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Artist on Artist: Dizzy Fae x Jerome Farah

From Minneapolis to Melbourne, the two young artists catch up to discuss growth, their creative process, and what’s keeping them inspired lately.

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From across the globe, Minneapolis artist Dizzy Fae and Melbourne’s Jerome Farrah are navigating the early stages of their music careers. In a year that has been eye-opening for many, with conversations centring around systemic racism, police brutality and change, both artists have made a clear message in their music. Dizzy Fae has just released her single ‘I’m Good’, a dreamy-pop track centred around the resilience of Black womxn in America today, from the perspective of Dizzy being based in Minneapolis, Minnesota—ground zero for the George Floyd protests earlier this year, with Dizzy opting to donate all Bandcamp proceeds from the first month of sales to providing free therapy for Black womxn in the US.

Meanwhile, in Melbourne Jerome Farah has hit the ground running this year, his debut single ‘I Can’t Breathe’ is heavily inspired by the events that have occurred in Dizzy’s home town as well as in his own backyard, drawing on themes of police brutality and his own experiences with racism. Across the globe, the two musical friends catch up to discuss what’s been keeping them going, their creative process and potential collaborations.

Jerome Farah: ‘I’m Good’ is such a dope track, the beat switch at the end! What was the writing process behind it and what inspired it?

Dizzy Fae: Thank you so much! You had me at ‘Mikey Might!’ So, ‘I’m good’ started on the first cold, breezy, sleazy week of being quarantined. [Laughs] It was actually pretty warm and inspiring to adjust to being alone for a while without choice. That really inspired me to dig into who I am and what’s been made up of me thus far. I usually make music in a studio and by this time due to the pandemic I got some beat packs from some cool producers, one being Kieran Watters. The beat was originally named ‘Read a Fucking Book’ so I took that as a sign to be the fucking book.

Jerome Farah: How are you staying inspired in this mad weird time? Any advice for people not feeling so good?

Dizzy Fae: I’ve been slowing down and making sure I’m putting my full self into every bit of what I’m doing. With Covid-19 restrictions, it’s allowed me to open up challenges I’ve been hiding on a shelf from myself, like projects and my health etc. The revolution has helped focus my intentions, like what I am trying to say and represent. It’s comforting to know the world feels this too. It is chaotic, so I’ve been trying to tap in so I don’t tap out. We’re all fighting some type of demons and honestly I say fight that bitch and let it know how strong you are

.Jerome Farah: For people hearing the song for the first time (or the 100th time like me) what do you want them to take from it?

Dizzy Fae: That makes my heart go a whole house beat to know you’re listening to it that much! I want the listener to feel listened to. I’d like the “I’mma be okay” lyrics to just seep into the crevice of the brain, to massage and be good affirmations to the soul that listens to the conscience everyday. To know that you’re not alone in trying to be okay when things aren’t.

Jerome Farah: Has this world of chaos taught you any lessons, good or bad?

Dizzy Fae: Well, so far it has definitely taught me to give a big shit about myself and the ones I love. I try not to see much as good or bad, more as everything is everything.. but like don’t get it twisted, fuck white supremacy!

Jerome Farah: Will we ever hear a Fae + Farah collab?

Dizzy Fae: Hehehe depends who’s asking at this moment, cause if it was Farah I’d say…“you hear about when its dropping?”

Dizzy Fae: Ok so, if you were trapped on an island and got to bring only 3 albums and 3 beverages, what would they be?

Jerome Farah: Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg, Channel Orange by Frank Ocean and a side of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill! I’d bring gin and juice. Oh and water, too.

Dizzy Fae: I feel like the more music I make, the more I get to know myself. Has the process of making music transformed your overall vision for your life?

Jerome Farah: For sure! My transformation is wild, my whole life has moulded itself to cater to my music. My bedroom is my studio and my studio is my bedroom. I was a little lost before I found it, so I’m grateful my vision is clear!

Dizzy Fae: Your top 3 artists you’d like to make a home-cooked meal with and why?

Jerome Farah: Action Bronson cause he is a crazy cook and I can just help with the dishes. Kendrick Lamar cause I saw a video of him talking about cereal and we have the same love for it so the home-cooked meal could be Captain Crunch and we happy—and Jorja Smith cause she’s a queen and I’m tryna be a housewife. [Laughs]

Dizzy Fae: Are you into reading (books, literature, poetry, etc)? If so, what’re some good reads?

Jerome Farah: I been trying! Reading and I have a complicated relationship. I know it’s like the gym for my vocabulary and words are everything when writing songs. I did read Anthony Keidis’ biography Scar Tissue and that blew my mind!

Dizzy Fae: I’ve been feeling a bit of a transition in the world right now. To me, it feels like transcending into a higher dimension. Do you feel a shift in the world right now at all? How’re you doing?

Jerome Farah: I was okay, then not okay, now I’m okay again. Once I realized this weird time is forcing people to look inwards. It’s creating this self-reflecting overload and people are learning things about themselves they didn’t know before. Whether it’s good or bad, there are fewer ways to distract yourself from noticing. So if good traits are being appreciated and bad ones are being attended to I think we’re definitely transcending to a better place!

Follow Dizzy Fae here and Jerome Farrah here for more.

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