South African singer-songwriter Moneoa is gearing up to share what she calls one of the most intimate tracks of her career—and she’s already bracing for an emotional response from fans. The new song, Dear Tata, is expected to hit hard, with the kind of lyrics that have listeners reaching for tissues.
Moneoa previewed the announcement on Instagram, revealing that her upcoming single will be released as Dear Tata. In her post, she included a moving teaser and wrote: “The last slide is a snippet of #DearTata. I’m dropping it on the Friday before Father’s Day. Get your tissues ready.”
While the title suggests a direct message, the track is rooted in a far deeper personal journey—one shaped by love, grief, healing, and forgiveness.
Speaking openly about what led her to write Dear Tata, Moneoa said the song was created in memory of her late father, who passed away in 2014.
“My father passed away in 2014. We only established a relationship later on in life. I got about 15 years with him, and I’m grateful, but there were still a lot of unanswered questions and unresolved issues between us when he passed,” she shared.
She explained that even though she always felt her father’s love, losing him left her carrying pain that she had to work through over time—especially after his death was linked to suicide.
“My dad took his own life. That’s the part that hurt the most,” she said.
Despite the heartbreak, Moneoa credits her spiritual path with helping her move toward peace and understanding.
“We’re all just beings in shells. Our true selves are only fully experienced on the other side, and I know it’s unspeakable, unconditional love and understanding over there. I know he’s happy where he is. I can’t wait to see him again in paradise so we can bond in our purest and formless forms,” she added.
Releasing the single in the run-up to Father’s Day wasn’t meant to be strategic, she said—it was simply the right moment for her to honour her father and the complicated relationship they shared.
“I just thought about my relationship with my dad and how much love, forgiveness and understanding I feel towards him right now. If I had a message, it would be that nothing is random or coincidental. God placed everyone in our lives intentionally,” Moneoa said.
She also used the moment to encourage people who are dealing with strained family connections to work toward reconciliation while they still can.
“If your relationship with your parent or child is complicated, fix it now. Reach out, love one another, forgive them and make it right. It’s never too late to love someone,” she urged.
Moneoa admitted that making Dear Tata was emotionally overwhelming from the start.
She shared that she cried throughout the writing process, and that it became even more difficult once her close friend and producer, Dr Thulz, brought the song to life through sound. “I bawled like a baby,” she said.
Describing the track as both “a love letter and an ode,” Moneoa said the message she wanted to place at the centre of the music was love—especially the love she still carries for her father.
“When I sang this song, the love I have for my father was unleashed in multitudes. I’m grateful I did this for him,” she said.
For Moneoa, Dear Tata also reflects the reality many people face in families, including the complicated dynamics of father-child relationships.
“We’re all victims of our circumstances. Sometimes people can only give you what they were given too,” she explained.
She added that although pain can influence a person, it should never become their identity. “Whatever relationship you had with your loved one, don’t let it shape you and mostly don’t let it break you,” she said.
Ultimately, Moneoa believes her healing journey and spiritual growth became the driving force behind the song—and behind the person she’s becoming.
“I’ve made so many mistakes that I feel I had no other choice but to learn to be a better person,” she shared.
“I’ve let go of who and what needed to be let go. I’ve made peace with who people are, and most of all, I’m constantly learning to correct and improve myself,” she continued.
Looking ahead, Moneoa described her next musical chapter as an “explorative phase,” telling fans they can expect a blend of fresh surprises and familiar comfort across her upcoming album.
“I’m working on an album. I’m almost done. Some will be surprised, and others will be comforted by what they already know,” she said.
As for what she hopes listeners take away from Dear Tata, Moneoa wants the song to function as a source of healing.
“I’d want them to cry it out, realise it wasn’t their fault, they are perfectly created and completely worthy of unconditional love. I want to be a vessel for healing and ultimately… peace,” she said.
Dear Tata is scheduled to arrive on 19 June, timed just before Father’s Day.
