Photos by Estefania Keener & Mary Tio
Fana Hues creates a magnetic experience that beckons listeners into a realm of ethereal tunes and eclectic lyrics. As I inch closer to her set, I’m immediately captivated by her natural presence on the Flog stage. Fana Hues is entirely in her element when performing in front of hundreds of beautifully smiling people, and the vibes are so high that it’s practically infectious. Her smile is radiant and complements her vivid pink iridescent eyeshadow look, only further emphasizing her stardom. She delivers energy with every dance move and still manages to sing with a silky flow.
Growing up in a lovingly large family with a profound appreciation for music provided Fana with the ideal environment to cultivate her artistic identity. For someone constantly exposed to rich sounds, singing becomes as natural as breathing. While crafting her artist name, Fana Hues, she cleverly incorporated a moniker, paying homage to her surname Hughes and honoring her relatives. In 2020, she embarked on forging her own legacy, highlighted by the release of her debut single and music video “Notice Me,” a poignant portrayal that wholesomely illustrates her roots. It’s no wonder that critics are naming her an artist to watch, as she is clearly on the path to exponential growth.
The feels fill the audience as she performs her last song on the setlist, one of her global hits “Icarus,” which perfectly complements the chorus of “Clumsy” by Fergie that she seamlessly transitions into as the melody fades out. As Fana expresses her gratitude and fans cheer loudly as she makes her exit, I begin to weave my way out of the crowd to meet her in the media area for a chit-chat.
[Note: this interview was conducted Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in Los Angeles and has been edited for clarity and brevity purposes]
Mary: Hello! Welcome to UCLA Radio. I’m Mary Tio joined by…
Fana Hues: Fana Hues!
Mary: We’re so excited to have you.
Fana Hues: I’m happy to be here.
Mary: You just wrapped up your set, how does it feel to be performing in your home city?
Fana Hues: It’s really, really, really crazy! Especially how many people showed up and showed out. It was very, very, very heartwarming. I was smiling during songs I shouldn’t have been smiling at. You could feel the love in the air, you know? The excitement and the engagement were top tier.
Mary: Your music, especially, encourages the feeling of wanting to hug the person next to you and vibe.
Fana Hues: I wanted to do that too and just fully dive into whatever is going on from the stage. At least, that’s the vibe I hope I give off.
Mary: You totally did! As I was leaving your set I ran into a couple friends and we were all raving about how amazing you sounded and how cool the crowd was.
Fana Hues: Awww I love that!
Mary: Good, you definitely achieved your goal! You gained a lot of attention when “SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE” dropped on Tyler’s CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST album. What was your experience working on that track?
Fana Hues: When he first hit me up, I couldn’t even believe it because, to me, it was the ultimate head nod. Since working with him on that project, it’s been surreal to see all the opportunities that have come from that, like performing here today. There have been so many doors that started to open up for me since then, and it’s been beyond anything I could have imagined, you know? It fully exceeded my expectations and continues to do so. People in countries that I don’t know if I’ll ever get to visit now know my name because of Tyler putting me on a song. It’s been endless opportunities that I don’t even know if, in this lifetime, I’ll be able to see all the doors that have been opened for me.
Mary: That’s so beautiful, I’m happy for you. Are there any other collabs that you’re manifesting? Any doors you’re thinking of walking into next?
Fana Hues: Yes! Hopefully, I’ll get some artists on this next album I’m working on, so I won’t drop any names just yet. There are so many musicians that I love and feel we could make something cool together. I can’t lie; I like doing features too, so I’m waiting to come to a place where more people are hitting me up to step into their world of music. In the meantime, on this next project, I definitely will be inviting other artists into my world, which is something I’ve never done before. I’ve worked on remixes with other people, but usually, it’s just me on my songs, so I’m looking forward to switching that up.
Mary: We’re excited to see this next phase of your artistry! As a listener, I love the sense of intimacy felt between you and your audience. There’s an element of introspection that goes into it, so I’m curious about how you balance vulnerability and strength when retelling personal stories through your lyrics. Do you have a specific creative process that allows you to do that, or does it typically flow naturally?
Fana Hues: It does flow naturally, but at times I have to be very mindful of the emotion I’m trying to convey. I believe that the best songwriting is produced with that intention. Something I’ve noticed, and it actually happened to me the other day, is that because my music is so introspective and true to my personal life, I often don’t talk about what’s going on internally if it’s not written into a song. It sometimes leads me to get snappy with the people around me, which I mean no harm by. It’s just that I live more in my truth when I’m making an album because I’m going through all the emotions in real-time. It can feel like people don’t understand what I’m going through, but at the same time, how can I expect them to know if I haven’t opened my mouth to say something yet? That’s something I’ve noticed when I’m writing about what I’m fighting through during my creative inception.
Mary: Does it feel cathartic when you’re able to portray those emotions into lyrics?
Fana Hues: That’s the best part! The whole reason why I do what I do is to be able to process all the emotions, so I’m not snappy and can work through my problems. Everybody’s going through something, you know?
Mary: That’s absolutely valid.
Fana Hues: Processing both negative and positive emotions through music, for me, has been the healthiest and most rewarding method. Being present here at Camp Flog Gnaw is an example of how these rewards have manifested in different ways.
Mary: I have a fun question for you now, if your music was a visual art piece what would it look like?
Fana Hues: Definitely mosaic because I feel that my music embodies so many different elements. I approach it very cinematically since it’s about my personal life. Even when I’m talking about love, it’s about the different types of love, whether it’s with family, friends, a partner, or whoever it is! It feels very mosaic because I’m always piecing everything together to create this full image that I hope others will love as well.
Mary: I love your interpretation. There is so much harmony and convergence that goes into creating a mosaic, which I agree reflects your music. It’s truly the process of translating experiences in the physical world into one sound.
Fana Hues: You know what’s crazy about music though? I don’t produce my own discography per se since I’m not very instrumental, so I usually work with a producer. Part of that collaboration requires using very creative language to get across the vision I’m trying to convey, so I think I’m going to start incorporating ‘mosaic’ into those conversations to better describe that full picture.
Mary: I can totally see that working in your favor! This weekend is just starting, so I’m curious about which other sets you’re excited to watch?
Fana Hues: I’m bummed I didn’t get to see Baby Rose or Liv.e because I was getting ready for my set. I really want to see Teezo Touchdown, Ravyn Lenae, Tyler, the Hillbillies, Ice Spice, Willow, DAISY WORLD, PinkPantheress… hmm, I hope I’m not missing anybody. There are so many great people in the lineup. I was watching a recent interview with PinkPantheress, and she mentioned performing with a band for the first time and incorporating visuals into her production, so I’m excited to check that out. I love when people put extra effort into shows that they know will be extremely special, so I can’t wait to see what she does.
Mary: That makes the two of us! We’re also very excited for your upcoming album release, can you give us a hint on when we can start streaming that?
Fana Hues: Yes stay tuned for spring time!
Mary: How perfect! We love spring. It’s the best season.
Fana Hues: I know right, I’m a spring baby too!
Mary: That’s right! Also Flora+Fana
Fana Hues: Mhmm! Spring chicken! *giggles*
Mary: I love it! Thank you so much it was such a pleasure talking to you, I’m really happy we got to connect.
Fana Hues: It was easy. Just chatting type things, you know?
Mary: Exactly, it should always be this fun!
Fana Hues: It is fun!
Mary: I love that, thank you.
Fana Hues: Nice to meet y’all.
Ria: I really love your boots.
Immersed in “girl talk” about the boots while gathering our interview materials, Fana enthusiastically shared the adventure of sourcing these gorgeous shoes. She revealed they magically fit her and her two sisters like the perfect pair of jeans in “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” This revelation tempted me to ask to try them on, but I bit my tongue. Despite our recent introduction, there seemed to be a natural affinity between us that made continuing our conversation so easy. Fana Hues is truly a pure-hearted spirit.
As we eagerly await her upcoming spring album, don’t miss streaming her latest collaboration, “Passion,” for a soulful groove. Follow her on Instagram [@fanahues] for more behind-the-scenes content, and be sure to explore her previous projects!
