Libyan-Irish artist Farah Elle shares 'Desert' video ahead of debut album

The up and coming Farah Elle has released her new single 'Desert' today accompanied by a fantastical music video. The clip, directed by Abe Neihum, was shot in Irish locations Ardgillan Castle and Enereilly Beach.

The visuals feels like a fantasy epic unfurling before your eyes. For the entire first minute, the vocals feel muted, perhaps stifled by the dusty archive we see the protagonist excavating. When the ghostly figures of this figure and her guide escape the tomes into the dappled sunlight of the woods, we hear the idiosyncratic introduction of the full-bodied track. With the set design in the hands of Jill Beecher, who has worked on TV shows like Game of Thrones, it's no wonder the video seems to transport the viewer into an alternate reality.

'Desert' is an interesting track because it blends dissonant piano progressions with a crescendoing rock vibe. This is the Libyan-Irish singer-songwriter's second single released this year after the April cut 'Play It by Ear'. Together, the tracks preface her first full-length album set to debut this autumn titled FATIMA.

On her newest song, Elle says “there’s a story to this one. My phone was broken for 24 hours and nobody was contacting me because they didn’t have access; which is actually a very rare thing to happen here in 2022. So, like that, along with the clarity and freedom of going about my day without a phone, I wrote 'Desert' in 15 minutes. It’s the quickest song I’ve ever written and it’s probably my favourite on the album. Something people don’t realise about me is how introverted I actually can be. It’s very difficult to balance that time and space into my schedule, as well as the expectations and pressure I put on myself to be the person I am.

“This song came straight from the root, during a much-needed moment alone," Farah added. "The deep listening, the peaceful silence, the stillness of calm water. The kind of solitude we finally achieve after we become so overwhelmed by the busy ways of modern life and outside energies. Then, when we catch that time & space to connect with nature & ourselves, it washes over us and recharges us.”

The cinematic production accompanying this Arabic-inspired song is as enthralling as it is disorienting. The symbolic ambiguity is part of the overwhelming effect produced.

Through this song and the coming album, the North African/Irish artist explores her heritage, her upbringing, and how their interaction manifests in her life. Themes of displacement in the post-Libyan Revolution take up residence next to coming of age sentiments. This promising artist's sound is as unique as it as memorable- Farah Elle is one to keep your eye on.

Watch the whimsical video below.