Start Listening To: Farao

From grief to disco bliss, the Oslo-based artist opens up about her new album Magical Thinking.

Norwegian producer and singer Farao has spent the past five years piecing together fragments of life, loss and late-night dancefloor visions into her new album Magical Thinking. Known for her shimmering blend of 90s R&B, 80s disco and spiritual jazz, often anchored by the distinctive tones of the zither, Farao’s music balances intimacy with groove. In this conversation she reflects on motherhood, collaboration, and finding beauty in grief, while tracing how Berlin clubs and quiet Oslo moments alike shaped her sound.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

I’m Farao, a Norwegian producer and singer based in Oslo. I mix 90s R&B, 80s disco with hints of spiritual jazz, kinda like Janet Jackson meets Alice Coltrane, and I use a string instrument called the zither extensively.

Can you share any specific rituals or practices that helped you during the creative process for this album?

It took five years to make this album because I had two kids and released two records with my band Ultraflex. The most important thing was that even just 30 minutes in the studio mattered. Opening the projects and making the most of very short sessions whenever I could find the time.

How did your experiences as a mother influence the themes and sounds explored in your new album, Magical Thinking?

It gave the songs more time to rest. I had so little time to work on this album, and because of the sporadic recording process the songs had their beauty sleep in my subconscious. After each long pause I came back with fresh ears, and it was immediately clear what needed to be done.

What was the most surprising element you discovered about yourself while working on Magical Thinking?

That I am so grateful to have experienced a grief as immense as I have. It completely changed me, I give less fucks now which in turn made my music better. At first the grief felt like a secret club I did not want to be part of, but I realised that people who have not experienced deep grief lack a certain perspective..

How did collaborating with Laraaji shape the direction of the single 'Voice Continues' and your overall sound?

He has been a huge inspiration for me for years. It’s pretty obvious, I started playing the zither because of him. When he came to my studio he jammed on one of my zithers that I probably wouldn’t have bought if it weren’t for him – a real full-circle moment. His jam was a 20 minute piece that Ådne (co-producer and mixing engineer) and I rearranged into a shorter track. We added synths and eventually recorded my vocals. The song is about my grief, about the people we’ve lost continuing their life inside of us long after they’re gone. But it also tells a double story about motherhood and my influence on my children, about the influence of my mother and grandmother on me, about maternal love trickling down through generations.

As you were recording between Oslo and Berlin, did the different environments influence the sound or mood of the album?

Throughout the process I imagined the songs being played on the sound system at OHM at 4am with me sitting in my corner spot on the bench. That city inspired the disco snap for sure. Lots of vocal takes were recorded while I was heavily pregnant in Oslo which gave the recordings a certain flare as well.

What messages or feelings do you hope your listeners take away from the album's exploration of grief and resilience?

That grief is a gift. Once you get through the worst part you will cherish it.

Could you describe your songwriting process and how it evolved while creating this latest project?

A difference from my previous albums is a much stronger focus on sexy beats. I laid the foundation to all of the beats on this album referencing my favourite disco tracks like SOS Band’s “No One’s Gonna Love You” and Aaliyah’s “Rock The Boat” for example, and continued developing them with Ådne. He lifted them even further into sexiness even though they were already hot.

What inspired the title Magical Thinking, and how does it connect to the themes explored in the album?

The book “Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion pretty much saved me during the darkest periods of my grief. Didion showed me how grief as overwhelming as that, inducing delusions, is a magical way of thinking. She made me realise I wasn’t completely insane and showed me the beauty in what seemed like total mental health collapse.

What do you love right now?

My kids and my baby daddy, disco music, matcha, the sun.

What do you hate right now?

Trump, Netanyahu

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

Salt-N-Pepa’s “Very Necessary”, because it instantly puts me in a good mood no matter what. It’s the definition of cool.