WAFIA // Interview

The 25-years-old multi talented artist Wafia told us about the different step that marked her career. Indeed, this young woman with many facets was able to express herself with honesty in this interview where she tells us everything about her origins, the choices that led her to music and especially her incredible collaboration with the famous artist Ta-ku. The one who collects nearly 2.5 million listeners on Spotify answered our questions with a lot of kindness and sincerity.

Can you tell me more about you? I’m Iraqi-Syrian, born in the Netherlands and living in Australia.

When did you realise you wanted to be a singer and nothing else? I always thought music wasn’t a realistic dream until I was about 17 and my dad really encouraged me to go for it, all in.

Did you struggle to find your way when you were younger? Yes, in many regards. The biggest was being comfortable with myself the way I am, I think I was always wishing I was someone else and it took years to stop myself from doing that.

You’ve performed at a lot of different cities... Where were some of your best memories? I had a show in Paris in November and it was the last stop on the Europe tour. It was the best show and we walked around Paris late at night in the rain searching for crepes to satisfy my cravings. (laughs)

How was the gig? Such great energy and I love hearing them sing back my songs to me in the French accent. It’s the most beautiful thing!

You’re a multi-dimensional artist with music that can seemingly live in multiple genres... How do you find balance with these different music styles? I try and give each song the room to be the song it deserves to be. I don’t see the point in trying to force a particular genre or direction with a song because it’ll just end up sounding wrong anyway.

'' It definitely feels like therapy to express my feelings through music''

Can you tell me more about what inspired you while writing some of your favourite songs? When we were in the studio writing ‘I’m Good’, I could sense the person I loved was about to break my heart in the worse way and I kinda just let them. I guess I knew I was going into a rough patch really soon and I wanted to write a song for how I’d hope to feel after it all went by.

Do you have any dream features or collaborators? So many, I’d love to work with SZA, Tyler The Creator or Kacey Musgraves.

How did you start working with Ta-Ku? I met him randomly on some basketball courts, it was pure chance. (laughs) He ended up hitting me up on my Instagram asking if we could work together. I kinda died because he’s such a legend! We ended up sending voice notes back and forth from there until we covered 'American Girl' and that was really the start of it all.

What are you 3 dreams festivals or venues? I got to play Coachella and Red Rocks last year with Louis The Child but I’d love to go back someday and play them in my own right. Otherwise, Glastonbury would be amazing too or Pitchfork Music Festival!

Something to say to your French fans? Thank you so much for all the support! I cannot wait to come back with new music and more shows in your beautiful country!

Words © Fanny Hill Scott

Photography © Zoe Lawrence