Something For The Weekend: Farah Elle's cultural picks

Libyan-born Farah El Neihum - also known as Farah Elle, began composing music at the age of 10.

In 2022, Farah Elle released her debut album Fatima, named after her mother - marking the culmination of a near decade of work. Weaving traditional Arabic melodies into the tapestry of her music, Farah's compositions meld her combined North African and Irish heritage to create a sound that is thoroughly contemporary and completely her own.

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Farah will perform at Axis Ballymun, Dublin this November as part of The Secret Singers, a showcase of music that also features Asha Ari, Caitlin Donovan and Tríona Sings, singing songs of traditional Ireland alongside world classics and pop, capturing the musical influence and heritage of each singer.

We asked Farah Elle for her choice cultural picks...

FILM

Everything Everywhere All at Once. Even just the title is just amazing, because that’s what life feels like sometimes. It really captivated me – it just holds your attention and is so relatable in many ways. It’s definitely one of the best movies that I have seen in recent times.

MUSIC

The album Room 25 by NoName, a musician from Chicago – she just released a new album called Sundial which is also deadly. I just feel she can do no wrong. No Name has been the soundtrack to my life for more than seven years. Even her ethos as an artist is incredible; she’s an amazing activist and is really well aligned to her own values as a musician. Her songs feel a bit like my stream of consciousness put into deadly music. Plus, her name is Fatima - which is my Mum’s name and the name of my album.

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BOOK

A book I can’t seem to put down at the moment is Secrets of Devine Love by A. Helwah. It’s a journey into the heart of Islam. For me it’s a lovely breakdown of spirituality and if you’re a person who sees God as love, it’s just fascinating to read. For me, as a person who was raised as Muslim, but might not have had the most liberating experience of it growing up, it's liberating reading it from this perspective. The writer trained as a monk for years and has a background in so many different religions, so it gets to the heart of spirituality. Every time I pick it up, nice things happen.

THEATRE

I would say An Octoroon at the Abbey Theatre - I was so moved by it. Also, I know a lot of the cast members and they’re some of the greatest people I’ve met in the industry. I think it was an incredible, groundbreaking production for Ireland to have showcased and it should have gotten a lot more recognition than it did.

I recently watched The Bear – that was great if you’re into something that’s dramatic and has you on the edge of your seat. Then, if I’m just trying to chill, I’ve been really enjoying Abbot Elementary, a lovely, funny sitcom by Quinta Brunson – it just makes me really happy.

GIG

I have loved Feist since I was 14 years old and never thought I’d see her in Ireland. But then my partner surprised me with tickets to see her at the National Stadium. Honestly, it was the best live music show I’ve ever been to – there was something so special in the air. Her music is so incredible.

ART

My friend Tobi Bello is an incredible artist. She has been releasing some incredible art lately. She’s also an incredible song writer. Just her paintings are quite mind blowing, she recently exhibited some of her work, and I’m so happy to see that. She’s more than a rising star in Ireland. Check out her website.

PODCAST

There’s a nice one a friend put me onto called 28ish Days Later, all about the menstrual cycle, and it gives an in-depth understanding of what’s happening day by day. I think anyone who menstruates should listen to this podcast. It’s quite fascinating, it empowers you with information and validates your own experience.

TECH

I’m a bit of a technophobe, which is not something I’m proud to admit. But if I was to choose a piece of technology that I can’t survive without, I would say my JBL Bluetooth speaker. I have used it to facilitate workshops on a weekly basis, and for a tiny little thing the sound is incredible. My top tip is to put it in the corner of the room on the ground and it just makes the bass boom. I can’t survive without that thing. I use it all the time, it’s been through so much I’m not exactly careful with it either.

THE NEXT BIG THING...

Healing through the arts... There’s something shifting in Irish culture where people are creating more healing spaces within the arts, for example my upcoming gig as part of the Secret Singers Showcase at Axis in Ballymun is a showcase for women with beautiful voices who find it hard to get recognition - the women whose voices are not yet heard. The rehearsals have been so uplifting and there's a great healing power in coming together with other women to sing and share stories.

I am also seeing a lot of solidarity sessions being organised, a lot of free Palestine gigs, I can see events coming together for Sudan and the Congo; just to try to heal some of the violence in the world and fundraise for good causes. I really think that’s this is something we’re going to see over the coming months and years. I have a friend called Maia Nunes who is doing sound healing sessions, called Pupahz – they are doing amazing work. I'm getting hired for more workshops at the moment, for various marginalised young people and for youth workers themselves, women’s groups – anywhere that wants me! Because there is a need for it everywhere, I think.

The Secret Singers perform at Axis Ballymun, Dublin on 30th of November - find out more here.

Something For The Weekend: Farah Elle's cultural picks

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