The Sonic Heart

Hi, and welcome to The Sonic Heart. 🤗

My name is Palesa Moletsane, but you can call me Black Lotus.

What I look like on a VERY good day.

There is absolutely nothing special about me, I am just a huge music fanatic; ½ of a Vaal based DJ duo established in 2020, named Hint of Mahogany and, as I have discovered, I am not too shabby at putting words together. 😎

I identify as a beat junkie with a soul like Nina's, and yes, I mean Nina Simone. 🥰 I happen to be one of those people that can tell whether or not they will like a song within the first 4 beats. When I am behind the decks, I usually play around with sounds like RnB, Hip-Hop and Beats with a heavy Jazz and Soul influence, however, I decided long ago that I would not box myself into specific genres or sounds and that is how I found myself being the genre-bending and genre-defying DJ that I am today. Not to blow my own horn or anything but I have managed to convince myself (and a few other people 😜) that I am preeeetty good at it. 😅

When I am not behind the decks, I am a regular Vaal hun with a gold tooth, (teen) mom to a cute baby girl who drives me up the walls most of the time, daughter to my angel of a mom and OG of a dad, sister to two brothers (only girl and middle child), friend to couple of dope ass people, I work a 9-5 to make ends meet (that I cannot wait to get out of 😅) and I cannot survive without earphones. I promise you, if I happen to leave my earphones at home, I buy another pair because sometimes, my thoughts are way too loud for my liking. It only makes sense to drown them in music.

Sometimes, I fail to drown my loud and invasive thoughts, which leads to a terrible depression, anxiety and imposter syndrome that leaves me second guessing all the achievements, efforts and ideas that I pour my very heart and soul into. That sucks, right? I mean, what's the whole point then? All that has ever gotten me is a whole psychosomatic disorder and having to listen to my mind telling me it hates me, while I try to convince my heart and soul that the hate does not define what we deserve.

I am still not too sure if The Sonic Heart will be more of Black Lotus or Palesa, as music is such an integral part of both Palesa as a regular girl from the hood as well as Black Lotus as a DJ, but I am looking forward to finding out and I am hoping that you will walk and enjoy this journey with me.

😊

"As the universe, so the soul - experience love and music defined."

- Black Lotus

I have quite a few plans for The Sonic Heart. Listen, we are talking think pieces on the music culture (especially in South Africa), views and reviews of my favorite music, fire playlists and, eventually, a segment called “Art in Heart”, which will feature artists and movements; preferably female and queer, to have meaningful and profound discussions around how it is having to navigate the arts scene and culture in our country.

Also, what's a music blog without music? Here's a little something to say hi and welcome to the neighborhood, a young15-minute blend of a few of my favorite Neo-Soul tunes to say hi. 🥰

https://on.soundcloud.com/ho7Mo

I'd love to get to know you too, if you don't mind. Drop a comment and tell me a bit about who you are and what art means to you in the comments. 😉

Until next time with my next rambles, keep it locked! ✌🏽

With all my artsy fartsy love,

Palesa "Black Lotus" Moletsane. xx