Golden Globe Award winning and Emmy nominated Michaela Jaé, best known for her groundbreaking roles in film and television, is making waves once again, with the release of her newest album 33. In an interview with GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos, Vice President of Communications and Talent, Michaela opens up about the creation of her alter ego, the futuristic “33F7,” and how her music is designed to resonate deeply with queer audiences.
At the heart of 33 is Michaela’s creative brainchild, 33F7, a bionic character crafted as a model of perseverance, evolution, and strength. “This whole concept of the album, I feel like I wanted to try to be a voice for this character that I created named 33F7, Michaela explained. “She’s a model of creation and I wanted to be the voice for her since she’s the future and she’s not able to physically be here.”
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For Michaela, the character embodies the journey from past to future, symbolizing growth, self-discovery, and resilience. The album takes listeners on 33F7’s path through a cyberpunk, dystopian world where she navigates the complexities of identity, creation, and empowerment. “I wanted people to see how she became who she was in the future,” Michaela added. “This album tells a story about how she was built, how she was born, and where she ended up.”
One of the album’s standout tracks, “Green Lights,” serves as a crucial point in 33F7’s journey. As Michaela shared, the song represents a pivotal moment of creation, growth, and breaking free. “When I first created ‘Green Lights,’ it was literally the beginning of her life in the future and how she was going to recollect her past and how she was in the present day to really try to fix the future.”
The metaphor of “Green Lights” speaks to persistence and determination in the face of adversity, and Michaela encourages her listeners to take every opportunity that comes their way. “Green means go, it doesn’t mean stop. Keep taking every single green light until you reach a red light, honey,” she said. The song’s message of continuous forward movement echoes the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. “For model 33F7, she’s in a lab being built with no recollection of who she is. The only thing she knows is to run and go.”
While 33 is an exploration of Michaela’s futuristic alter ego, it also carries a deeply personal and universal message for queer listeners. The album stands as a testament to the power of persistence, growth, and self-belief. “I wanted my music to really penetrate those of queer people and make them feel and know that no matter what anyone says… We are the example. We are the testament. We are the catalyst to profound and beautiful, prolific work.”
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33F7 journey through failure and eventual success mirrors the resilience many queer individuals face in their own lives. “This is her 33rd model. Every other model has failed or malfunctioned, and finally, in her 33rd creation, she’s succeeding,” Michaela said. Her album’s story of perseverance reminds listeners that despite setbacks and failures, success is always possible with persistence and self-belief.
Michaela Jaé’s 33 isn’t just another album—it’s a deeply personal and artistic statement aimed at inspiring and uplifting the queer community. Through the journey of 33F7, Michaela invites listeners into a world where identity, struggle, and growth intersect in a powerful narrative that speaks to both the challenges and triumphs of queer existence.
Her parting words in the interview emphasize her commitment to using her platform to spark change: “We are the catalyst, and that’s what this music represents.” As Michaela embarks on this new chapter in her music career, 33 is poised to be an album for queer people everywhere—a reminder that no matter the obstacles, we are built to thrive.
33 drops on September 26th.