Trailblazing South African musician Moonchild Sanelly has always, since the very beginning, determinedly done things her own way. An artistic visionary, her drive to succeed is fuelled by an innate creativity, unique self-expression and extraordinary confidence, all underpinned by personal pain, trauma and a deep conviction and commitment to standing up for what she believes in.
About
Growing up in Port Elizabeth, Moonchild’s (born Sanelisiwe Twisha) music-filled childhood was one of creative exploration: whether it was self-choreographing dance routines to Spice Girls tracks, teaching herself to play the piano, singing at church with her family or writing poetry, artistic expression was always encouraged.
A move to Durban in 2005 to study fashion saw Sanelly become immersed in the local music scene, and later in Johannesburg, she would write for reggae bands and freestyle against other rappers, often overcoming misogynistic attitudes in the process. “In my writing, I would pay homage to my hard times and the many years that I struggled, because it has shaped me,” she says. She soon established her own signature sound: self-described as ‘future-ghetto-funk’, which would catapult Moonchild Sanelly to fame as South Africa’s most unique performer. With her electrifying live show – and self-designed flamboyant outfits – she became a superstar on her home turf. With an eye on audiences outside of South Africa, a commercialised approach to unapologetically spreading her message – one of female sexual empowerment – “liberation for women, in the bedroom, in the boardroom, knowing your power… I needed to be heard by a lot of people” – soon found a global audience which saw her invited to perform at festivals such as SXSW, Primavera, Glastonbury and Boardmasters.
On her new album, Full Moon, she says:
“I called this record FULL MOON to convey a really clear sense that I got from living and writing these experiences. Phases showcased all my sides, the different phases of the moon, and this one is all those parts of me being in unison with each other. When the moon is in phases, it shows parts of itself at a time. Full Moon is me, lit up in my entirety. The arrival of my whole self. It’s the arrival.”
She added – “FULL MOON is a culmination of everything that I needed to experience to get to this point, every emotion I had to feel, everything I went through… This project has it all, from beginning to end. The fights, the sadness, the getting back up, the letting go, the forgiveness, the acceptance. There’s a sense of mental and spiritual togetherness that comes with forgiveness and it makes you whole. So here I am, a FULL Moon.”
