African people are surreal': songwriter and blues poet Aja Monet on Black resistance and love as spiritual warfare

"Aja Monet describes her new album, The Color of Rain, as heavily influenced by surrealism, which artists historically used as a response to the rise of fascism. She emphasizes that her work addresses themes of love, resistance, and the absurdity of contemporary life."

"Monet's lead single, Hollyweird, portrays Los Angeles as a surreal apocalyptic landscape, highlighting the hypocrisy of its stars in the aftermath of wildfires. She states, 'African people are surreal; the way we move through the world is through a surrealist lens.'"

"Monet draws inspiration from impactful Black American artists and movements, including the Negritude movement and the Harlem Renaissance, linking her work to the broader context of Afro-surrealism in contemporary culture."

Aja Monet identifies as a surrealist blues poet, drawing inspiration from surrealism's historical context in response to fascism. Her new album, The Color of Rain, reflects themes of love, resistance, and contemporary absurdities. Monet's work serves as a response to societal suffering and abuse from power structures. She has received recognition for her poetry and performances, including a nomination from the NAACP and a collaboration with Stevie Wonder. Her music, particularly the single Hollyweird, captures the surreal landscape of Los Angeles post-wildfires, emphasizing the absurdity of racism and sexism.

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