Rising Syrian-Iraqi Artist Wafia's 'Only Love' Premieres Today
By: Caryn Robbins Dec. 15, 2017
Rising artist Wafia premieres a new track, "Only Love," today, listen here. The new song was written by Wafia, Ben Abraham (Kesha), Rashad Muhammad (Beyoncé, M.I.A., Syd) and Rogét Chahayed (Halsey, D.R.A.M.) and produced by HazeBanga and Rogét Chahayed. "Only Love" is taken from Wafia's highly anticipated VIII EP, set for release January 19 via Future Classic.
Wafia has partnered with social action platformGlobal Citizen to give away tickets to her 2018 North American headline tour in exchange for engagement with social and political issues online. Visit globalcitizen.org/en/collections/wafia/ for more information.
The tour kicks off in Vancouver on January 22, with further stops in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City and more.
VIII finds Wafia-who was born in the Netherlands to Syrian and Iraqi parents and is now based in Australia-exploring her intersectional identities as a Muslim, brown, queer woman finding herself as an artist. Lead single "Bodies" was written on the day her Syrian family was denied permission to enter Australia amidst the escalating conflict there, while Trump continued to threaten Muslim ban in America. "Only Love" examines Wafia's first time admitting that she finds herself attracted to women.
"Bodies" was co-written by Ben Abraham and produced by Robopop (Lana Del Rey, Charli XCX) and has been streamed more than three million times to date-watch the Alli Coates-directed video here. The EP's debut single, "83 Days" has been streamed more than four million times across platforms.
Wafia is 24-year-old Wafia Al-Rikabi. She rose to prominence after posting a Thrupence-produced cover of Mario's "Let Me Love You" online. The release of Wafia's debut EP XXIX, which featured the viral hit "Heartburn," followed in 2015.
WAFIA LIVE
January 22 Vancouver, BC The Cobalt
January 23 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
January 24 Seattle, WA Barboza
January 26 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Stop
January 27 Los Angeles, CA Masonic Lodge
January 29 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
January 30 Toronto, ON Drake Hotel
February 1 Brooklyn NY Rough Trade
February 2 Boston, MA Great Scott
February 3 Washington, DC Songbyrd
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