Sonic swirlings _{by Alessia Belsito-Riera}

Born in Hawai‘i and raised in Aotearoa, Pōneke-based songwriter Zoe Moon is an artist who dances between strength and softness.

Moon is the daughter of multi-GRAMMY®-winning blues legend Taj Mahal, but resides within a genre of her own making dubbed folk R&B. She weaves a world of influences into an undulating tapestry of sonic sensibility, embracing gospel, soul, blues, and jazz, as well as hip-hop and R&B. With an uncanny knack for distilling honesty in her writing, Moon’s music is unbridled and eclectic, crafted around lyrics that cut to the truth and a voice that glides from rich lows to angelic highs.

For Moon, music is the very fabric that connects and transcends. Proudly embracing her roots as a Black New Zealand/American woman, she seeks truth through insightful lyricism, the result being songs that are heartfelt, fearless, and unforgettable; that explore the interpersonal nuances of identity, life, and self-love with a seasoned ear and an open heart.

With Silver Scroll-nominated single The Letter and charting single In Person, she has firmly cemented herself as one of New Zealand’s most distinct contemporary voices, while collaborations with the likes of TOI, Estère, Tami Neilson, and her father showcase Moon’s wide-ranging artistry.

Fresh from attending the GRAMMYs, Moon will present Real Black for Me at the Wellington Jazz Festival, where she will sing the music of Roberta Flack at Meow on the 17^th of October.

“I’m excited to explore the connection I have with this material and move into the depths of gratitude I have for Roberta and her artistry,” Moon says. “I’m excited to give myself to this music and see what I discover on the other side of this show. It is imperative that Roberta is celebrated in this year that we lost her. I can’t wait to spend time with these songs, with my talented friends, and with the audience to create an unforgettable memory and honour someone who gave us so much music and beauty in this thing called life”.