Latest news with #BluFiefer
CairoScene
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Top MENA Artists Push Beyond the ‘Female' Prefix at ‘Women in Music'
Top MENA Artists Push Beyond the 'Female' Prefix at 'Women in Music' Co-hosted by SceneNoise, Little Pink Book, Takwene, and Yellow Tape Records, 'Women in Music' brought together some of Egypt's top artists and music industry professionals. Looking back on the first 'Women in Music' event in Cairo, a first-of-its-kind intimate gathering, co-hosted by SceneNoise, Little Pink Book and Takwene at Yellow Tape Records, Maadi, which brought together some of Egypt's top artists and industry professionals to connect, inspire and celebrate the women shaping the region's music scene. As part of the event program, SceneNoise curated an artist-focused panel, titled 'Beyond the 'Female' Prefix: Artists Pushing the Envelope of the MENA's Music Scene.' At this panel, which was moderated by Munky Elbakry, MO4's Managing Director, the spotlight was on five influential Arab female artists: Maii Waleed, Blu Fiefer, Dina El Wedidi, Perrie, and WAVE. We heard their stories, inspirations, and career journeys, as well as their viewpoints on the region's music industry and what needs to be changed. The panellists also shared valuable insights and key strategies on how emerging female artists can break barriers, grow their careers, assert themselves in the scene and push their music to global prominence. Lebanese artist and founder of the independent record label Mafi Budget, Blu Fiefer, discussed how creating 'female-only' playlists can be limiting, as it boxes artists into a separate category rather than integrating them into mainstream industry conversations. Egyptian folk sensation Dina El Wedidi reflected on the lack of experimentation within the music scene, advising emerging talents to take risks, embrace new sounds, and prioritize their artistic vision instead of playing it safe. She also emphasized the need for social media platforms to support and enable such experimentation.
CairoScene
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Blu Fiefer Album Spotlight Villain Bala Cause
Blu Fiefer's new album is a villain origin story, an intimate manifesto tracing her evolution through sound, emotion, and power. May 16, 2025 In her new album Villain Bala Cause, the Lebanese-Mexican artist delivers a cinematic, multi-chapter audio-visual project that doubles as a character study, a personal reckoning, and a manifesto. Structured like a screenplay, each track reveals a new evolution of Blu Fiefer as she transitions from self-doubt to self-mastery, flipping the classic 'villain origin' narrative on its head. 'You must become a villain to survive,' she tells SceneNoise—sarcastic, but sincere. It's a reclamation of power, born from survival. From the tabla-touched twist on 'Sidi Mansour' in Ya Baba's intro, to the vulnerable Sharaf (feat. Mehrak), and the sad-pop tones of Nazele Big Champagne, the journey is both emotional and deliberate. Dab7 marks a turning point, the gateway into her 'villain era', culminating in the manifesto of the title track Villain Bala Cause. The production mostly electronic pop and layered with experimental tunes, reinforces the evolution of her character: Ekhir Hamme sparks dark confidence; Ghtayta is THE pop anthem; and Ktir Jaw closes the album with a rebellious statement that states its purpose clearly: 'F*ck the westernization.' The music videos are numbered in sequence, offering a visual chaptering of her transformation. Every detail, from the sound to the styling, was built around the concept. Even her label, Mafi Budget, was built with this project. This is Blu Fiefer fully realized. Villain Bala Cause is about surviving long enough to define it on your own terms, and it is definitely her 'Blu-print'.
CairoScene
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Villainy is in its Blu Fiefer Era
She walks into the room draped in a fur coat, cool sunnies covering her eyes, and an attitude that instantly fills the space — a living embodiment of her new album's title, Villain Bala Cause. Blu Fiefer is here to exist in her full, vivid power. Sitting down with SceneNoise, Blu flashes a sly smile and says, 'Hi, I'm Blu Fiefer, a Lebanese-Mexican artist, producer, label owner, director, hustler, and pole dancer — hahaha, don't forget that.' It's the kind of off-the-cuff self-introduction that only hints at the layers beneath: a multi-dimensional artist whose story is built from roots, rebellion, and relentless self-belief. When we mention that she comes off online as strong and multi-talented, she bursts out laughing. 'Oh, I thought you were gonna say, 'Who's that blonde girl?' Good they think I'm strong,' she teases, adjusting her shades. 'I'm in my thirties now. I worked hard for this mindset. My vibe is simple: try me.' Nature, Nostalgia, and Early Fire Unlike many artists, Blu lights up when asked about her childhood. 'Not a lot of people ask me that,' she says thoughtfully. Born in Mexico before bouncing around the world, she roots her formative memories in a tiny Lebanese town. 'Humble beginnings. Green doors, green windows, rooftops, trees everywhere. We'd walk everywhere. Play hide and seek around the trees. It wasn't developed — just two streets, no commercial shops — but it made me creative. It made me me.' That sense of self, she says, was fiercely protected by her family. 'My privilege was being allowed to be myself. My mom never said 'this is nice' about my drawings, she'd say, 'It's so you.' That mindset shaped me. My parents, my little brother — they're my power. My dad taught me business, my mom taught me to feel. Everything I am came from them.' Pointing proudly at a tattoo of her eight-year-old brother, she smiles, 'I hustle for my family, always.' At this point, a fly kept buzzing around the room, interrupting the conversation — prompting Blu to break into a hilarious flurry of Lebanese cusswords, mid-laughter and mid-interview, chasing it away with her sunglasses. 'Ya bent el—! Ha—!' she shouted, cracking both of us up before slipping right back into her cool composure. So, Who Is Blu Fiefer? When asked who she is beyond the job titles, Blu grins: 'You're calling out my sh**, huh?' she jokes. But she doesn't hesitate with the real answer: 'At my core, I'm a storyteller. Whether I'm producing, directing, collaborating, strategizing, it's always from the lens of storytelling. 'I started thinking I was just gonna be a singer. But when I got into the industry, I realized — I love all of it. Singing, producing, directing… it fulfills me the same way. That's why I prefer to call myself an artist, not a singer.' Still, she admits the constant hat-switching is tough. 'It's hard to clock in as the artist, then clock in as the manager, then the producer. But that's my life.' Becoming Blu Her music journey wasn't smooth. After dropping out of school, she moved to London to study music. 'It was a rocky road. I was broke. I was expecting one thing and found another , but it made me grow. I experimented with different names, different characters. It all shaped the Blu Fiefer you see now.' Today, her sound refuses easy categorization. 'You guys at SceneNoise called me 'indie pop,' 'dark hip-hop,' 'experimental,' 'rapper sometimes', and you're right,' she says. 'My umbrella is hip-hop, even if it doesn't sound like it. It's an attitude.' The proudest moment? 'When people tell me they hear a track and know it's me, even if I'm not singing. That's my 'Blu-print.'' Lifting Others While Building Herself Having fought through industry hardships herself, Blu now mentors emerging artists through her label, Mafi Budget. 'I help them fight the monsters in their heads first. We're our own biggest enemies,' she says. 'It's not about trends, it's about authenticity. Then comes education: contracts, distribution, pricing, press, networking… everything.' When she started out, she reminded us, there were no tools — 'no Spotify, just Mazzika with Nancy Ajram and Elissa. No independent scene, no platforms. We had to build it from scratch.' Mafi Budget was born not out of ambition, but necessity. 'It was chaos — COVID, no budgets — so we made something out of nothing. That's the spirit of it. It's my baby. But yeah,' she adds candidly, 'sometimes the label takes too much of my energy. I'm working on building its foundations properly. It'll take years, but it'll inspire creativity. That's the goal.' Why 'Blu Fiefer'? The question everyone asks, and she rarely answers, but today, she lets us in. ''Blu' — because it's the hottest part of the fire. 'Fiefer' — it's strong, edgy. It balances the deep, emotional side of Blu. It just clicked. And yeah, Michelle Pfeiffer energy — sexy, bad bi*** vibes,' she laughs. 'When I heard the name, I was like, that's me. I'm that bi***.' Villain Bala Cause: An Origin Story Her new album, Villain Bala Cause, is a journey through tragedy, survival, and radical self-acceptance. 'Growing up, I thought if I operated with goodness, good things would happen,' she explains. 'Life taught me you have to be a villain sometimes. The title's sarcastic — of course there's a cause. But I don't owe anyone explanations anymore.' The album, years in the making, charts phases of her life through numbered music videos, evolving visuals, and lyrical vulnerability. 'I actually made the music before I wrote any lyrics,' she says. 'COVID just poured it all out of me. Every reference, every concept was intentional.' Creating it was an all-encompassing act of love. 'I produced every song, wrote them, directed the videos, mixed most of them, oversaw everything — even the photoshoots and colors. I made videos for every track. Who even does that?' she grins. 'Villain Bala Cause is my blueprint, my magnum opus.' From the chaotic glam of 'Nazele Big Champagne' to the Arab-Brat-Summer, tabla-fuelled swagger of 'Ghtayta,' Blu Fiefer crafts tracks that are subverted and best performed theatrically, perhaps with designated hand motions at the front of a club. In Ghtayta, she plays with hyperfeminine aesthetics and satirical alter-egos, flipping the script on Arab pop clichés with a cheeky wink, while Nazele Big Champagne leans into drama and defiance, a champagne-soaked anthem of self-worth and survival. Both tracks, visually and sonically, are part of the "Blu-print": a refusal to be boxed in, a celebration of contradictions, and a declaration that even chaos can be curated when the story is yours to tell. And she's nowhere near done. 'The album's out. I'm going on tour. Mafi Budget is growing. I'm already halfway through my second album,' she says with a flash of excitement. 'I'm coming for everyone.' Signing Off Before we end, we ask her for her best villain laugh. She throws her head back, smiles wide, grillz glinting. 'I can't! You're too nice,' she laughs. 'Maybe just zoom in on my grillz' Then, one last thing: 'Shoutout to Mafi Budget and everyone who worked on it. And a big shoutout to SceneNoise — I see you guys, and you guys see me. You've always been truly tapped into what's happening in the Lebanese scene. It's inspiring. Thank you.' Produced by: @scenenoise | @mo4network SceneNoise Acting Editor-in-Chief: @timmymowafi Creative Producer: @lordmunky Fashion & Creative Direction: @kojakstudio Photographer: @fariszaitoon Words: @cairoscrybaby DOP: @David__abdallah Video Editor: @mariamraymone Editorial Design: @maleka_reveals Gaffer: @ahmedgamal2143 @ Lighting Tech: Mazen Mohammed 1st AC: @ Sound Engineer: @
CairoScene
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Balance the Mix to Host Production Workshop in Dubai April 29
Led by Blu Fiefer, the workshop will delve into the creative and business sides of music production, and providing participants with tips on securing professional opportunities worldwide. Apr 18, 2025 Balance the Mix, a global initiative by MassiveMusic and Songtradr to amplify underrepresented female voices in music, is set to host their first MENA female-only music production workshop in Dubai on April 29th. Brought through a partnership between MassiveMusic and SoundX: Workshops, the workshop will be led by the Lebanese trailblazing producer and singer Blu Fiefer. The session will explore both the creative and business sides of music production, providing participants with valuable insights about navigating music industry as well as key tips on securing professional opportunities worldwide. The workshop is free of charge, taking place at Fridaus Studio in Expo City, Dubai, from 6 PM to 9 PM. You can now sign up for the workshop by filling the form on Balance the Mix's official website.
CairoScene
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Inside the First-of-its-kind ‘Women in Music' Event in Cairo
Co-hosted by SceneNoise, Little Pink Book and Takwene at Yellow Tape Records, the intimate gathering brought together some of Egypt's top artists and music industry professionals. Feb 25, 2025 SceneNoise, Little Pink Book and Takwene co-hosted the first 'Women in Music Event' in Cairo at Yellow Tape Records, Maadi, bringing together some of Egypt's top female artists and industry professionals for a first-of-its-kind intimate gathering to celebrate the women shaping the region's music industry today. The night kicked off with some cathartic and thought-provoking talks; the first being an industry-focused panel discussion titled 'Off Stage: Women Laying the Groundwork for a Sustainable Music Industry in MENA', moderated by Habiba El Sayed (Content Marketing Manager, Takwene) with Nalan Al Sarraj (Head of Talent Management, Beatroot Records), Dalaih Galal (Founder & CEO of Carousel), Babel Sadek (A&R Manager at Sony Music Publishing) and Reem Tarek (Content Promotions & Acquisitions Lead at Anghami). The panelists shared insights on how the region's landscape for women in the music business has changed over the past five years, offering advice on key qualities emerging artists should look for in managers and record label partnerships. 'So many talents are overlooked because major labels aren't embracing new voices, they're looking for the next Sherine Abdelwahab or Ruby,' Said Daliah Galal, Founder & CEO of Carousel. Following suit, an artist-focused panel titled 'Beyond the 'Female' Prefix: The Artists Pushing the Envelope of MENA's Music Scene', moderated by Munky, gathered the likes of Blu Fiefer, Maii Waleed, Perrie, Dina El Wedidi and Wave. The panelists shared insights and key strategies on how emerging female artists can break barriers, grow their careers and push their music to global prominence. Lebanese artist Blu Fiefer, founder of independent record label Mafi Budget, stressed that creating a 'female-only' playlist only limits artists by boxing them off in a separate category instead of integrating them into mainstream industry conversations. After a short recess, the packed crowd was then treated to a series of stunning unplugged performances from Maii Waleed, Ma-Beyn and Dounia Wael. Wave and Uyuh then delivered some mosh-pit-inducing rap bangers, before Yellow Tape's very own Mira closed the night with an eclectic DJ set.
