Born in Dublin, EFÉ’s star has been consistently rising since she first released in 2020. This year alone, she signed to NYC based Fader label, been premiered on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music show, played Glastonbury and opened for Still Woozy. Gearing up towards her Dublin headliner in The Academy Greenroom this November, EFÉ has set herself apart from other artists with her dream-pop indie-rock sound and distinctive aesthetic truly establishing her brand in both Ireland and beyond.
Anita Ikharo AKA EFÉ started as a YouTuber in her early years. By vlogging, scriptwriting and creating quirky visuals, her creative talents were clearly destined for limelight. During her teens, she found another inventive outlet in writing and performing songs, which allowed her to artistically express her niche dream alt-pop, R&B, and later indie and rock sounds.
We were first introduced to EFÉ’s music in 2020. Her sophomore single ‘Table For Two’ exploded onto the scene which has since racked up over 3 million streams on Spotify alone. This was part of the What Sould We Do This Summer? EP which demonstrated a more lo-fi indie-pop sound. After a two year hiatus, she began teasing us with her VITAMIN – C EP. Whilst honing on her craft, her sound moved to a more indie-rock sound, defining her musical vision. This led to her working with mix engineer Ben Baptie, who has worked with the likes of Moses Sumney, Rex Orange County and Little Simz.
Her later indie-rock fusion showcases buzzy rock sounds prevalent from the early 00s. Her music is reminiscent of and inspired by Japanese pop stars like Tommy February6 and 800 Cherries with hints of The Cardigans, No Doubt, and come modern contemporaries BENEE and Beabadoobee.
Aside from her music making, EFÉ has established herself as a creative director when it comes to her music videos. Her ‘Truth☆Truth’ video is heavily inspired by Japanese pop star Tommy February6 who has also used the cheerleader aesthetic in unusual settings.
‘2000SEVEN’ is another track of EFÉ’s that has a Japanese inspired theme. The New Yorker band Civo Matto who are of Japanese heritage were the main motivating force behind the video for this track, but specifically their live performance on a short lived cable programme in 1996. EFÉ used that video as the basis for her own music video for ‘2000SEVEN’, and has described it as her favourite music video to date. See her rocking out in their bedroom below, as well as the Cibo Matto video she drew the inspiration from.
Since receiving acclaimed reception for her track ‘Table for Two’, she has flown to London, Miami and New York with her music, opening the doors of new and unfamiliar industries. Despite only have two EP’s to her name, she has performed at an array of iconic festivals including Glastonbury, presented a headline gig in Bushwick NYC, supported Still Woozey, and recently signed to renowned indie label Fader.
With her undeniable talent, growing fanbase, developing sound and recent label signing, the future looks very bright for EFÉ. As she prepares for live performances across Europe and beyond, her up coming projects are rumoured to delve even deeper into themes of personal healing and identity as she continues to explore and redefine her sound. She evokes her vulnerability through song, encompassing her Irish-Nigerian heritage all while portraying a stand alone aesthetic.
Tickets to her headline show in Dublin on the 8th of November can be found here