Janelle Monae review, West Holts, Glastonbury: Prince protégé shows why she is a woman of the moment

There are artists and there are performers. Janelle Monae, the 33 year old Prince protégéwho shot to fame with her 2007 breakout EP Metropolis - about prejudice and freedom - is, remarkably, both. She’s gifted with a voice that could power a revolution, and a presence that floors.

Inspired by both Prince and Michael Jackson, her tightly choreographed dances were spectacular to behold. Backed by an all female black group of musicians so talented they swapped between trombones, trumpets, keyboards and guitars within the blink of an eyelid, shimmying and bopping all the while, Monae’s set was both a call to arms and proof that change was already afoot.

"I am a young, black, queer woman in America. And I am proud to be here,’ she announced, beautifully dressed in white and red patent knee high leather boots, a red and white cape, a red and gold throne ready to seat her. As red smoke puffed and swelled across the stage, ecstatic fans yelled and whooped in support.

Monae - also famed for her roles in Oscar nominated  and winning films Hidden Figures and Moonlight - is a woman of the moment. Her three sci-fi themed albums, charting the journey of her android alter ego Cindi Android, are at once a comment on our dystopian times, and an embrace of the feared and unexpected.

We label what we cannot understand ‘other’, from new tech to black women owning the space and recognition they are owed. Monae is claiming what is hers, and inspiring others to join her. "Have you got that juice?" she asked four fans who joined her spontaneously on stage, prompting them to strut their best stuff one by one, their grins wider than Monae’s pink vagina-themed ruffled trousers.

"We must continue to fight for the rights of immigrants. For the rights of LBTG people. Of the rights of black folk and the black community. Of disabled people. And lastly," she said, pausing for dramatic effect, "we must impeach Donald Trump." Her fans - young, old, male and female - were beside themselves.

But Monae’s capacity to entertain isn’t all political. Her core messages are heavy and necessary, but all the while, she delights in indulging stereotypical female traits of vanity and divadom. While Monae changed from her queen’s robes into sparkly silver trousers, a member of her entourage held up a mirror for Monae to check her appearance. Later, she cheekily caressed the bodies of her female backing dancers and asked God to remind her to do her laundry. After coming back for a wildly demanded encore, Monae stripped down to a grey bodysuit, and snaked gracefully into her adoring crowd.