Fathe has been part of the Karangahape Road artistic community for a few years now, part of the new generation of artists coming up through the Grow Room, various collective shows and events happening on our street. He started out as a painter, a dancer and an actor. An integral part of the burgeoning community of young artists here but only recently has he branched out into music. He’s put on events in the past but last year he put on his own headlined show with his own band - Fathe and the Sweetos, made up of an incredible roster of musicians from the Grow Room community and beyond. After a year’s hiatus to record more music and film music videos, Fathe and The Sweetos are bringing the show to Neck of the Woods to celebrate the release of a music video for his song ‘Sister’. We caught up with Fathe to talk about his journey into music and he told us about his drive to help people find relief and healing on the dance floor.
The first time you put on a show at Neck of the Woods it was as a dancer and actor, now you’re bringing a whole band to the club.
I make music and stuff but I never claimed to be a musician before. When they ask me, I just say, I do performing arts. But now I’m actually promoting my music.
So, you feel more comfortable claiming that musician title now?
Yeah it just accidentally happened. My cousin makes music and I was in his bedroom and just recording some stuff on his computer just for fun. But I found my voice.
You hadn’t sung till then?
I’ve always sung. I grew up in Sudan watching Bollywood movies. Every night we’d watch Bollywood movies and it had a big effect on me as a kid. The creativity, the singing and dancing - a big influence.
Through music you can tell your story way easier. It has melody, a style, a flavour.
I thought about being a painter, everyone encouraged me to do that in high school so I thought ok, that’s my life. But halfway through painting a mural I realised I don’t enjoy being behind the scenes.
How does your acting and dance background inform your music now?
I’ve always danced since I was young, that’s a big part of me. Vocal comes from movement.
Acting helped me realise how I wanted to tell my story. Drama training helps you stay committed to telling your story, no matter the energy in the audience. Acting is more than real. When I give it all on stage, when you give the best honest version of yourself it feels so good. And no one can judge you. It’s shit you have to go on stage just to speak truth. But that’s why theatre is there.
At the end of the day it’s not about dancing, it’s not about making music. We’re all just learning a way of being.
What’s the inspiration for the music you’ve been making?
That ‘Sister’ song, I made it last year. I’ve always had the words, I’d be humming them. Where I come from we have so much compassion for women. Growing up, my older sister always put me first even when she had nothing. When we fought as kids, she’d just move on. She taught me compassion. Now I want to do everything for her and my younger sister.
So this song is honouring her and other women in your life?
Yes, especially with what’s happening in the world. That’s what’s beautiful about creativity. It relates to a lot of people. I wrote the song for my older sister but now when I listen to it I get really emotional because I realise it relates to my younger sister too.
What should people expect at the show this weekend?
There’s going to be a lot of dancing. I’ve got DJ Banty, Chapters DJing and Whyfi too who’s also in my band (Edit: Nina Asiedu’s band Sanguine has now been added to lineup too)
For me when I’m putting on a show, how can I tell my story in a way that is satisfying for the audience that’s empowering, uplifting. How can I tell my story in a style?
I love people coming together to be loose, be free. When you have a safe place, everyone can be themselves. And I feel I need to promote that more. We all need to listen to other people’s stories. Basically you’re saying there is a place for us to all come together to dance. It brings some kind of relief. People get inspired.
People came up to me after that Galatos show to tell me they’d lost their dad too. They related to the words and felt relief. Sweeto is a sad song actually but it’s upbeat. I made it very light and dancey. We can only heal the sick if we are well. So let’s have a dance, shake it off, tell your sister you love her. Let’s rise up together, let’s lift ourselves up.
You’ve always organised your own gigs, headlined your own debut gig. What drives your mahi?
I’m putting on this show myself because I realised no one else is going to do it for me. I feel like I promote my own stuff better than other people. I’m a hustler. If I don’t have food, I’ll go find it, you know? If there’s people haven’t heard about the show and I know they need to hear it? I’ll find a way to invite them.
I’ve been to shows where the main act comes in a car, they perform and then they gap. They’ve got nothing to do with the show.
You’ve talked before about how you take a lot of care selecting the support DJs you put on the line up.
The DJs I love are really good because they put feeling into it. You’re dancing and your heart is connected. When the heart is involved you have more oxygen and more energy to dance. Not many people create that vibe. Whyfi is opening the show because he’s really good at reading the vibes when he’s DJing. Some DJs are just off with what’s happening. That’s why I say trust is so important. I put him on first because I want people to feel good as soon as they come into the show.
When it comes to ticket prices you’re not hesitant to charge what you feel the experience is worth.
When we start paying more to the people putting on good shows, it becomes really special. We look forward to these nights where we go to hear this person’s story.
The Galatos show was $30 on the door. Some of my friends told me it was too much, no one will pay that but the show was a success. So that helped me with committing to telling my story. I trust so many people and that they more value the things I’m standing for than money.
I always enjoy a show that makes me feel something. I always pay money for a good show. I watch a lot of shit shows for a lot of money too. My show won’t be like another show you watch while you’re eating your food.
The people in the band are really amazing. These guys just knew me as a guy who loves to dance but they still agreed to play in my band. Because of the things we stand for, it connects us. And trust as well. They know I’m not gonna let them down. We stand for the same things.
This is something we’ve been preparing, something special. The style is Afro … fusion … just mixed. It’s dancing music. This is international music.
With the borders closed meaning there’s a real focus on local music now, what are your plans for the immediate future?
Some people have told me (pre pandemic) I should go to another bigger city but I say no. It starts here first. And I haven’t even done what I want to do yet. I need to still meet everyone in Auckland.
I’m just gonna release as much music as I can, put on as many live shows as I can. People want something special if they’re going out. They don’t want to just go clubbing. We as DJs and musicians have this opportunity to act now and curate shows where people get to have more of an experience. Everyone has something to offer. I tell myself before we grow old we have this chance and we need to act on it now!
For more details about this Saturday’s gig and to buy tickets check out the event page: https://facebook.com/events/s/sister-fathe-and-the-sweetos/303207257381404/?ti=icl