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Sarah El Messiry [1](born on the 8th of February 1998), professionally known as Felukah, is a Cairo- Egyptian born musician and songwriter who has been based in New York since 2017[2]. Her stage name is a reference to felucca, an Egyptian sail boat that sails on a river and was partly chosen as it can be easily pronounced in the West. [2]
Following the independent release of her English - Arabic debut album Citadel (2019) she became associated with a neo-soulful hip-hop sound[3]. After signing with indie label Abu Recordings, she released her sophomore album Dream 23 (2020)[4]. Since lockdown she has released multiple singles as well as her most recent project titled The Love Serum (2022).
She has collaborated with other artists like Malik Polo, Dena Anuk$a, MC Bolbol etc.
Life and Career
[edit]Felukah grew up in the suburb of Maadi in Cairo, Egypt until and moved with her brother Malik El Messiry to New York in 2017 to study creative writing after encouragement from her high school teacher. She attended Hunter college to study creative writing and would perform poetry in her spare time at the Nuyorican Poets Café on 3rd Street. [5]To support herself she worked two part-time jobs. [2]She has now published multiple works of poetry under the pen name Kahirati (translating to my Cairo ).
She later started to explore the local music scene and began uploading songs onto Soundcloud in 2018. She's described her sound as being inspired by Nas, Andre 3000, Fairuz and Erykah Badu.[6]On the 25th of November 2022, Felukah performed the Coca-Cola anthem 'A kind of Magic' alongside Donna Poala and Tamtam for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar at the FIFA fan festival. The song remixes of 'A kind of Magic' by the British Rock band Queen, released in 1986, and features Felukah, Donna Poala and Tamtam. [7]
In 2015, a group of boys in her high school had created a WhatsApp group chat called "El Regala", translating to "The Men", where they would non-consensually share photos of their female classmates that were revealing or sexual in nature. This included El Messiry whose photo of her in a bikini was circulated in this group chat. [8]Felukah details this experience as well as previous experience with sexual harassment in her debut single released on SoundCloud 'The rain' and names the perpetrators by name. She later chose to perform 'The Rain' when she was invited to perform at her former high school.
Citadel (2019)
[edit]After the release of her debut EP 'Yansoon' on SoundCloud, Felukah independently released her debut album 'Citadel' which AZEEMA describes as reminiscent of soul and RnB artists such as Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu[5]. 'Ask the birds', her most streamed song of the album, was a collab between herself and Mc Bolbol. She performed 'Ask the birds' at a launch party for the New York clothing company 'Good Style' at Dacia, a small art gallery on the lower east side.[5] In August 2019, she went on to release a music video for this song, which was produced by Mustafa Moslemany from DROOGS, an Egyptian contemporary cultural collective.
In 2020 she released two more music videos for Citadel, one being for the title track 'Citadel' and for 'Ms. Smooth'. The former is produced by Mustafa Zaghloul who also works at Abu Recordings, the label she is signed to. As Felukah seeks to celebrate Egyptian culture[9] ,the video features Tanoura dancer Mohamed Baf, a traditional Egyptian folk dancer in the background whilst she sings into the camera. The music video for 'Ms Smooth' was directed by Leah Rustomjee and featured the dance crew B.A.D.
Dream 23 (2020)
[edit]In 2020 she released her sophomore album Dream 23 which takes inspiration from old RnB and Hip-hop and incorporates lo-fi and soul sounds. This is her first project under the indie music label Abu Recordings, a Berlin- New York based indie label ran by artists Marek Razzouk and Paolo Cicilioni who focus on signing Talent from the Arab diaspora.[9] Leading up to the release, she released the singles 'Apocalypse' and '22+1'. The concept of this album surrounds the idea of heliocentricity and the idea of becoming older with each spin around the sun.[6]Shortly after the release of the album, Spotify featured her on the ' Arab X' playlist.[3]
For her first single ' 22+1' she released an accompanying Live session video on June 2020, later followed by a lyrics video in which English and Arabic letters are mixed to present the lyrics of the song; the video is produced by Gabo Shady. She also released music videos for 'Lookin' at me ft. Malik Polo', 'Heliocentric' and 'Apocalypse'. 'Heliocentric' is not only the title of one of the songs from the album but also the idea behind the album title. In the music video for the song, released in September 2020 and directed by Mazen Bayoumy, she is seen walking along a beach and drawing a sun in the sand.
The Love Serum (2022)
[edit]Her third album 'The Love Serum', released in 2022, takes inspiration from Arab futurism. She drew inspiration from her time at Hunter college where she studied Afro futurism while studying Afro-Caribbean literature. The album draws upon Afrofuturism to discuss themes such as feminism and colonialism in the lyrics of the songs. She continues the thread of spirituality from her previous work by creating an imaginary drug ' Rahma Zinc', which allows you to feel deep empathy.[10]
She worked with many producers on this album including her brother Malik El-Messiry as well as multiple artist leading and managing the label she is signed to. This includes Mostafa Zaghloul, Paolo Cicilioni and Ibn Itaka. She also collaborated with New York based Moroccan singer-songwriter Dounia on the track 'say hi to my demons'.[11]Felukah released one music video for this album which accompanied the song 'Desert Woman' in which Felukah and a group of girls are dancing through the desert. The video was released in November 2022 and is produced by Puerta Azul and Noor Studios.
Discography
[edit]| Album Title | Year of Release |
|---|---|
| Citadel | 2019 |
| Dream 23 | 2020 |
| The Love Serum | 2022 |
| EP Title | Year of Release |
| Battery acid | 2018 |
| Yansoon | 2018 |
| Harara | 2023 |
| Singles | Year of Release |
|---|---|
| "The Rain" | 2018 |
| "Twisted" | 2018 |
| "Click city" | 2019 |
| "Give her a Moment" | 2019 |
| "The Daughter" | 2020 |
| "22+1" | 2020 |
| "Mesh Hastanna" | 2020 |
| "Apocolypse" | 2020 |
| "Lookin' at me" | 2020 |
| "Space" | 2020 |
| "PSA" | 2021 |
| "What She Does" | 2021 |
| "Nefsi" | 2021 |
| "Allaya'teek" | 2021 |
| "Neighbourhood" | 2022 |
| "Fruitseller" | 2022 |
| "El 3elba" | 2022 |
| "Say Hi to my Demons (ft.Dounia)" | 2022 |
| "LilyMotherSuperflower" | 2022 |
| "Sterlini" | 2022 |
| "Desert Woman" | 2022 |
| "LMSF (MINOS remix)" | 2023 |
| "Egyptian Lover" | 2023 |
| "Ba2aly Yomein" | 2023 |
| "Btwhashni" | 2023 |
| "Harara" | 2023 |
| "Freedom" | 2023 |
| "Batwanes Beek" | 2024 |
| Single Title | Artists | Year |
|---|---|---|
| "A kind of Magics" ( Coke studio Mix for FIFA World Cup 2022) | Danna Paola, Felukah, Tamtam | 2022 |
| "Wuhda Bel Million" | Nayomi ft. Felukah, Frizzy, Taffy, Dareen | 2023 |
| Music Video Title | Video Credits | Year of Release |
|---|---|---|
| "Harlemite Honey" | Directed by: Ghita Benslimane | 2019 |
| "Ask the birds in egypt" | Production: DROOGS
Directed by: Samir Shafie DOP: Ahmed Khalaf Editing and Colouring by: Khaled Khalifa Producer: Mustafa Moslemany |
2019 |
| "Ms. Smooth" | Directed by: Leah Rustomjee
Edited by: Leah Rustomjee |
2020 |
| "The Daughter" | Produced by: Ahmed Chab, Ahmed Alhamzawy, Seif Omar
Directed by: Seif Omar DOP: Mostafa El Demerdash Post Production supervisor: Moaaz Alshika Lead Technician; Sandey El Malatawy Editor by: Santiago Ortega Colourist: Omir Eltohamy Assisstant colourist: Sherif Borhan GFX by: Ahmed El Seidy Dancer: Yara M. Saleh |
2020 |
| "Citadel" | Production manager: Mustafa Zaghloul
Directed by: Sheren Abououf DOP: Ahmed Ona 1st AC: Mohamed Hesham Edited by: Sheeren Abououf Dancer: Rana Ihab Tanoura: Mohamed Baf |
2020 |
| "22+1" (Live session) | Produced by: Paolo Cicilioni
Directed by: Ben Klein |
2020 |
| "22+1" (Lyric Video) | Produced by: Gabo Shady | 2020 |
| "Lookin' At Me" ( ft. Malik Polo ) | produced by: Paolo Cicilioni & Marek Razzouk
Directed shot and edited by: Ben Klein Production design by: Giselle Manzano Ramirez Styling by: Tala Barbotin Khalidy Cinematography by: Oscar Downing Art by: Big Timer |
2020 |
| "Heliocentric" | Directed by: Mazen Bayoumy
Cinematographer & Editor: Mazen Bayoumy Wardrobe: Angelica Smith-Fabela Colorist: Fio Karpenko VFX Artist: Andrew Dole Camera Assistant: Adham ElNashai Executive Producers : Jasper Aaron & Mostafa Zaghloul Associate Producers: Alec Ginsberg, Robert Bond, Anna Levy Directed by: Edoardo Ranaboldo Assistant Director: Lola Newman |
2020 |
| "Apocolypse" | Edited by: Edoardo Ranaboldo
Cinematographer: Joshua Eichenbaum Assistant Camera: Nathan Bailey Production Designer: Vince Sanchez Stylist: Giselle Manzano Colourist: Elizabeth Chan Produced by: Ben Klein Asscociate Producer: Gabe Zimbler Production assisstant: Niki Mahmoodi |
2020 |
| "What she does" | Directed by: Felukah
Shot by: Ben Klein Styled by: Yasmine Kenawi |
2021 |
| "Nefsi" | Executive Producer: Zena AbdelBaky
Producer: Mostafa Bahgat Production Assisstant: Laila Sherif Sami and Ali Anas Directed by: Zena AbdelBaky DOP: Zeina Khalil Edited by: Zena AbdelBaky Colourist: Abdallah Atta 1st AD: Janane Saad Stylist: Malak Hany Focus Puller: Eslam Gedo Gaffer: Eshta |
2021 |
| "Desert Woman" | Produced by: Puerta Azul & Noor Studios
Directed by: Felukah & Abi Chavez Co-directed by: Abi Chavez Shot by: Abi Chavez Drone operator: Nick Conroy Coloured and edited by: Bex |
2022 |
| "Neighborhood" | Directed by: Fotometro
Shot by: Fotometro |
2022 |
| "Btwhashni" | P.A: Melanie Boulos, M. Yacoub, Joseph Nakhla
Directed by: Felukah Assistant Director: Ahmed Rabie Editor: Eirik O'Keefe Bratli DP: Daniel Boulos, All Love Productions Photographer: Aesam Cast: Yasmeen, Noor, Bex |
2023 |
| "Ra2i2a" | Directed by: Felukah & Eirik Bratli
Assistant Director: Ahmed Rabie Edited by: Eirik |
2023 |
| "Batwanes Beek" | Directed by: Felukah and Youssef Hanna
Cinematographer: Youssef Hanna Editor: Youssef Hanna VHS + Photography by: Dany Victor BTS Photography by: Monopunk Wardrobe by: Queens of Ra MUA Farah Aly Typography by: Jannah Rizk |
2024 |
- ^ X, Lina (date= june, 2020). "THE EGYPTIAN POET: INTERVIEW WITH FELUKAH". Revolver. Retrieved date= [22/01/2024].
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=and|date=(help); Missing pipe in:|access-date=(help); Missing pipe in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c "Metal Magazine". metalmagazine.eu (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ a b "Felukah is a New Kind of Egyptian Rapper | MILLE". 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ "Felukah". MDLBEAST. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ a b "FELUKAH: Cairo's female rapper inspiring a new wave of Egyptian women". AZEEMA. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ a b Saleh, Zeina (2022-03-09). "Felukah: Egypt's very own rap goddess". Artefact. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ FIFA (13 Nov 2022). "TAMTAM and FELUKAH to ignite the FIFA Fan Festival™ airwaves on November 25 with the Coca-Cola anthem!". Retrieved 22/01/2024.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Meet Sara El Messiry, AKA Felukah, a New York City-Based Egyptian Rapper". About Her. 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ "Abu Recordings: Artist Management & Cultivating Community in Diaspora". www.scenenoise.com. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ "Sonic Futures: Felukah on Arabfuturism". PAM - Pan African Music. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "NY-Based Egyptian Rapper Felukah Drops Mystical Album 'The Love Serum'". CairoScene. Retrieved 2024-01-22.