Moonchild Sanelly

Photo Courtesy Of Moonchild Sanelly

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
I was born and raised in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Matriculated there, then moved to Durban to study fashion design. In September this year, I would have been in Johannesburg for six years.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR PRESENT CITY OR YOUR HOMETOWN?
Xhosa. My Xhosa is a huge part of my Future Ghetto Funk. My language and wherever in the world I travel.

WHAT WERE YOUR INFANT ASPIRATIONS?
Brenda, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Eminem, Jill Scott, Thebe, Bongomuffin, Mary J. Blige, Joyous Celebration. Destiny's Child,  Avril Lavigne, DMX...The list is endless. I wanted to be on stage all the time. I danced ballroom in school. I just wanted to be in the spotlight.

WHAT HAS BEEN A PIVOTAL MOMENT?
Being nominated at the SAMA Excellence Awards in the "Best Alternative" category for my first album. I didnt expect it, then that was followed by a European Tour which was absolutely amazing, and Imexsa made it possible. Its was life changing.

WHY MUSIC?
My music makes me happy. I'm safe. I fear nothing and no one. It's my bestest friend. I live it. I live in it. It's in me.

HOW WOULD YOU CLASSIFY YOUR SOUND?
I call it Future Ghetto Funk, which is inspired by Kwaito jazz and hip hop strung together by electronic sounds.

WHAT THEMES DO YOU PURSUE THROUGH YOUR LYRICS?
Sexual ownership, women empowerment, self acceptance, mental and social issues. I'm the advocate here tell you about orgasm and for you to know that you matter.

IS THERE A SONG OR MUSICAL PASSAGE THAT NEVER FAILS TO MOVE YOU EMOTIONALLY?
James Blake's "Sibling Rilvalry".

WHAT OR WHO HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOU?
My late mother. She was life.

WHAT’S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?
I really don't have one. I can write on the spot. Think as I cut fabric. I dunno. I think I'm just always ready to go. There's no time to process I think.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
Sexual anime.

HOW DOES YOU AESTHETIC TRANSLATE IN OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE?
I'm an artist, so I have different ways of expressing my art . When I do hang out, I think, now I'm thinking long term as in networks and creating relationships that will be beneficial in the business scheme of things. I rarely go out thouugh.

ANY BEAUTY RITUALS YOU SWEAR BY?
To never use vaseline on the face daytime because the sun will fry you nice. And no not like in a tan.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE ON YOUR HAIRSTYLES?
I don't change my Moonmop. I've had it for five years. Before that, I had a red one for seven years. So the transition from ted to teal, was the fact that i didn't want to look like everyone because suddenly that colour was the in thing. With the teal Moonmop, I patented it so that when eventually people want to copy, I own it and its legally sorted. I'm never pressured to find something new especially as that I love seeing my Moonbeams rocking different shades and being innovative with the wool now. Have you not seen the streets, girl.

WHERE DO YOU GO TO GET YOUR HAIR DONE?
I do my own Moonmop. Been doing my hair since high school.

WHAT MATERIAL IS USED FOR THE MOONMOP?
I use wool.

WHAT IS YOUR HAIR CARE ROUTINE GENERALLY?
I always have my Moonmop, and really, I don't do much. i wake and shake. I do use lotion to maintain the forever moving hairline.

HOW DO YOU SPEND A DAY OFF?
I write songs or make garments, for clients or myself, for stage performances

HOW DO YOU RETURN TO CENTER?
Home and video calls to my bigger purpose, my kids.