In 2015, twenty-two-year-old Wafia Al-Rikabi has managed to effortlessly enchant audiences around the world, by combining her ethereal vocals with the understated instrumentals of some of Australia's best beat-smiths. The Brisbane-based songstress has seen a string of success since 2012, stunning the internet with her cover of Mario’s ‘Let Me Love You’, before taking a star turn on Japanese Wallpaper’s ‘Breathe In’ – a track that ended up in Zach Braff’s Kickstarter film Wish I Was Here.
Veering from a path studying biomedicine, and looking for more creative outlets to break the monotony of university life, Wafia was led to making music. Wafia is of Dutch and Arab heritage, and having been born in the Netherlands, and living with her family in spots all around the globe before settling in Australia, she brings a distinctly worldly view to the burgeoning future-beats genre.
In late November, she released her debut EP XXIX with an assist from local label Future Classic. The lead single 'Heartburn' is a slow-winding, monstrous pop ballad penned with songwriter Ben Abraham, and features military style percussion and pitched-up, stuttering samples courtesy of co-production from Ta-Ku. Further works with Thrupence and Vancouver Sleep Clinic round out an atmospheric effort that gives a strong sense of who Wafia is, and wants to be.
The EP’s title, the Roman numeral for 29, refers to the atomic number of copper, which she explains is a metal always in a stage of transition – “because it adapts to the situation it’s placed”. The link between the malleable metal and her own growth is made clear when listening to XXIX. Complex AU spoke with Wafia about her new EP, the response from fans so far, and what inspires her musically.
You essentially had your big break covering Mario’s “Let Me Love You”, and you linked up with Ta-Ku for “American Girl”. Covers seem to be a tried and true method for you to connect with your fans – do you have any current plans for doing any more in the near future?
I'm not actively thinking about it. I mean, both of these covers came in a moment of spontaneity, and like 'Let Me Love You', I didn't really think about that one, and the same with 'American Girl'. They just happened when they happened, and I'm not really plotting another cover release any time soon.
Are there any current tracks that really spark your interest or inspire you?
One of my favourite songs really recently, and I couldn't really cover this because I think it's perfect already and I usually I go for older songs, but one of the more contemporary songs that I wish I had written, or one day would love to cover, would be 'Back Home' by Caribou. I think that's a brilliantly written, well-disguised pop song. I'm super into that or really anything Justin Bieber does right now [laughs].
So you’ve listened to his new album Purpose then?
Yes I have, or bits of it, it's really good.
In every interview I’ve read with you, it seems you have a different artist that you’re really into at that point in time, showing the diversity of your musical interests – who is it this time, and why?
Today, it's the same as yesterday actually. M.I.A., she's my current favourite. I sort of, for a brief moment, forget about her - I know, I know that's bad [laughs]. But she released that 'Borders' song and I'm super into it. And I love her political agenda.
Are politics a topic that you feel that you might touch on at some point in your own music?
I think I definitely will. I think that's really important and I think social issues and world issues are really something I want to talk about in my music, because I think I come from this really sparse world background. I think that it's important for me to talk about what I know and I've been raised in a very political family who are very aware of what's going on socially and politically. It's definitely something I want to talk about in my music.
You’ve mentioned in the past that you’re a fan of MF DOOM and Kanye West. Those are two very different artists – what appeals to you about each of them?
There's just something really old school about MF DOOM and the way that he approaches what he does and then Kanye is just really contemporary. I can appreciate a lot of rap because I feel like it's all about the point of view. Every rapper can only give their point of view and their take on social issues. I do like all sorts of rap.
Have you absorbed any elements of their aesthetics into your own music?
I made a song the other day with a lot of distortion thanks to Kanye. I've been working a lot with Ta-Ku and he goes to very hip-hop beats because he knows I'm into that. I definitely enjoy that. I think there's something so real about a hip-hop beat and I like to create that fusion where I can.
What other rappers resonate with you right now?
There's a girl called Tink, out of the U.S. I think she's like Timbaland's protege. And then, more locally is Sampa The Great. She's got a really great point of view.
Pharrell Williams played 'Heartburn' multiple times on Beats 1 Radio recently, even requesting to be sent more music from you. How did it feel to hear that?
That was really crazy. I think he must have said a few nice things to the rest of the co-hosts, like the other hosts on Beats 1, because it's getting quite a few plays on there. It's really surreal to see these people in the music world that I admire so much come back and say that they like it on air to their audience; it's very humbling and encouraging.
Tell us about what’s next for you – have you already started work on a new project?
I've already started on the next body of work; I started it as soon as I finished the first EP. I'm excited to just figure out exactly what I want to say. I'm approaching this one very differently than I did with the first one, and I'm excited to see how that forms, as it's still in it's very early stages. But I'm starting to get an idea of the direction and the trajectory of the sound.
Will it be an EP or an album next?
I think it'll be an EP. I'm not ready for an album just yet, I'm ready to do another EP and make my audience a bit more familiar with my stuff and then release an album. I'm approaching my body of work a bit like a chemical reaction or a chemical equation. This first EP is copper, and the next one will be something else that, when combined, will create the debut album, so I'm definitely going to approach it in that way. For me right now, I'm doing a lot of research into what the album will be, so I can figure out what the EP will be, so I sort of have to work backwards. I have a few options, and every element has got pros and cons; I need to figure out what's best for me.
