FARIDA

Farida (Farida Bolseth Benounis) is a Norwegian-Algerian singer, songwriter, and producer known for blending R&B with Scandinavian melancholy. Born to an Algerian father and a Norwegian mother, she grew up in Gjøvik and later based herself in Oslo. She gained mainstream attention in 2016 with her breakout singles "Three Weeks" and "Solo Ride," the latter of which premiered on the US Billboard chart. She released her debut 8-track mixtape, "The 25th Hour", named after her age at the time of recording. Her sound is characterized by vulnerable lyrics, soulful vocals, and minimalist electronic or '90s-inspired R&B beats. She has performed at major events like the Øya Festival and opened for prominent acts including Ne-Yo, Method Man, Ryan Leslie, and Dua Lipa. Her single "Do About It" was named song of the week on NRK P3 in 2020 and became a finalist in the 2021 John Lennon Songwriting Contest.