How would you define yourself and the work you do?
I define myself as a healer through music and art. I want to inspire people to experience joy, honor our time on this earth, and reconnect with ourselves, our communities, and our world. My work is also about healing from colonialism, capitalism, and the patriarchy, while offering a healthy escape to reconnect with source.
After everything you’ve built between Cairo, New York and the world, what still feels unexplored?
I guess underwater. I’m really tempted to try scuba diving and free diving. Coming from Egypt, there’s a big diving scene here, but I’ve never actually done any real diving. When I snorkel, hold my breath and go deep, I feel like this is an untapped world. I’d love to create music for whales and dolphins and learn how they make sound. It’s a whole world I’m so intrigued by. I feel like a mermaid underwater anyway, so it might as well. Dolphins deserve an album. Who’s making music for the coral reefs?
Your “Freedom” track “Palestine will be free.” What would you like to say about Palestine today?
Palestine will be free. I know it in my heart. It already has changed the world. It’s opened up everybody’s perspectives. I like to say the world has opened up like a flower, like a secret that was kept for so long. And now it’s time. And still, those Palestinian people are suffering. But at least now we are making the noise and Inshallah soon Palestine will be free.
Any cities or countries you wish you could have added to the HIBISKISS TOUR?
I want to play in Amman again. I want to do a bigger Cairo show. I want to do Skenderia. My roots. So I want to do a MENA run as well.
Your FIFA World Cup 2022 performance was incredible. Is there another project like that you’d love to be part of?
I want to do syncs for Netflix shows, especially things like Mo and Ramy. I’d also love to see more women represented in MENA and SWANA projects and land my music in something like that. I want to make soundtracks for brands I love. I did one for Urban Decay in 2024, and that was super fun. Music comes naturally to me, so give me a prompt, give me a brief, and I’m gonna do it. And games would be so fun too. I’d love to get my song on something like Fortnite or Call of Duty.
What are you building with FELUKAH WORLD, and could it grow into a platform for artists?
Felukah World is really a movement built around Felukah, friends, and family. I want to curate events that bring together art, music, wellness, and community through my party series. I know I have it in me to curate lineups and build community, and I want to keep developing that side of the project. Eventually, I’d love to have a bigger team and grow it into something much bigger, even a huge festival.
What still needs to change for more Arab artists to reach global stages?
I think promoters and people around the world need to see the value in what we do. I want more recognition for alternative Arab artists, especially because we’re not making the sound that’s already been proven to work. I really love all kinds of music, including classic Arabic pop. We don’t get the light of day, especially women rappers like me and others. I’d love to see more appreciation and more of us getting booked.
What’s next for Felukah?
Lots of love, simply put. I put so much love into what I do, my friends, my family, and my work. I’m also really excited for the tour and the album release. HIBISKISS comes out October 9th, and the tour starts in London on October 12th.