With a discography that embraces South African homegrown genres from Amapiano and Gqomto her own pioneering style dubbed “future ghetto funk”, musician and creative visionary Moonchild Sanelly has from the outset blazed her own unique trail. The Port Elizabeth-bornmaverick is known for her vibrant, inimitable style, affirming lyricism and storytelling, as well as inspirational honesty, across a career which deftly encompasses constant experimentation and innovation, while always remaining accessible and singularly recognizable as Moonchild Sanelly.

Following the success of her award-winning debut studio album Rabulapha! (2015) and the genre-crossing sophomore album Phases (2022), the self-described musical shapeshifter is back with the release her new studio album Full Moon in January 2025. Produced by Johan Hugo, Full Moon is a collection of 12 songs which displays Sanelly’s unique sonic fingerprint, joyous attitude, distinctive vocals and genre-bending hits, not forgetting a glorious aesthetic crowned by her signature teal-coloured Moon Mop.

“My music is about the body and liberation. No one can make it OK for you to feel like you don’t love yourself,” she explains. This new album is the body of work of which she is most proud, as we are seeing the many sides of Moonchild Sanelly. “That’s why it’s called Full Moon”, she says, adding, “A lot of South African music is about dance and forgetting your problems. My vulnerability is about me finding words to describe situations that I used to say f*** you to, when I didn’t have previously to express them because of how dark they were to get into this journey.”