Um, when I think about um Nia Long, who was an incredible actress, coming and being a part of it, I'm a Ray Dolce.

Um, who else? Uh, Fela Kuti, son Shane Kuti? Uh, hard. Lots of horns on this project. um, C.K. is on this project, I don't know. It's just so like such a beautiful love letter to the diaspora and to, um, to music that again has gotten us through. You know? Um, a lot of the influences come from a lot of my friends who were in, you know, who are from Nigeria at our parties, Ghana, uh, South Africa, L.A. New York, Atlanta.

Um, you know, all of us coming together and and feeling safe, safe enough to explore, safe enough to be.

Thank you.

And um, just congratulations on everything. You're fantastic, thank you, thank you, woo.