Tour news: Janelle Monáe and Kimbra (+ video)

Janelle Monáe and Kimbra will play in Auckland in May.

They met by chance, and now the friendship between Kimbra and Janelle Monáe has turned into one of the finest co-headlining tours of the year.

Janelle Monáe and Kimbra: The Golden Electric Tour will play one show at Auckland's Vector Arena on May 24.

They have also released a joint single; a mash-up of Aretha Franklin's Rock Steady and Michael Jackson's Wanna be Startin' Somethin'.

The pair met when they were both playing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2013, where they met and started jamming, just for fun.

Fast-forward to 2014 and Monáe and Kimbra's musical collaboration is hitting the road. The production will feature both joint and individual performances - both artists will perform separate sets with their bands, as well as performing together.

Monáe released her second album, The Electric Lady, late last year, which hit top five on the Billboard charts. On the album, she collaborated with Outkast's Big Boi, Miguel, Erykah Badu and Prince.

This will be the first New Zealand show for the Kansas City singer.

However Kiwi audiences will be familiar with Kimbra. The local star made a splash around the world with her debut album Vows, winning five New Zealand Music Awards, an Aria Award and her duet with Gotye scored her a worldwide number one hit and two Grammy Awards.

Kimbra's second album is expected later this year.

Tickets go on sale April 17 through Ticketmaster, with pre-sale tickets available on April 15 through Live Nation.

Janelle and Kimbra: The Golden Electric Tour
When: May 24
Where: Vector Arena, Auckland

- nzherald.co.nz