Emerging artist Luna Raye, born Dintle Lesela, is ready to shake up the music scene with her fresh sound and magnetic stage presence. Drawing inspiration from a blend of genres including R&B, jazz, house, and amapiano, Luna Raye made a bold entrance with her debut single, Girls Wanna Have Fun, released in celebration of Women’s Month.
In an interview with TshisaLIVE, the rising star discussed her music, the significance of her debut single, and her future projects.
When asked about the timing and theme of her single, Luna Raye explained, “Releasing the single for Women’s Month was important for myself and my team because though the song is fun and playful, it touches on sisterhood and encourages women to personify confidence. Sisterhood is something we cannot replace and I think it’s important we continue to highlight that.”
Balancing her music career with her final year of criminology studies at the University of Pretoria is no small feat, but Luna Raye has it under control. “I try to make sure I’m not prioritising one over the other. Time management and planning ahead is a big thing when it comes to that. It’s also important that I don’t allow stress from my music to affect my school performance, and vice versa. Luckily I only have three months left of school so I won’t have to sacrifice one for the other,” she shared.
With mentorship from industry veterans like Refiloe Ramogase and recognition from Empire Music South Africa, Luna Raye has found strong support in her artistic journey. “I am so grateful that my talents have been recognized by so many influential people in the industry. My support system has helped me step outside my comfort zone and explore genres I didn’t know I could sound good on,” she said.
As for what’s next, Luna Raye is already gearing up for another single in October and an EP by the end of the year. “I am especially excited for the EP as it will give my supporters a sense of how diverse my music is, but keeping R&B elements at the core of my songs. They can expect a fusion of traditional R&B, Afro-R&B, amapiano, pop, and more. People can also expect to learn more about me through this EP, as I will be expressing more than just the playful side of me,” she revealed.
