Janelle Monae

It's no secret that we're enormous Janelle Monae fangirls. Not only is she creative and brilliant (read our interview to see why), but she also has an amazing set of pipes — and on a superficial note, she's incredibly stylish and gorgeous.

Her newest single, "Cold War," has been on repeat on our iPod for months, and its just-released video shows a softer side of the singer. It's vaguely reminiscent of a certain Sinéad O'Connor video, but really, nothing compares to Janelle. If you're craving a similar glow to your skin, I've got three words for you: MAC Strobe Cream. A dab of this on cheekbones instantly brightens the complexion and can give you the same kind of luminous look. As far as belting out tunes with that kind of voice, though, you're on your own.

Pompadours were popularized in the 1950s by a hip-wiggling Elvis, and the voluminous style is making a bit of a comeback as of late. Just yesterday at the Cannes Film Festival, Kate Beckinsale was spotted wearing this full-on-top look, while Maggie Gyllenhaal donned a tame version at the 2010 Costume Institute Gala. And we can't forget singer Janelle Monae, who has made the high-to-the-sky pomp her signature style. To get the look at home, apply a volumizing product to damp hair, blow-dry using a round brush, and place the hair in rollers to create even more volume. Remove the rollers, tease the hair high, shape into the desired style, and secure with bobby pins. For a finishing touch, rake your fingers through the front to create lots of lift.

If you haven't heard of Janelle Monáe, you are missing out. Seriously. The Grammy-nominated singer has a smooth but strong voice like felted cashmere, feet like Fred Astaire, and style like nobody else. Fresh off supporting tour dates with Erykah Badu and No Doubt, she's sharing her high-energy show at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on July 4, followed by a performance July 6 at Afro-Punk in Brooklyn. Check out her Many Moons video and you'll see why a live performance is not to be missed.

I spoke to Janelle this week about her music, her inspirations, and — of course — her style. She's as sweet as she is intelligent, so read on for the interview.