Faarrow, is a Canadian Pop/R&B musical duo. Consisting of Somali sisters Siham and Iman Hashi, the group released their debut EP "Lost" in 2016.

Personal life

Siham and Iman Hashi were born in Mogadishu. Their mother was a diplomat, whose work stationed the family in various countries, including

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries by area, fifth-largest country in Asia ...

for one to two years, and

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...

. After

civil war A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...

broke out in Somalia in 1991, the family relocated to Toronto, Canada. Growing up, Siham and Iman loved music and would sing around the house. They never had any formal musical training, as they were raised in a traditional Muslim home, where emphasis was instead placed on education. Besides their musical career, the sisters are involved in philanthropic work through their non-profit foundation.

Career

In 2007, the sisters moved to

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,71 ...

to pursue a recording career. Their parents were reluctant to allow them to go due to their traditional upbringing. However, their father finally acquiesced under the condition that the girls would live with his sister and would resume their studies at a later date. They were subsequently signed to Universal Motown, becoming the first female artists of

Somali Somali may refer to: Horn of Africa * Somalis, an inhabitant or ethnicity associated with Greater Somali Region ** Proto-Somali, the ancestors of modern Somalis ** Somali culture ** Somali cuisine ** Somali language, a Cushitic language ** Soma ...

descent to sign a record deal with a major U.S. label. In 2009-2010, the duo began recording its first album ''Sweet Rush'' in

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. According to the group, the record was originally intended to be called ''Sweet and Spicy''. It was instead eponymously titled due to the sisters' "sweet" stage persona and the "rush" that characterizes their sound, the latter of which attempts to fuse traditional

Somali music The Music of the Somali people () is music following the musical styles, techniques and sounds of the Somali people. Overview Traditional Somali music Somali people have a rich musical heritage centered on traditional Somali folklore. Soma ...

with modern production. Singles include "Hot Sauce". The duo has also collaborated with Esther Dean and

Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (; born April 16, 1973), known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of " Locked Up" (featuring Styles ...

on ''

Troublemaker Troublemaker, The Troublemaker, Trouble Maker, or Trouble Makers may refer to: Film * Troublemaker Studios, a Texan film production company founded by Robert Rodriguez and Elizabeth Avellan * ''Trouble Makers'' (1917 film), a lost silent film dr ...

'', as well as Rock City. Faarrow's main musical influences include the

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Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the ...

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "Honorific nicknames in popular music, The Voice", she is Whitney Houston albums discography, one of the bestselling music artists ...

and

Mika Mika is a given name, a nickname and a surname. Notable people and fictional characters with the name include: People known just as Mika * Mika (singer) (born 1983), Lebanese-born British singer-songwriter Michael Penniman, Jr. * Mika (footbal ...

. The band name ''Faarrow'' is a fusion of the meanings of their respective names translated from

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walte ...

("faith" and "arrow).

Philanthropy

In the 2000s, Siham and Iman established Somalia Lives Again, a non-profit organization which aims to give back to their country of birth. They have also raised proceeds for humanitarian work through their Wish Creatively initiative, which sells handmade jewelry. Additionally, the band has performed on

World Refugee Day World Refugee Day is an international day organised every year on 20 June by the United Nations. It is designed to celebrate and honour refugees from around the world. The day was first established on 20 June 2001, in recognition of the 50th anniv ...

in Tunisia, and at the UNHCR's

Nansen Refugee Award The Nansen Refugee Award is awarded annually by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to an individual, group, or organization in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees, displaced, or stateless people. Th ...

ceremony.

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

References

{{Authority control Somalian emigrants to Canada Somalian musicians Musicians from Toronto Somalian Muslims Canadian Sunni Muslims