aja monet has announced her new album The Color of Rain, arriving May 22 via drink sum wtr, alongside the release of her new single and video “Elsewhere.”
The aja monet The Color of Rain album introduces a layered fusion of jazz, soul, hip-hop, and spoken word, with “Elsewhere” serving as a central entry point into the project’s sonic and emotional landscape. The track features Meshell Ndegeocello and Georgia Anne Muldrow, bringing together three distinct voices across a composition that moves fluidly between poetry and music.
Co-produced by monet, Justin Brown, and Meshell Ndegeocello, The Color of Rain album builds on the foundation of her Grammy-nominated debut while expanding its scope. Instead of separating spoken word from instrumentation, monet integrates her voice directly into the compositions, shifting cadence and tone as the music evolves. The result is a project that resists fixed genre definitions while remaining rooted in jazz and soul traditions.
Thematically, the aja monet The Color of Rain album explores introspection, resistance, and emotional clarity within a broader cultural moment marked by uncertainty. Drawing from the lineage of the Black Arts Movement, the album reframes poetry as both a personal and political act, balancing vulnerability with urgency.
“Elsewhere” also carries a deeper origin. monet has described the song as an homage to Sly Stone, written in response to his passing and shaped by a collaborative studio process that brought together multiple artists in real time.
The album’s collaborative scope extends further, featuring contributions from Mick Jenkins and Vic Mensa, along with a wider ensemble of musicians contributing to its live, improvisational feel.
In support of the release, aja monet will perform at Carnegie Hall on May 20, bringing The Color of Rain album to the stage at Zankel Hall. The performance marks a significant milestone in her career and reflects her growing presence across both music and literary audiences.
Following her 2024 Grammy nomination, monet continues to expand her reach as both a poet and performer. With The Color of Rain, she delivers a project that dissolves the boundaries between spoken word and music, positioning the album as one of the most distinctive interdisciplinary releases of 2026.
Featured image credit: Daniel L Johnson
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