:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Janelle-Monae-The-Hollywood-Reporter-102324-tout-mk-b2ff7115a7934b94ba7a37ddbae317c1.jpg)
Janelle Monáe is revealing a major detail about how her elaborate Halloween looks come to life.
The 38-year-old musician has come to be known for her intricate costumes such as David Bowieand The Fifth Element‘s Diva Plavalaguna. In 2023, she dressed as a lifelike chameleon.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter shared on Wednesday, Oct. 23, the 38-year-old musician shared that an anonymous benefactor funds the creation of her costumes. When asked how she budgets for her looks, which often include special effects makeup and custom pieces, Monáe said, “I have a fairy Halloween mother.”
“Because it’s performance art,” she continued. “My job is to make people believe in their imagination. That is a job, that is my purpose. Imagination inspires nations. It is important to the committee of imagineers that I go out and I do that good work.”
The 10-time Grammy nominee went on to explain that “there’s a fund that is set aside to make people believe in art, and again, believe in performance art.”
Pol Kurucz @polkurucz/The Hollywood Reporter; Arturo Holmes/Getty
“What I’m doing is performance art, and it is drawing attention to the need for money in the arts, for more grants for schools,” she said. “We must tap into the imaginations of our kids. These are the people that are going to be the innovators of the future. I’m so happy to have support of people that believe in performance art and believe in me as the person to get that message out.”
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
Monáe didn’t reveal the identity of the donor but said that they are “absolutely not” in the entertainment industry.
While promoting her new role as the host of AMC’s FearFest this Halloween season, Monáe opened up to PEOPLE about her passion for creating costumes.
Pol Kurucz @polkurucz/The Hollywood Reporter; Arturo Holmes/Getty
“I love transforming,” she said. “And I think one of the reasons that I realized, I mean, Halloween and transforming into characters, it brings me joy.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
As for this year’s costume, Monáe hinted that it will be “an iconic movie character.”
“I’m going to have multiple costumes,” she added. “So, last year I couldn’t be the costume that I’m going to be this year because of the strike. And I was standing in solidarity with my fellow actors and writers. And they asked us not to be any movie characters. So, the only hint I can give is it’s a movie character.”
The singer continued, “It’s such a happy thing for me where I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m going to get to transform into this.’ I remember how I felt when I watched this character, and I can’t wait to pay homage to it. And I spend so much time getting emotionally connected to what it’s going to look like, and how it’s going to make people feel.”
