Music
Kadhja Bonet #NewBlackHistoryMusic’s Sweetest Honeycomb
The introduction on her website gives you a literal gaze into her music and her authentic connection with the art. She’s an old soul carving her way through history with a timeless voice; as well as being one of a rare breed of artists who write and produce their own music with a well-crafted brilliance similar to that of a “Sea-foam green space Pinto”.
Her music is not to be boxed or likened to any reference that you may have pulled out of your uncle’s record collection or some experimental post afrofuturistic broken beat trifle; it is a sound unique to her. Meet LA’s own: Kadhja (Kad-ya Bo-nay) Bonet #NewBlackHistoryMusic’s honeycomb.
Can you describe the area and home you grew up in?
I grew up in Richmond California. I am one of 7 kids raised by both my parents. It was a tight fit in a small house, but we had a big yard and lots of music. My dad wanted us to experience more culture than what was offered in my neighbourhood and he pushed classical music on us from an early age.
Who is Kadhja Bonet and what is it that she would love our readers to know about her outside of what the media already knows?
I simply aim to express the truest versions of myself and reach my highest potential in this life.
What does Kadhja Bonet do and how does it contribute to the preservation of black history.
I am a musician, a story teller, a producer and a vocalist. One of the main reasons I make my music so dramatic and full is because I am attempting to convey some sense of black majesty. I hope that my self-worth, self-preservation, and my self-esteem becomes contagious and reminds some of my fellow diasporians of our true worth, in a way that extends outside of music and into personal life and use.
What is the general influence and mood around black history month among fellow Americans of mixed origins? Does being of mixed race affect how you perceive and celebrate black history month? If so, how?
Being of mixed race is interesting because our experience varies so much by our skin tone, by our socioeconomic bracket, by where we receive our education, and we are largely shaped by how we are perceived. I can’t speak for anyone but myself. but we are raised in a culture that minimizes our stories and humanity so much that sometimes black history month feels a bit like a joke. A few crumbs, I should say. Our history texts are so corrupt and misleading that I think a much better gesture would be to introduce new, less biased texts to our education system.
Who and what influences your work and what kind of influence and legacy would you like to leave behind?
I would love to be regarded as an uncompromising individual. I want to influence other people to be themselves as much as possible, to trust their own taste and instincts and where that will take their music, rather than being overly influenced by one source. The source is within us. We can’t help but absorb everything we have ever heard, but the work comes in refining your taste and holding yourself to it.
Black history month is only one month, do you think that it is enough an initiative to capture the essence of black history in United States?
Of course it is not enough to have one month to pretend to celebrate black history. Only when the textbooks are accurate and the public education system is no longer choking the resources for predominantly black and poor children, will black history month not feel so patronizing.
What Inspired the Honeycomb song?
Honeycomb is about being strung along by someone you care for, maybe even somewhat delusionally, while their actions suggest you are disposable to them. Somehow you are still infatuated with their charm so you have trouble cutting the chord.
What does the future hold for Kadhja, any plans of performing in South Africa?
I would love to perform in South Africa, hopefully the time will come.
Famous last words?
Be relentlessly you.
Also check out her work from Redbull Studios below
Written By: Lethabo Ngakane