Fatima, also known as FAFA, is a creative with Honduran and Emirati roots who grew up between East and West. She makes music, cooks, designs jewellery, films videos – basically, if it can be turned into a creative outlet, she’s already done it. While she’s a multi-talent on paper, music is where she spills the real tea.
Her latest EP, The Veiled Essence, marks her return with raw stories, big feelings, and the kind of honesty that feels like reading a diary entry… except it’s set to a beat and meant to be played loud. She sits with us to talk about vulnerability with her latest release.
Cosmo ME: What moment in your life made you realise this EP needed to exist?
FAFA: I didn’t realise I needed this EP until it was already created. These four songs represent the last four years of my hiatus from releasing music and stepping back from the scene. As a woman navigating an industry where infrastructure and guidance weren’t always available, I found myself vulnerable. My naivety was taken advantage of, and I was left feeling empty. I was close to giving up on music entirely until a conversation with my friend and producer AY reignited something in me. That moment sparked what is now a four-part project, with The Veiled Essence as part one. I felt compelled to share these stories because, sadly, my experience isn’t unique – but by speaking about it, I hope others can recognise the signs and avoid similar situations.
Cosmo ME: Do you write music as a form of release, reflection, or documentation?
FAFA: It’s all three. On the EP, there’s a song called “LCS,” which stands for Liar, Cheater, Scam. Near the end, I sing, “I will never let love be the reason I stay, never again.” Later, I rediscovered a song I wrote 11 years ago with the line, “You said no one will ever love me the way you did, so I stayed.” I had forgotten about it while writing this EP. Seeing those two moments side by side showed me how much I’ve grown. My music documents my journey as much as it helps me process and release it.
Cosmo ME: How much of this EP is drawn from personal experience versus imagination?
FAFA: The entire EP is drawn from personal experience, and I say “unfortunately” because the subjects are heavy. It explores the loss of innocence, how naivety can attract chaos, and how easily we can lose ourselves in the pursuit of love and belonging. I speak about betrayal in all forms, as well as consent, broken boundaries, and the turning point between heartbreak and healing, where clarity finally arrives. It also touches on the importance of who you surround yourself with and how ignoring your intuition can become a very expensive lesson.
Cosmo ME: How does this EP represent your evolution as an artist compared to your earlier work?
FAFA: Understanding my evolution also requires some cultural context. In many of our cultures, individuality can be met with judgment and shame, which creates a deep fear of being fully seen. Even when I thought I was being honest in my earlier work, I was still holding back parts of myself out of fear. My older music spoke about mental health and depression, but there was always a wall I wasn’t ready to break down. This EP is different. If my earlier work sounded like a child crying out for help, this project speaks from the voice of the nurturer, grounded in forgiveness and healing, while still holding perpetrators accountable.
Cosmo ME: What do you hope listeners feel the first time they hear this EP?
FAFA: I hope it reminds people to be kinder and more forgiving toward themselves. More than anything, I want listeners to feel lighter after hearing it.
Cosmo ME: How do you carry your culture through your music?
FAFA: I come from a very mixed heritage and have always existed between cultures, so my music reflects that in-between space. It isn’t one thing or the other – it’s layered, just like my background. Representation matters to me, and I carry deep love for my cultures, but I also believe that over-defining it can sometimes limit the art itself.
Cosmo ME: Who inspires you?
FAFA: As cliché as it may sound, I’m inspired by many people for many different reasons – too many to name. I’m especially inspired by anyone who moves freely with life and chooses joy as their compass.
Next, read about the lost art of eye contact.