FEATURE: Spotlight: Faouzia — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Faouzia

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I will move away…

from Pop artists for the next couple of parts of my Spotlight feature. I wanted to include Faouzia, as she is an inspirational artist. A Muslim woman who, in terms of the music landscape, is quite a rarity, she is proud to talk about her heritage. Definitely breaking barriers and inspiring others, she is someone to watch closely. The twenty-one-year-old is a Moroccan-Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. Born in Morocco, she moved with her family to Canada as a child. Her excellent debut E.P., Stripped, arrived in August 2020. There are a few interviews that I want to bring in. Faouzia has an amazing voice and sound. She is a distinct Pop artist in a landscape becoming ever-busier and packed. Someone who is going to be a much bigger artists in the future, make sure you follow her now. EUPHORIA. chatted with her following the release of a song she recorded with John Legend, Minefields:

“How did you get involved in singing and performing? What motivates you to pursue it as your career? Have you always had the idea that music is your calling?

I have always had a love for music ever since I could remember. I grew up playing the piano, guitar, and violin and would sing 24/7. It was always my dream to do music but I never had the intention of fully pursuing it until that’s what I found myself doing. One thing led to another and I found myself doing what I love as my career.

What is your earliest musical memory?

One of my earliest musical memories was writing my first song when I was 6 years old. My mom still has the paper I wrote it on. The song was about embracing yourself, no matter your differences.

You’re fluent in several languages! You’ve even released songs in Arabic. As someone who is so proud of her heritage, is it important to you to be able to sing in different languages?

It is very important to be able to sing in different languages because I love tapping into different parts of my upbringing/roots. I grew up listening to French, Arabic, and English music, so they all shaped me in some way. When singing in French, I usually sing ballads. I think it’s because the language is so sweet and sounds very emotional. Arabic feels very powerful to me so I’m drawn to singing about more powerful topics.

A lot of your previous music comes through in powerful piano ballads, but you also have a talent for blending that classic piano sound with the best of today’s pop elements. Is there a reason you blend the two?

I have a love for pop music in general but also a soft spot for pop ballads. I would say my sound varies depending on whether I’m singing pop ballads or just pop music in general. There is always a touch of Middle Eastern vibes because of the trills I do and the way that I sing.

As a songwriter, where do you turn to when you’re in search of inspiration?

If I’m not pulling inspiration from my personal experiences, I get inspiration from those around me or from concepts that I find very interesting.

Since releasing one of your first singles, for example, “My Heart’s Grave,” your music has evolved and changed. Your audience has grown, as well, as your music has gained more and more attention on apps like TikTok. How would you say you’ve changed as an artist since 2017 to now.

I think I have grown so much as not only an artist but a songwriter as well. I grew up writing music alone at home and now I’ve been able to expand and meet other artists/songwriters and collaborate with them too. Being able to pull inspiration from others and learn new skills has helped me mature as an artist.

Can you tell us what we can expect from your upcoming music or what your plans for the near future look like?

I would say to expect the unexpected! Every track has a world of its own”.

I think that Faouzia’s music is her major strength. As an artist, there are not many out there quite like her. I feel her fashion and sense of style is also a defining aspect. In November, Faouzia discussed with UPROXX, among other things, her love of Anna Kolomoiets, a.k.a. Annakiki (a Ukrainian designer).

“I’m actually wearing Annakiki right now,” she says. “I’m a big fan of Annakiki because it’s a designer that has such unique shapes, very cool prints and very cool colors. It’s definitely a brand that stands out — in the way that you know it’s Annakiki when you see it.” Born Faouzia Ouihya in Casablanca, Morocco, the artist moved to Canada at a very young age and grew up in Manitoba, where fashion was always one of her interests. Along with a very obvious early talent for music, Faouzia has been paying attention to her own personal taste for a lot longer than the average twenty-something, partly due to the intersecting cultures in her background.

“I’m obsessed with style and fashion, that’s a really big world for me, even though music is the one that’s obviously the most apparent,” she continues. “I find it’s just as important and it’s truly a passion of mine.” And that isn’t just lip service, either — the day after our interview she flew to Dubai to attend the always exclusive Chanel fashion show there, and shoot a spread for Harper’s Bazaar, one of the most prestigious style magazines in the world. “I’m literally over the moon, I probably won’t be getting any sleep tonight,” she laughs, happy to withstand the grueling flight for the chance to preview a new season from one of her favorite brands.

If you’ve ever caught Faouzia at a live performance, or seen one of her colorful, carefully choreographed music videos, her emphasis on style as an element within her music will stand out immediately. Though she’s still starting out in her career as an artist, the singer-songwriter already has a signature style all her own, one that’s defined by high-fashion taste level, unexpected modern twists, and the balance between her stage persona, her at-home presence, and her Morrocan heritage.

“There’s three different Faouzias: Casual/dressed down Faouzia, show/artist Faouzia, and then there’s Moroccan Faouzia,” she explains. “I like to tap into those three categories and vary between them. Most of the time you’ll find me in the dressed-down Faouzia phase, where I resort to really big, oversized hoodies, a cool shoe with a pant, and then dress my hair and makeup up to do something cool with that.” And as she continues to establish herself as a performing artist, her stage look is getting the necessary attention from designers who want to be a part of the persona she’s building for the stage.

“I’ve been talking with fashion designers to build that brand and build that image for show Faouzia,” she says. “I want it to be very weird and cool, and play off shapes and colors. I like to stay very uniform with colors, so sticking to like two colors per outfit. And I like to be over-the-top when it comes to performing and the outfits I wear as artist Faouzia. I’m a big fan of really high heels, like chunky boots or chunky heels. And then for Moroccan Faouzia I would say it’s just traditional wear, like the kaftan, which is more traditional, dressed up attire, or the djellaba, which is more dressed down.

Even after moving to Manitoba, Faouzia’s Moroccan heritage remained a huge part of her life. She describes her childhood home as a “mini Morocco” with a full Moroccan living room, and she spoke in Arabic or French with her parents at home. “I ate Morrocan food, and I’m still very tied to my roots,” she explains. “I don’t feel like I disconnected from my culture, which is really great. I got to really experience two different cultures growing up, Canadian culture and Moroccan culture.”

Along with Annakiki, Faouzia also lists Chanel, Prada, and Bulgari as other designers who have influenced her personal style.“Chanel is one of them, I’m a big big fan of Chanel,” she says of her couture picks. “Prada is another brand that I really love. They have really interesting shapes, too. I recently got a pair of Prada shoes and the bottom has two parts to it, a shape that almost looks like an animal or something. So if I turn to the side you can see the two different shapes — it’s a very cool shoe. Bulgari also has really amazing bags and accessories. They focus mainly on purses and bags, but they’re mostly known for their bags. Those are probably my top three.”

But long before she was old enough to be interested in couture, Faouzia’s powerhouse voice was turning heads globally. As a teenager, she won so many local contests and competitions that Paradigm Talent Agency signed her — and Atlantic Records followed shortly after and she began releasing a steady stream of singles. Last year’s Stripped EP, includes six of her songs pared down to their simplest form to highlight her voice, and she’s continued releasing new music throughout this year, too. 2020’s standout included a duet with John Legend on the grief-stricken, elegant piano ballad “Minefields,” and this year’s offerings, “Hero” and her latest single “Puppet,” emphasize a fierce independence that comes through in everything she does.

As a Muslim woman, Faouzia’s identity intersects with her style in another key way — she prefers modesty even while building her own iconic looks. And it isn’t always super accessible to lock in the fresh, hip looks while also covering up. “I’ve always strived to dress modestly and be as covered up as possible,” she says. “But I’ve always wanted to do that in a way that felt like I was being true to myself and my creative direction. It’s been a lot of fun exploring this world of artistry, but also being covered up. I just want to prove to myself and to any other young girls like me that you can do that. I just want there to be a space for people who want to be fashionable and have a signature look, and do want to cover up”.

There are a couple more interviews that I want to get to. Elite Daily also spoke with Faouzia in November about making music with authenticity. The huge TikTok star and unique artist is someone with a huge future:

“Faouzia’s latest single speaks volumes about her artistry. In a world where pop stars are often controlled by major labels and industry execs, she’s taking matters into her own hands when defining her sound. How so? The Moroccan-Canadian singer-songwriter refuses to play into pre-conceived notions of what pop music should sound like, meaning she won’t deliver cookie-cutter, bubble gum tunes anytime soon. The budding singer prides herself on making music that is both infectious and impactful, just like her October 2021 single, “Puppet,” which contains empowering lyrics within every verse. At 21, she’s already had some impressive career highlights, including a collab with John Legend (“Minefields”) and an accompanying performance on The Today Show. With “Puppet,” she has an important story to tell about self-love.

“I wanted to create something that had depth to it,” she tells Elite Daily. “I always want to have depth to my music, and I just think that it's so cool when you can unpack a song and just keep listening and finding different layers to it.”

In the chorus, Faouzia sings, “You tried to pull me under / said I was too much / you're just not enough.” The lyric is an emblem of her strength and the vulnerability she puts forth in her music. Oh, and she’s also dropped versions of “Puppet” in Arabic and French, showcasing her worldly point of view. “It's very important to me for the lyrics to have a deeper meaning and to have a strong message behind them,” she says. “Growing up, I would pay attention to lyrics, almost more than the melodies and almost more than the production. I loved writing. And I loved reading stories.”

Fauzoia is not only an open book in her music, but she also prides herself on being transparent with her TikTok fans — all 2.6 million of them. For her, social media is special for its ability to bring strangers together.

“Everyone at the end of the day is human,” she says. “And when you show your vulnerability, and when you show your true colors, and start talking about your own stories... that's why people will connect to it. I think that's why it might resonate with others as well. Music really does bring people together”.

I was especially interested in a Harper’s BAZAAR interview from December. In terms of representation, we do not see many artists near the mainstream with Arabic roots. Faouzia is a pioneer and amazingly important artist who is proud to talk about being a Muslim woman, Morocco, and her Arabic heritage:

“Faouzia was also keen to talk about her Arabic roots. “I still practice Moroccan traditions today, I remember eating couscous with my family every Friday. We still do that now, it’s just not weekly,” she shared. “Also, celebrating Eid with my family is an element of my childhood that I remember and still practice today with my immediate family.”

The singer’s growing success with a western and Arabic audience alike makes her a rare breed, and she wants to use this global platform to spread a positive, feminist message to young women, and the lyrics to her latest single, Puppet, do just that.

“That is definitely the message I wanted to convey with this song. Puppet is all about being true to yourself and not settling for anything less than what you want. It’s also about having the freedom to make our own choices and to be able to live our lives in our own truth,” explained the star, who says female empowerment is a priority for her. “It’s so important! I think it’s important to remind women of how strong, intelligent, and beautiful they are in a society that seems to always try to do the opposite. I want young girls all over the world, and young Arabic girls like me, to know that you don’t need to change for anything – whether it be for a person, a job, a passion.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Fouad Tadros

She continues to add: “So many people will try to change who you are to fit their standards, but these standards are imaginary rules that are created with pressure and shouldn’t be followed if it’s not something you want to do,” she proclaimed.

Jacket in pink, white and black painted cotton tweed with braid and jewelled buttons, POA; Black T-shirt in cotton with sequins and strass embellished, POA; Skirt in pink, white and black painted cotton tweed, embellished with braid, POA; Jewelled belt in metal, leather and resin, POA; Bag in strass beads and metal interlaced with leather, POA, all CHANEL

The star, who sings in English, French and Arabic on her tracks, has a final message for her young, Arabic fans. “Keep striving, keep pushing and going against the current, especially if it means you are being yourself at the end of the day.” As a singer who is bridging languages, cultures and musical influences, Faouzia is shaping up to be the voice of her generation”.

Someone who is a terrific artist with an amazing talent, ensure Faouzia is part of your new music rotation. Only twenty-one, the years ahead will see her release so many great tracks! Already an artist who has caught so many people’s eyes, 2022 will be a massive year for her. I am new to her music, but I was instantly struck by her raw and powerful talent. Do make sure that you get…