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Just before Janelle Monáe’s DJ set at Cinespia – an outdoor film series framed by one-floor marble tombs Hollywood Graveyard – The multi-hyphenated artist wasn’t focused on just practicing a setlist.
Instead, Monet paused to guide a symbolic circle inspired by “The Craft”.
Inside the candle-lit mausoleum, Monáe and several close friends recreated a moment from the iconic 1996 classic film, which they would later introduce to a sold-out crowd at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The group chanted, “Light as a feather, stiff as a board,” before announcing, “It’s for the witches tonight.”
“It’s really about community for me,” Monáe said backstage with The Associated Press before performing a 20-minute set. “We love the ritualistic nature of what Halloween means: being with your friends, embracing your magic, and celebrating it together.”
That brief cycle of movement and music captured the essence of Monáe’s burgeoning Halloween world, where the artist says drama, performance and purpose meet under candlelight and bass lines. It’s all tied into a month-long creative residency through a series of events reflecting Monáe’s passion for Halloween.
Monáe said, “Halloween references what I already do every day.” “As an artist, I’m always making changes, world-building and inviting people to play in the worlds I create.”
Monáe’s Halloween and the catalyst behind the events
The Halloween experience reaches its peak this week with Vampire Beach, a massive celebration on the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday, followed by the annual Wondaveen party on Friday. Two signature events crown Monáe’s festive season.
This year, Monáe is fully embracing the role of Halloween and turning October into both a playground and a creative kingdom. What started as a love of wearing clothes as a child has turned into a movement that unites self-expression under one brand.
For Monáe, Halloween feels less like a holiday and more like a homecoming.
“I like change since childhood,” he said. “I create characters and worlds that I want to live in. I’m just playing.”
At Cinespia, Monáe’s set began with Nina Simone’s “I Put a Spell on You,” casting a musical spell over the crowd of witches and movie lovers. They included actor Rachel True, who played Rochelle in the original “The Craft.”
“Jenelle celebrates the weird thing that made people uncomfortable,” True said after her surprise appearance. “I love that she embraces it so fearlessly. When I was coming up, I was told I was less awkward, so seeing that energy come alive through Janelle is everything. We are Black Girls who own our weirdness, and we are united in that.
How Monet created a world where art meets imagination
A spirit of play has always shaped Monáe’s creative universe, from the tuxedo-clad android era to the futuristic gowns and otherworldly Halloween looks that have become her trademark.
In May, Monáe brought the same energy to the Met Gala’s black dandyism themed-event, wearing a black, red and white pin-striped suit for the collaboration. thom brown And Paul Tazewell and a tequila diamond.
Each October, Monáe treats the costumes like character studies: the Grinch’s daughter, a futuristic ET, even a space-age take on the classic horror icon. The cast also hosts AMC’s annual “Fearfest”.
Monet channels that imagination into a month-long residence of intense experiences. The itinerary already includes a visit to the L.A. Haunted Hayride at Moonee Manor, a DJ set for “The Craft” at Cinespia and her starring role as Sally in Danny Elfman’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” at the Hollywood Bowl last weekend.
From costume design to musical direction, each show bears Monáe’s fingerprints.
“I consider myself a world-building experience architect,” he said. “I want people to look around and think, these were some of the best memories of my life.”
On Thursdays, the Vampire Beach event offers a playful twist on the creatures of the night. The event takes place through Vondaveen, Monáe’s new brand connecting music, film, gaming and live experiences.
“Vampires can now stay in the sun because of sunscreen,” Monáe said, referencing the partnership with Vacation Sunscreen.
The blueprint behind the Mone Multiverse
Monáe’s creative foundation began with the Wondaland Collective, co-founded with Nate “Rocket” Wonder and Chuck Lightning. atlantaThat community of musicians, writers, and filmmakers evolved into a multidisciplinary center for world-building.
Now, it serves as the backbone for Vondaveen’s Halloween expansion. The hope is to bring the same spirit of collaboration to the vibrant and intense events.
“Wondaland has always represented art, community, imagination and pushing boundaries,” Monáe said. “Vondaveen expands that vision. It’s a real-world destination for people who love creativity and want to feel free to express it.”
From student workshops with horror screenwriter Akela Cooper to curated game nights and immersive music events, Mona sees every project as a portal to connection.
Monáe said, “Everything I create – from my albums to these events – sits under one creative umbrella.” “The universe has made me multidimensional, and I want people to see all those sides.”
Will Halloween expand to the New World?
Monáe hopes that what participants feel after each event is a lasting resonance. They see a moment still unfolding.
For Monáe, Halloween represents both a celebration and a blueprint for what is possible when creativity meets community. They envision taking the experience to other cities, including Atlanta, Miami, Chicago and Kansas City, where the artist was born and raised.
Each stop will have a new theme, which Monáe described as “almost like the Met Gala for Halloween”.
When October ends, Monáe is channeling that creative charge into future music and film projects.
“This season inspires me to create new worlds,” he said. “It keeps me dreaming.”