When Elton John says he plays your album constantly, the world takes notice. On his show Rocket Hour, he caught up with South African star Moonchild Sanelly to talk about her bold new album Full Moon, her UK rise, and her early days flipping Spice Girls songs.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn)

From her electric energy to a surprise Little Simz collab, this vibrant exchange captures an artist fully owning her moment. Here’s how the interview went down!

Elton John (00:00): Hi.

Moonchild Sanelly (00:02): Hi, Sir Elton John. How are you?

Elton John (00:07): My guest this week is the incredible Moonchild Sanelly, who I absolutely love. Your album, Full Moon, is just one of the best things I’ve heard for years. She’s from South Africa, but at the moment she’s in Manchester because she’s touring Great Britain. Moonchild, it’s so wonderful to have you on the show.

Moonchild Sanelly (00:26): Oh my God, I’m so happy. Thank you for having me on the show, such an honour. Oh my God, I keep saying, “I’m blown away.” I feel like the candle in the wind, I am blown away.

Elton John (00:44): Well, you are so amazing. Your whole album is just wonderful, I just play it constantly. And your video for ‘Falling’ is one of my favourite videos of all time, and it’s just I fell in love with you visually and I fell in love with you orally. And tell us, how did you start writing music, you come from South Africa?

Moonchild Sanelly (01:06): Yes.

Elton John (01:07): And so what prompted you to start writing music?

Moonchild Sanelly (01:11): I was definitely always surrounded by music, but my first great memory was when my friends had no access to the internet and I did. So I used to take Spice Girl lyrics and put my own melodies. Because I didn’t necessarily have all the albums, I had all the popular songs, and my friends had no access at all. So I take those lyrics, put my own melodies, and we called ourselves Baps Girls. And so I’d either be Baby Spice or Scary Spice because I ran the thing. So that was my first real memory, it was flipping Spice Girls songs to make them my own songs.

Elton John (01:45): Yeah, wow. Well, your songs are fantastic. Your rapping is fantastic. Your melodies are fantastic. What I love about you, I also love the new single you’ve done with Little Simz
…….. That is fantastic.

Moonchild Sanelly (02:00): Yes.

Elton John (02:02): Were you happy to do that?

Moonchild Sanelly (02:04): Absolutely. I’m a Little Simz fan. I was honoured. I literally was walking downstairs, she WhatsApped me to say, “There’s a song I’d like you to be a part of.” I said, “I’m leaving tomorrow. I am here today. Organise a studio, I’m there like a bear.” And I went on the same day because I’m such a fan. 

Elton John (03:05): Now you are on tour in Britain

Elton John (03:44): How’s the reception been so far?

Moonchild Sanelly (03:46): It’s been ridiculous. Even in South Africa, they believe I’ve moved, I live in London now because the reception has been sublime. And the craziest, wildest thing I was telling my manager, and I think I keep telling her, “Every time I realised that the pop music I grew up to was actually from the UK.” Because I’ll hear a song and I know the lyrics, she’d be like, “How do you know that?” I was like, “That’s my childhood.” And it’s crazy that now I am being received so beautifully in a space where the music, where it stemmed from was actually my upbringing, because actually a lot of the pop was from the UK. And feeling like home is beautiful.

Elton John (04:23): I can’t wait to see you live, because you are such a personality. You are just full of life and full of joy, and I’m sure when you’re on stage that comes across 100 times more than when I’m talking to you now, and I’m sure your electric live.

Moonchild Sanelly (04:39): Thank you so much. I get this a lot where it’s like people say, “Your energy, your energy is something else outside of what your message is, and it just all translates and we just love being in your space.” So I always say the freedom comes out without you thinking about who’s watching you, because you only have one life to live, you better live it at your ultimate.

Elton John (05:00): Yeah, but boy, do we need your joy at the moment, because the world is a nightmare. But we need people like you who’ve spread love and joy and energy, good energy, to people. Because music has that power, and you certainly have the power to transmit that joy and energy across. You have it so much and I think it’s brilliant.

Moonchild Sanelly (05:20): Thank you so much. Thank you so much. You even know my name?

Elton John (05:24): Yeah.

Moonchild Sanelly (05:29): Oh my goodness. It’s ridiculously amazing, thank you so much.

Elton John (05:32): Listen, we’re going to play Scrambled Eggs from your album Full Moon with your love, and I wish you the best.

Moonchild Sanelly (05:37): Thank you.

Elton John (05:38): I wish you the best on the rest of the tour, and one day I’m going to catch up with you and give you the biggest hug, okay?

Moonchild Sanelly (05:44): Okay, thank you so much. I hope you’re going to have machines because my hugs are so tight, you might need some air. You might need some more air than you already got. Thank you so much Mr. Elton.

Elton John (05:56): I love you. Moonchild Sanelly.

Moonchild Sanelly (05:57): I love you.