With a massive global fan base of over 14 million and a new single with Jason Derulo, Nora Fatehi is creating her own lane of international music. Although she is Moroccan Canadian, she found skyrocketing success as an actor and dancer in the Indian film industry. From performing South Indian songs with intricate choreography to belly-dance-inspired numbers with an Arabian twist, Fatehi’s career spans nations. “I’m a performer, and I love to be on stage. I love interacting with the audience and expressing myself through music and dance, and Bollywood helped me build myself,” she says.
However, Fatehi wants to be known as more than just “the girl in Bollywood or the music video girl,” as she says, and creating her own music was the next logical step in her career. “There’s something about being able to sing your own music, feature in your own music videos, and take control creatively that felt empowering,” she says. She released her first international single, “Pepeta,” in 2019 and was part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup song, “Light the Sky.” After a few hit tracks that were self-produced, she recently signed a global record deal with Warner Music Group.
Although Fatehi’s career took off in India, she embraces being a citizen of the world. “I’m very multicultural, and I’m never going to forget my roots. I’m African, I’m Moroccan, I have Canadian upbringing,” she says. Fatehi wants to create music that reflects her culture and identity with a danceable vibe, and her single “Snake” with Derulo is the perfect example of that – complete with a catchy hook. She’s inspired by performance-oriented artists like Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, and Beyoncé. “They carried themselves throughout the decades and are still relevant today. It instills the mentality that if you were on stage, you have to tear it up. There’s no other way to be on that stage.”
As she juggles music video shoots, singing, rehearsals, traveling, and more, Fatehi needs to be on top of her game at all times. Ahead, Fatehi shares her top getting-ready essentials, from her favorite lip balm to her go-to Lululemon leggings.
