Farah Elle is fast becoming one of Ireland’s most prominent and promising new artists.
Blending her signature Arabic-inspired, strong rock vocal with complex piano arrangements, the Libyan-Irish singer and composer makes timeless music with a modern edge reminiscent of Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Kimbra and Aṣa.
Her latest single ‘Desert’ is the second to be released from her upcoming album Fatima. Out on Wednesday 6th July, the 4 minute radio edit of ‘Desert’ will give listeners a glimpse of the full-length version that will be available on the accompanying video and on the album.
‘Desert’ follows the April release of ‘Play It By Ear’ – a song that garnered enough attention for RTÉ to invite Farah to feature on their new summer music TV show, The MainStage, to perform her cover of Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’. The show will air on RTÉ One in July. Farah was also interviewed for full-length features with magazines such as The Thin Air, Stellar Magazine, Dublin Live and the Dublin Gazette on the back of that release, as well as entering the Irish Radio Breaker Charts and being included on RTÉ Radio 1’s ‘Radio 1 Recommends’ list.
Farah says: “There’s a story to this one. My phone was broken for 24hrs and nobody was contacting me because they didn’t have access; which is actually a very rare thing to happen here in 2022. So, like that, along with the clarity and freedom of going about my day without a phone, I wrote Desert in 15 minutes. It’s the quickest song I’ve ever written and it’s probably my favorite on the album. Something people don’t realize about me is how introverted I actually can be. It’s very difficult to balance that time and space into my schedule, as well as the expectations and pressure I put on myself to be the person I am.
“This song came straight from the root, during a much-needed moment alone. The deep listening, the peaceful silence, the stillness of calm water. The kind of solitude we finally achieve after we become so overwhelmed by the busy ways of modern life and outside energies. Then, when we catch that time & space to connect with nature & ourselves, it washes over us and recharges us.”
Farah Elle’s powerful cadence is a commanding force amongst instantly captivating cinematic soundscapes. Through songwriting, the North African-Irish artist explores her heritage and upbringing and how it manifests as she experiences life.
On her debut album FATIMA, due for release this autumn, themes of displacement in the period post-Libyan Revolution coexist with songs navigating the challenges of adulthood. Farah describes this introduction as a “coming of age record”, one across which she hears herself “unfolding in the songs”. Farah Elle has melded her combined North African and Irish heritage to create a sound that is thoroughly contemporary and completely her own.
To date, Farah has played numerous prestigious venues and festivals including Vicar Street, The Sugar Club, Electric Picnic, and All Together Now. In November 2021, Farah collaborated with renowned Irish folk musician Liam Ó Maonlaí for a performance commissioned specially for the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards. As well as working as an artist, Farah dedicates time to humanitarian aid work and working with young people from ethnic minorities on creative expression through music. She also gives music and wellness workshops to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Connect with Farah Elle: www.farahelle.com
