When Money Badoo speaks, her energy is calm but certain, the kind that fills a room without
needing to announce itself. “I’m from what I like to call the dirty south of Johannesburg ,
Ennerdale,” she laughs. Music was always there: a 12-year-old with a guitar, a young woman
who survived a freak accident and had to relearn how to walk. “That made me realize anything
can happen,” she says. “I wanted to live fully. Now it’s 2025 and I’m a global superstar.”

Through the Jägermeister Global Pass, Badoo recently performed and recorded in Germany
which was her first time leaving the continent, and a trip that changed her lens. “It was a culture
shock, but beautiful,” she says. “Being in Europe made me realize how much source we have
as South Africans. I thought I’d be engulfed by their culture; instead, I left appreciating mine
more. My ideas and energy are amazing because they’re African.” In between packed shows
and studio sessions, she stacked six new collaborations for her next EP. “Shoutout to Global
Pass for building a real bridge,” she grins. “I’m manifesting Jäger Japan next.”

Her latest single “Only 1” is a sleek reminder of self-worth. “I stopped overthinking,” she says.
“You don’t need a million to drop a song, I want to be consistent and free again. Only 1 is me
telling myself I’m one of one. Your perspective is your superpower. Even in love, there’s no
other like me.”

Confidence, she’ll tell you, wasn’t always effortless. “At first it was armor. Fashion,
performance,” she says. “Music taught me to love every version of myself. Now confidence isn’t
something I wear; it’s something I am.” Individuality drives every risk. “South Africans don’t
conform, we’ve got too much sauce,” her voice goes higher. “Commit to your dream. Be
resilient. Things take time, and that’s okay. You’ll probably exceed your expectations.”

With festival season here, she’s leaning into joy. “Next is a single called ‘DNCE’” she says. “I
want people to dance and feel happy to be alive.” An EP is loading, Berlin features included, live
shows with her band in the mix. “Traveling showed me the world is small, but your vision has to
be big,” she says. “I’m grateful to be alive, to be making music, and to be myself.”