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Cape Town - Moonchild Sanelly performed at Boiler Room x Ballantine’s True Music Africa Finale on Thursday, 21 June in Johannesburg.
A few hours before the big event which - other than live performances - included a space for the continent’s music community to learn and exchange ideas through panel discussions as well as a keynote conversation, Moonchild told us about her performance, what's next for her and breaking into the US and U.K market.
WATCH MOONCHILD SANELLY, UNCLE PARTYTIME AND MORE'S PERFORMANCE AT THE FINALE HERE:
Can you tell us what it was like when you got the call asking you to perform at the Boiler Room X Ballantine’s True Music Africa finale?
Epic! It was so epic because literally the day before I was speaking to friend of mine, based in London (because I was going to London) and I was like: ‘Can you hook me up when I get to London?’. And was like: ‘Oh yes, I can hook you up with Boiler Room.’ And then literally the next day my manger sent me the message: ‘you’re booked for Boiler Room.’ So, it was meant to happen. I am so thankful and grateful to be a part of it. It’s flipping grand. Especially because I am doing a lot of stuff for the UK market now, it’s just grand as fuck. It’s an honour.
Is there a Boiler Room performance that you have seen in person or in a video clip that you have seen that really spoke to you? Or you connected with?
It was Nonku Phiri, I started paying more attention when I saw that she was doing stuff and I think she was in London as well. And it was like: ‘One day when I grow up I’m going to be on the stage link Nonku’ (laughs).
When you were putting together your set list for the finale which songs did you include and why?
I am selling me as I am. I didn’t take out anything because I am going all in. Because like everyone is going to be there. The people who play at midnight at any event are going to be there, performing. So, you’ve literally got that ‘O’Clock’ moment. That Cinderella hour. For the whole night, that’s just going to be my set. It’s going to be epic.
Whether you’re hitting the boiler room stage or performing in Europe with Die Antwoord what’s the one thing you always take on tour with you?
Leotard. And Red Bull. A leotard and a can of Red Bull is all I need to have with me. People really think I’m drunk or on drugs. I don’t even take drugs. Okay I smoke weed, but that really doesn’t give you the energy you need. It’s Red Bull, just Red Bull. Even my hospitality rider has Red Bull. Yes, I have to have a can of Red Bull on stage with me. I don’t care about water, I have Red Bull, I just go. Water will be coming out of my body. I lose myself, you know, I’ve never introduced the band when I perform. Because I lose myself in the performance; I forget everything and everyone.
What’s next for Moonchild?
I’ve just done a trap song with Maphorisa. I’ve done some rap, obviously, for the London market. Maphorisa is going to be debuting that side of me because I get in there and write for every genre. So with that one it was, let me just show off my writing skills without singing. We did that on a trap song. He’s debuting it. There’s another, in face there’s quite a few songs from him (and I) there will be a mixtape from me and Maphorisa. We’re bringing out the mixtape before I leave the country.
So, before August?
No, no, no I don’t know exactly when it will be dropping. It might come out when I’m away. Because right now we’re just recording, every night when we’re not tired. We’re mixing hip-hop and gqom and something international. I’m doing a project in London as well; do you know the Gorillaz front man Damon Albarn?
Yes, I do!
I’ve already got a project with him and a matching tattoo. So, I’m going to be at his house in London making more music for the European/US market. I’m going to take over the world, so in July that’s what I’m doing. And it’s going to be crazy, insane.
