"You're Free But In Your Mind, Your Freedom's In a Bind."

If ever someone seemed on the fast track to an incendiary music career, it's Janelle Monae, who became one of the hottest numbers of 2008 thanks to her re-imagining of Fritz Lang's classic silent film Metropolis as the background for a series of song-suites, casting herself as the original gynoid.

The essence of the Princess of Swords manifests as clearly in Monae herself as it does in her portrayal of the Alpha Platinum 9000 known as "Cindi Mayweather." Her approach to the music industry could only be described as a coup, and every aspect of her music, image, and business are meticulously strategized to present a united front of keen awareness and originality. For example, the video for her single "Many Moons" dextrously presents her futuristic act as equal parts rock concert, fashion show, and slave auction:

The song's lyrics allude to the simultaneously earthy and airy nature of this revolutionary and intellectual Princess:

"Square or round, rich or poor
At the end of day and night all we want is mor
I keep my feet on solid ground and use my wings when storms come around
I keep my feet on solid ground for freedom
You're free but in your mind, your freedom's in a bind..."

Female androids are usually depicted as being battle-ready but vulnerable to human impulses such as love. Remember Björk's "All Is Full of Love" video, in which two cold plastic humanoids unlock each other's intimate circuitry? The obscure otherworldly possibilities presented by EVE in WALL-E? These are beings with a single-minded determination and an inherent purpose which become overriden by the introduction of alluringly improbable variables. Upon discovering any awareness beyond her original programming, the Princess's concept of victory and failure is no longer virtual -- she becomes susceptible to human instincts like fear, pleasure, and pity. On one hand, this gives her the strength and courage to fight all the harder (a great illustration of this in the Thoth deck), but on the other hand she's so new to this wider world that she may not be the best judge of her own limitations -- or others', for that matter. Her nimble mind sees everything but itself; while it can be terrifying to fight a battle knowing one has blind-spots to work around, the danger itself can be intoxicating, making victories that much more satisfying to pursue.

In the bio on her website, Monae is very direct about her ambitions. "I want to be looked at as a leader and a businesswoman," she says. "I really feel that music and artists have a huge influence in the way we think. My goal is to help bring as many people as I possibly can together with my music." She's backed it up with the lyrics of all her songs on Metropolis: The Chase Suite (available here, or on iTunes), which introduce her as an outspoken social critic determined to defy genre and stereotype. It's not easy to challenge people without alienating them, but if you can first inspire them to dance like crazy, then you're halfway there.

Previously On Arcanalogue...