Wafia

Wafia Al-Rikabi (born 4 August 1993), known professionally as Wafia, is an Australian singer-songwriter of Iraqi-Syrian origin. Originally studying biomedicine at university, she began to write songs to escape its monotony.[1] Her breakthrough hit was a cover of Mario's "Let Me Love You", which garnered almost 5 million plays on SoundCloud.[2]

Wafia
Birth nameWafia Al-Rikabi
Born (1993-08-04) 4 August 1993
Netherlands
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Labels
Websitewafiamusic.com

Career

Al-Rikabi has since signed to indie record label Future Classic, releasing her debut EP XXIX in November 2015. The EP's lead single "Heartburn", produced by Ta-ku,[3] received praise from producer Pharrell Williams being played during his Beats 1 radio show.[4]

In March 2016, she released the single "Window Seat" in collaboration with the New Zealand artist Thomston. Later in August 2016, she collaborated again with the Australian producer Ta-ku, releasing the EP (m)edian. The EP features a story about compromise in relationships, which both Wafia and Ta-ku experienced independently in of each other in their lives.[5]

Wafia released a new single, "Bodies", in late 2017. It was written on the day her family members were denied refugee status for entrance into Australia, which influenced the track's lyrics. However, due to her dislike of pseudo-intellectual feeling music, the track was instead upbeat in contrast to the lyrics in an attempt to make the song accessible.[6]

Wafia's single "I'm Good" was voted number 14 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2018.

Discography

Extended plays
List of extended plays, with release date and label shown
Title EP details
XXIX
(m)edian
(with Ta-ku)
  • Released: 5 August 2016[8]
  • Label: Future Classic
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
VIII
  • Released: 19 January 2018[9]
  • Label: Future Classic
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Good Things
  • Released: 21 August 2020
  • Label: Atlantic
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

As lead artist
List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions, and album shown
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[10]
"Window Seat"
(with Thomston)[11]		 2016 — Topograph
"Heartburn"[12] — XXIX
"Meet in the Middle"
(with Ta-ku)[13]		 — (m)edian
"Love Somebody"
(with Ta-ku)[14]		 74
"83 Days"[15] 2017 — VIII
"Bodies"[16] —
"Only Love"[17] —
"I'm Good"[18] 2018 — Non-album singles
"Hurts"
(featuring Louis The Child and Whethan)[19]		 2019 —
"Flowers and Superpowers"[20] — Good Things
"Pick Me"[21] 2020 —
"Hurricane"[22] —
"Good Things"[23] —
"Wide Open"
(with Ta-ku and Masego)[24]		 2021 — Non-album single
"In the Honey"[25] 2022 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.
List of singles, with year released and album name shown
Title Year Certifications Album
"Frogs"
(Charles Murdoch featuring Ta-ku, Wafia & Hak)[26]		 2015 Point
"American Girl"
(Ta-ku featuring Wafia)[27]		 Non-album singles
"Leave (Get Out)"
(Ta-ku featuring Wafia; Triple J Like a Version)[28]		 2017
"Better Not"
(Louis the Child featuring Wafia)[29]		 2018
"Be Fine"
(Ekali featuring Wafia)[31]		 2019
"Searching"
(Abir featuring Wafia & Beam)[32]		 2021 TBA

References
  1. "A Brisbane voice taking the world by storm". Brisbane Times. 17 November 2015. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  2. Bailey, Jessica (2016). "Exclusive: Wafia performs Mario's "Let Me Love You"". Grazia Magazine. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. "Wafia has signed to Future Classic & her Ta-ku produced debut 'Heartburn' is here. - Project U". Project U. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  4. "Taking a (Window) Seat Next to Wafia". Grazia. 7 June 2016. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  5. "Ta-ku and Wafia team up for joint EP & tour, share 'Meet Me In The Middle'". Triple J. 24 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 August 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  6. "Wafia's 'Bodies' is purposeful pop at it's [sic] most accessible - Project U". Project U. 1 September 2017. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  7. "XXIX – EP by Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  8. "(m)edian – EP by Ta-ku & Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  9. "VIII – EP by Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  10. "ARIA Chart Watch #381". auspOp. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  11. "Window Seat – Single by Thomston & Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  12. "Heartburn – Single by Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music. 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  13. "Meet in the Middle (Ekali Remix) – Single by Ta-ku & Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music. 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  14. "Love Somebody – Single by Ta-ku & Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  15. "83 Days – Single by Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music. 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  16. "Bodies – Single by Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music. 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  17. McSweeney, Jessica (20 December 2017). "Single of the Day: Wafia – "Only Love" (2017)". The AU Review. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  18. "I'm Good – Single by Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music. 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  19. Bein, Kat (5 September 2019). "Wafia, Louis The Child & Whethan are a dream team on new track 'Hurts': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  20. Carr, Debbie (25 October 2019). "Wafia creates whimsical pop wonderland in the form of 'Flowers & Superpowers'". Triple J. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  21. "Pick Me – Single by Wafia on Apple Music". Apple Music. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  22. Fuamoli, Sose (9 July 2020). "First Spin: Wafia brightens up the week, releasing catchy new tune 'Hurricane'". Triple J. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  23. Rose, Anna (21 August 2020). "Wafia drops new EP 'Good Things' alongside scrapbook-inspired music video". Triple J. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  24. Brereton, Greta (25 August 2021). "Listen to Wafia, Ta-ku and Masego's soothing new single 'Wide Open'". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  25. "New Aus Music Playlist Additions 20/05/22". Music Feeds. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  26. "Frogs (feat. Ta-ku, Wafia & Hak) – Single by Charles Murdoch on Apple Music". Apple Music. 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  27. "American Girl (feat. Wafia) – Single by Ta-ku on Apple Music". Apple Music. 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  28. "Leave (Get Out) [triple j Like a Version] [feat. Wafia] – Single by Ta-ku on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  29. "Better Not (feat. Wafia) – Single by Louis The Child on Apple Music". Apple Music. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  30. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  31. Anderson, Anika (26 September 2019). "Ekali – 'Be Fine' (feat. Wafia)". EDM Tunes. Archived from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  32. "Searching (feat. Wafia & Beam) – Single by Abir on Apple Music". Apple Music. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
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