In honor of Black History Month, Atwood Magazine has invited artists to participate in a series of essays reflecting on identity, music, culture, inclusion, and more.
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Today, Virginia-born, LA-based artist Farrah Fawx shares her playlist, ‘Joy Is My Genre: Escapism Through Black Music,’ as a part of Atwood Magazine’s Black History Month series!
With a sound reminiscent of Azealia Banks and early Doechii, Farrah Fawx is a powerhouse singer, rapper, and songwriter – a dynamic force seamlessly blending rap, R&B, house, and pop. Her music draws from time spent in New York and abroad, merging the pulsing rhythms of UK dance music with a bold Southern edge, all tied together by her signature rasp.
Watch Farrah Fawx’s recently-released music video for “Stretch” below, and listen to more singles like “Chop Chop” and “HI MY NAME IS” (featuring Carly Gibert) wherever you stream music. Her special Black History Month playlist is available to stream on Spotify (or you can click on the songs below to hear them on YouTube).
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JOY IS MY GENRE
Escapism Through Black Music
by Farrah Fawx
Black joy, in many ways, serves as a powerful form of resistance.
In a world that often seeks to diminish or define Blackness by trauma and exhaustion and then appropriates and exploits it for profit and entertainment, joy acts as both defiance and healing.
It is in no way new for Black artists to use music as a medium to express life in all its complexity; , not just the struggle, but also the beauty, the humor, the vitality, and the triumph. Our music has always had the capacity to ignite something special, something that feels deeply rooted in celebration. It’s not about forgetting the challenges we face, but about celebrating the strength, simplicity, and beauty we find in spite of them.
These are a few songs that achieve and reaffirm this feeling for me:
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“What a Wonderful World“
by Louis Armstrong
This may be one of the most simply beautiful songs I can think of.
“Golden“
by Jill Scott
An incredible proclamation of Black Joy and Happiness.
“Lovely Day“
by Bill Withers
I don’t think I truly understood the significance of Bill Withers’ catalog until his passing. This song was a Staple in my childhood as my grandma would always play it in the car alongside Anita Baker and Otis Redding.
“Before I Let Go”
by Maze & Frankie Beverly
Doing the Electric Slide to this song at a family gathering, surrounded by loved ones and good food, is both a ritual and a rite of passage. I cant think of any other song that brings people together quite like this one.
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
by Whitney Houston
I don’t often get moments where I feel truly carefree. But every time this song comes on, I lose every care in the world. I remember being around four years old, belting this out in the car with my mom on the way to school.
“All I Do“
by Stevie Wonder
This song is my serotonin boost. I play this in the mornings before or after “Early” by the Gap Band. What I love most about this song is it just feels like pure devotion, love in its most joyful, soul-stirring form. Egoless.
“Crank That (Soulja Boy)“
by Soulja Boy Tell’em
Grateful to have been able to witness peak Soulja Boy.
“Becoming“
by Diana Gordon
No one can tell me anything about anything when this song plays.
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‘Joy Is My Genre: Escapism Through Black Music’ – a playlist by Farrah Fawx
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I believe that Black joy is an invitation and a call to dance, to sing, to live in the fullness of who we are.
Through my creation, I hope to answer that call. I aim to inspire a reaffirmation of our essence at its core.
So, let’s keep dancing, keep celebrating, and most importantly, keep living in joy. Because joy is more than an emotion; it is a revolution.
Creating music that inspires moments of freeness, proclamation, and a deep connection to our birthright of joy is my protest.
Joy is my genre. – Farrah Fawx
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:: stream Farrah’s “Joy Is My Genre” playlist here ::
:: connect with Farrah Fawx here ::
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