Moonga K talks about kaleidoscopic music journey

Much of Moonga K’s life has been plagued by mental issues, which he says are triggered by major insecurities. They stem from comparing himself to his peers in the industry – not from a place of envy or jealousy, but from fear of never becoming what he’s destined to be. “I’ve had multiple mental breakdowns. But since I started therapy three years ago, I’ve been more open about my struggles with my family and friends.”

His mum has been instrumental to his success with her unwavering support. And he’s now decided to share his distressing experiences through his music. Inspired by Frank Ocean, Moonga K started writing songs at the age of 14. The 23 year old has steadily gained traction on the music scene since his breakout, six-track EP Free, but his rise has often been rocky and riotous.

Before he relocated to Johannesburg, he took a two-year sabbatical from music in Botswana where he worked for music festivals to gain industry knowledge. But the experience fell short of preparing him for the South African music industry, throwing him into self-doubt. “There’s a difference in how music is consumed in SA compared to Botswana,” he says. “And having to move between the two markets as an independent artist who didn’t have many connections messed me up. In Botswana, music streaming platforms are not a common thing, at least back then they weren’t. There’s no culture of going to Apple Music and purchasing songs, so I had to learn about it when I got to SA.”

He is confident and determined when talking about himself, telling of someone who has grown into one’s own skin. The enigmatic musician credits Apple Music as his launch pad after he was featured on the New Artist Spotlight platform. Following the Apple Music feature, he performed at Rocking the Daisies, Oppikoppi and Smoking Dragon in the Drakensburg Mountains, which he says was his favourite festival performance.

But the artist doesn’t seem to enjoy much attention when not performing. “Social media also contributed to my pressures. I’m not a fan of it – I feel a strong disconnect. So, having to navigate and balance all of that was a problem. All I ever wanted to do was to sing. Before COVID-19, I wanted to dedicate my entire life to doing music full-time, but it’s a huge challenge with the current music landscape.”

The musician has three albums under his belt and is signed to Platoon, “a brand that supports artists who focus on who they are and resonates with my ethos.” On Platoon, the musician released what he calls a mini-album, which is titled an ode to growth, pt. 1, in May 2020. Recorded over nine months, the project saw him shift back to his R&B and soul roots, The seven-track kaleidoscopic album tackles topics around fear, anxiety and unrequited love. It offers deep introspection and questions his position in the music industry. The music is minimal but delves into experimentation with his effortless delivery. And it encapsulates his experiences of the past two years. Part 2 of the album will be released at a later stage, and the two albums will culminate into one piece with stories that relate to each other.

He juxtaposes his latest offering to his debut EP, which was produced in a bedroom studio. On his latest project, he forges artistic purity with more consistency and direction: “I’m more confident in myself now. We have so much unlearning to do. Generational trauma is also a conversation I love to have. We’ve had enough of not understanding our feelings at length – otherwise we won’t heal. It’s important to find healing in conversation and not in violence.”

Although he loves, he feels love is never reciprocated. He often talks about it in songs such as ‘i know (i do)’ and ‘rock with me’ featuring Giuliette Price. Here he touches on asexuality and being afraid of intimacy. But his top track on the album, he says, is ‘fool’s gold’. “We did it in four hours, we had good energy and it just flowed.”

Until recently, Moonga K had taken a back seat during the sudden rush to live-stream performances. “I already feel a disconnect with social media and the same applied to live streaming. When the lockdown restrictions set in I waited to see how others are doing it first.” Last week he performed at Planet Afropunk, the event’s live global edition. Other virtual live performances include Urban Sessions and Blooming Sounds from Joburg.

At the end of it all, Moonga K wants to be seen as an artist who inspires people as a nonconformist who laboured through traditional ways of thinking and stayed true to his creativity. “Throughout the inspirations that I’ve had through Ocean and Prince, I didn’t see someone who represented my thoughts and feelings wholeheartedly, so I want to be the representation for myself and others who feel they want to be honest, vulnerable and explicit,” Moonga K says.