On Fatima, named after her mother, Farah explores themes of displacement, identity and culture as well as celebrating nature, love and friendship on an album that Farah describes as a “coming of age record,” one across which she hears herself “unfolding in the songs.”
“It represents a lot of lessons I learned in the past, nursing intergenerational wounds and all that deep shit – it’s a gift to share those lessons with other people with the dream of positively making a difference to them. Today, I’m so focused on building my present and future based on all the valuable things I’ve learned along the way.”

Farah’s devotion to music developed at an early age. Watching her older siblings playing together, she was inspired to pick up a guitar and experiment unselfconsciously. Soon after, she penned poetry, singing her words to a piano accompaniment. These moments of self-taught musical expression were hugely cathartic for her. Sitting at the piano gave Farah a space to examine pivotal moments in her life with an unfiltered defiance across her delivery: “I do this to remove it from my bones,” she sings on ‘Play It By Ear.’

“Hey look, I know that FATIMA is not an album of “club bangers” (or maybe it is). One thing I do know though, is that these songs have allowed me to express myself, unfiltered, during a period where I really needed the chance to do that. If any person gets any kind of release from hearing these expressions, then my work here is done. I just want people to know that they are being understood.

“Most of the tracks are about my family and friends. They are songs from my heart to theirs. Naming the album after our mother only seemed fitting, I needed to honour her and all that she sacrificed for us, her community and the world. Here’s to setting Fatima free! Alhamdulillah."

Desert

Laundry

Cry Baby

Alien

Rajeen

Holiday

Sunblock

Lunar

Howl

This is a cover of Teardrop by Massive Attack that myself & the band recorded for this year's charity album for "Aware" - thanks to Sun Studios for having us, Duane & PJ for all their production help and to Soundtraining College in Dublin for the opportunity to do this. 

Drums by Cian Hanley
Bass by Lorcán O'Dwyer
Keys & Vocals by Farah El Neihum (Farah Elle)

Hope you enjoy!

Teardrop by Farah Elle (Massive Attack cover)

Debut album FATIMA (Deluxe) OUT NOW! ف
Contact: 
farahelle.music@gmail.com

Farah Elle

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