Review

MOONGA K. redefines the cowboy aesthetic through a queer African lens on new single “hold on!”

Someone call Beyoncé, because there’s a new Cowboy Carter in town!

MOONGA K. has always been a fearless creative, and he’s back, bolder than ever, with a tantalising new single titled “hold on!”

The track is a first glimpse into his highly anticipated new country-inspired EP, OUTLAW, set for release this June.

Blending elements of funk, soul and Americana-infused country, hold on! is a choir-driven anthem of resilience, accompanied by a playful video set on a horse ranch, setting the stage for a project that redefines the cowboy aesthetic through a queer African lens.

MOONGA is a lone cowboy on the open road in this dusty visual, guitar in hand, traversing vast landscapes and small-town bars. And it feels like the perfect portrayal of him as an artist, given that he has always been a metaphorical outlaw in some way.

His music challenges the status-quo, drawing on pop, jazz, R&B and neo-soul with a pointedly queer touch, meaning that no one genre is ever the same in MOONGA’s musical world.

And now, he’s paying homage to the black cowboys of the 19th century, a narrative often erased from mainstream storytelling. It’s the start of a dynamic visual campaign that is set for a cinematic rollout over the next few months, with second single “stole my heart set for release on the 16th of May, telling the story of a queer cowboy romance.

Sit tight folks, this one’s going to be a WILD ride.