Forbidden Fruit 2018: Afro-soul artist Fehdah looks ahead to the festival

Blending futurist Afro-soul with contemporary electronic beats, Fehdah is a project by Dublin-based singer Emma Garnett. Raised in the university town of Maynooth, Emma was once a science student in college, but always intended on following her passion.

“When I went to college I didn’t study music,” she explains.“I studied physics. I was the president of the jazz society in college and we would put on gigs.”

Originally from Sierra Leone, Emma’s sound incorporates her African roots with stylish, tumbling dance beats. Her material also features hip-hop grooves – which she says took her months to perfect in Hellfire Studio in Rathfarnam.“‘Like No Other’ drove all of us crazy trying to replicate my demo,” she remembers. “But we did it in the end.”

Originally performing under the name ‘Feather’, Emma said changing the name seemed appropriate to fit with Sierra Leone dialects. However, she also has recently begun to incorporate more Irish themes during her performances. “I’m actually getting really into Sean NÓs singing a lot,” she notes. “There’s always one Irish person in the crowd who recognises it! (laughs). Initially it was much easier to dive in with West African music, because I feel like there’s more access to it even for an Irish person.”

Preparing for her set at this year’s Forbidden Fruit, Fehdah is looking forward to checking out a number of acts at the festival. “Vince Staples will be there, I love him,” she swoons.

• Fehdah plays the Bulmers Live Stage at Forbidden Fruit on June 3. For more info, check out Facebook.com/musicbyfehdah