A Night with Faouzia in Brooklyn: Inside the Film Noir Experience
Captured by Chance Music at The Sulton Room, New York City, on November 3, 2025.
Only a few hours remain before the release of Film Noir, Faouzia’s long-awaited debut album. After seven years of being a signed artist, writing songs for others, and even spending a year in China, she’s finally sharing the project her fans have been waiting for. What makes this release even more special is that Faouzia is now an independent artist, meaning this is truly her album. From handpicking every song to crafting the concept and leading the creative direction, she’s giving listeners a collection that reflects everything she’s experienced over the past seven years.
We got to attend an intimate lounge performance at The Sulton Room, where Faouzia shared acoustic versions of tracks from Film Noir, and it was emotional, to say the least. For years, fans have wondered what was holding back an album, and hearing these songs felt like both an answer and a reflection of the journey she’s been on. Being signed can be a great opportunity and, for some artists, the definition of success. But for others, true artistry comes from creative independence, from being their own storyteller.
For Faouzia, authenticity has always been at the heart of her music. Writing, experimenting, and following her instincts are when the best version of her truly shines through. Film Noir is the kind of album only she could create, yet it’s also one that couldn’t exist without everything she’s lived through to get here. Even Faouzia herself admitted she’s still in disbelief:
“After seven years of wanting this to happen, and writing hundreds of songs, if not thousands, I can’t believe it’s coming out Friday.”
Just as she began her career, with only her and a piano, Faouzia returned to her roots for this project. She explained that the album was inspired by the whimsical and eccentric films she loved growing up:
“I was watching a lot of movies that I loved, Coraline, Edward Scissorhands, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The Shape of Water... They take you into another world, and that was the seed of my inspiration. I wanted to follow that whimsy, that childlike feeling, and reconnect with who I am as a singer-songwriter.”
She spoke about her fascination with these movies that make you uncomfortable, the same feeling that often comes with revisiting who you once were. As children, we’re dreamers and imaginers; maybe she wanted to tap back into that excitement of envisioning a movie made of real-life scenes. Sonically, the album draws from classical influences, the foundation of her musical upbringing, while lyrically it captures the emotions and stories that shaped her over the past few years.
After hearing each track, I can say the album truly feels like a journey. By the time you reach the final song, everything comes together in a full-circle moment. Every detail matters, the lyrics, the arrangements, even the song titles. There’s something here for everyone, and each listener will find their own meaning in it. As Faouzia put it:
“I hope people take away whatever they need. I hope they find comfort in it, solace. I hope they find little lyrics or melodies they need to hear at that very moment. I want this album to feel like a hug when you’re crying and need someone there for you.”
That authenticity shines through in every part of the project. She even opened up about her struggles with writer’s block, a challenge that ultimately led her to experiment and push herself creatively. It was during one of those moments that she wrote “Ornament” while trying to finish “Don’t Ever Leave Me.” Discussing “Unethical,” she explained that not only were the lyrics emotionally layered, but the phrasing and rhythm were particularly tricky to write:
“Phonetically, the way the rhythm landed, nobody would notice otherwise, but it was a bit of a challenge writing that song.”
Hearing her talk about the behind-the-scenes process gave a deeper appreciation for the album. Each song, both in the studio and live, feels intentional, a complete experience from start to finish.
Faouzia closed her Q&A with advice for up-and-coming artists, and it couldn’t have been more fitting:
“People can hear when you’re not being authentic. You can’t fool anybody, and you definitely can’t fool yourself. So follow what’s most true to you.”
I kept this in mind throughout the last part of the performance, and it stayed with me as I thought back to the whole event. This 11-track record is a reflection of Faouzia, her courage to start over, her independence, and her authenticity that brings every song to life. She can make a room fall silent, sing along, or even shed a tear, and Film Noir captures that in every track. For fans who have waited seven years, the moment is finally here: the album releases Friday, November 7. It’s more than just her debut album, it’s a journey through her story, her growth, and her voice, and it feels like the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her artistry.
