Janelle Floats

For Janelle Monáe, embracing their nonbinary identity contributed to their musical and creative liberation, allowing them to invent, thrive, and evolve.

“Float” is an anthem of liberation and possibility.

In an interview with Ebony, Monae shares, “…in order to float, you have got to let some things go and open up room for new possibilities and for a new version of who we can be. My hope is that Black people can listen to this as a soundtrack that elevates them—that in their happiest of times, they want to put it on and really ascend to the highest, most beautiful version of who they can be.”

“Float” features horns by Seun Kuti and his band, Egypt 80. The song is inspired by Muhammed Ali talking shit in Zaire, 1974; Jane’s evolution; Mary Poppins’ umbrella; Aladdin’s magic carpet; Ja Morant’s flotation to the rim while dunking on his ops; Sara Elise’s ropes; excerpts from Paramahmsa Nithyananda’s talks on levitation; Raul’s toast on Dec 1; and Bruce Lee’s mighty philosophy on being ‘shapeless, formless,’ and becoming one with your surroundings, to be like water.