SA: Joya Mooi expands Open Hearts with deluxe edition

Known for her rich storytelling and genre-blending sound, Mooi expands on the original six-track project with additional songs that continue her introspective and socially conscious narrative.

Central to the Open Hearts project is a balance between groove and meaning, combining alternative R&B, electronic and neo-soul influences with reflective lyrics. The standout new track, ‘Hush’, draws inspiration from the story of Juliana, a woman who escaped captivity in 17th-century Amsterdam. Featuring hushed percussion and spectral synths, the track quietly evokes themes of resistance and remembrance.

Born to a South African father and a Dutch mother, Mooi’s music often explores themes of heritage, belonging, and cultural hybridity. Her sound, a fusion of alternative R&B, electronic textures and indie elements, has earned praise from Billboard, CLASH, The Line of Best Fit and Notion, along with playlist support from Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

With the Open Hearts Deluxe Edition, Mooi offers a deeper journey through music, memory, and identity, further establishing herself as a boundary-pushing voice in contemporary R&B.

Listen to the project here: Open Hearts Deluxe Edition here.