The Return of the ArchAndroid

Janelle Mona may look like a petite, pompadoured doo-wop singer straight out of early Motown. But when she hits the stage, she bursts into something light years beyond that. Possessed by a beat too funky to be from the 20^th century, she nearly dances right out of her saddle shoes.

Yesterday, Mona released her new album The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III of IV). The tracks make up the latest chapters in the sci-fi adventure epic starring her alter-ego: Cindi Mayweather, an android from the 28^th century on the run from cyborgs who want to imprison her for falling in love with a human. I know, it sounds weird — but ground-breaking work usually does, no?

The video for the single “Tightrope” (featuring Outkast’s Big Boi) is so damn fun, I dare you not to groove in your desk chair.

Mona rocked Studio 360 earlier this year. Listen to her perform “Sincerely Jane” (off of Metropolis Suite I of IV: The Chase) in WNYC’s Jerome L. Greene Performance Space:

Earthlings, prepare to boogie down.