Growing up in Senegal, K-pop idol Fatou Samba knew she wanted to pursue music. Inspired by the country's diverse sounds and those of Belgium — where she moved at 12 — and a love of K-pop that began in her teen years, Samba has become the only African performer in the K-pop industry.
After moving to South Korea and getting her start as a model, Samba joined the multicultural K-pop group Blackswan as its rapper, singer and dancer. Her debut solo mixtape, PWAPF (short for Psycho With A Pretty Face), is set for release Aug. 19 while the K-pop group will embark on a tour in September and is teasing a mini album.
"All I can say is look out for Blackswan. Because we have a lot of things coming up and when I say a lot I mean it," Samba tells GRAMMY.com.
Formed originally under the name RaNia 11 years ago and rebranded as Blackswan in 2020, the six-member group (whose other members are Leia, Sriya and Gabi) is the brainchild of DR Music — the agency known for forming legendary first-generation K-pop group Baby V.O.X. Blackswan's unshakable spirit and powerful dance tracks like "Tonight" and "Come Close" have garnered a considerable fanbase, known as LUMINA.
As a member of Blackswan, Samba is the company of other multicultural trailblazers like Syria (K-pop’s first Indian idol), and Leia (K-pop's first Brazilian idol). For many Black K-pop fans, Fatou’s mere existence in the industry helps them feel seen in a space where racial insensitivity and cultural appropriation can sometimes go hand and hand. Though multicultural groups like Blackswan may seem like a rarity in the K-pop landscape, this will likely change as the genre continues its westward expansion.
The stakes are currently high as Fatou revs up for the three-song mixtape, produced by Korean musician leanon. The 27-year-old chatted with GRAMMY.com about the microaggressions she faces a Black K-pop performer, her musical influences, and how she plans to leave a lasting impact on K-pop.
How has your background of growing up in two different countries influenced you musically?
In Senegal I grew up hearing a lot of Soukus, Afrobeats, and old hip-hop songs. Then when I moved to Belgium, European pop and R&B and rap is what I heard mostly. So I think growing up in Senegal, then moving to Belgium made me not so afraid of searching for other genres, or having a more broader view of the music world.
What has your experience been like so far as a Black K-pop idol? Have you ever gelt limited or experienced any forms of discrimination/microaggressions?
Well on stage I have a very bold, tough, confident look as an idol. But sometimes, when I'm off stage, people expect me to have this same aggressiveness. My other colleagues in the industry, they're allowed to be more soft, feminine and cute off stage. But people always expect me to always be tough. So I think that's some type of micro aggression. But in the past, I've discussed this idea that you shouldn't put Black people or Black women into a box. Like we don't all have to be tough, loud or aggressive. Of course on stage this is a plus, but off stage we are just normal people.
In what ways do you believe multicultural K-pop groups like Blackswan are helping to create a more inclusive image of K-pop?
With us being so multicultural, I just hope people who look like me or Syria or Gabi or Leia, have more confidence, and become more courageous about going after their dreams and not being afraid. And not really holding themselves back just because they are different or from a different cultural background.
What music genres do you hope to explore with your group and upcoming mixtape?
Well for Blackswan, I would like us to be more experimental and not just stick to one image. I want to try everything. Like more girly, cute, tough, more R&B smooth, ect.
For my mixtape PWAPF there's two different beats: one drum beats and two trap beats. The tracks on there will include "Castle Key (Roll)" and "Gucci (PWAPF)" and "Lingo (Stunna)", all of which I helped compose/write.
For future solo pieces, I would really like to try out some songs with heavy boom-bap beats; I love boom-bap. Also I would like to try out Afrobeats, of course, along with more R&B.
What can we expect from Blackswan’s comeback?
You can expect a very tough, confident and very performance-heavy stage song. We will also be leaving to tour in Belgium this year as well as in Japan.
You started off modeling first in South Korea, so what made you receptive to joining Blackswan when you were offered the chance?
What people might not know is that, since I was young,music has always been my passion. Even my family friends were like, "Fatou, if you don't end up playing music. I don't think you can do anything else."
When I was 14 I was introduced to K-pop bands like Shinee through my friends, and from then have dreamed of doing what I'm doing now. So actually, I got lucky that I was able to model first and have experience being in front of the camera. Once I got this huge chance to actually [pursue music], I didn't even think about it, because it was my original dream anyways.
How has been navigating past Korean beauty standards in the industry alongside the ones that are placed on Black women by our communities?
To be completely honest with you, I've never paid any attention to beauty standards. Because I've always been confident in the way I look. The thing is, beauty standards always change; like next week something else might be in trend or or considered prettier. So I feel like we should just not pay attention to them at all.
Wear what you want to wear, put on the makeup you want to put, or whatever makes you feel the most confident and pretty. Just don't worry about them because you can never measure up to them 100 percent.
What's been the most rewarding experience about being like a K-pop singer?
So far, it's when I see Black girls under my comments saying things like "Because of you I've gained the confidence to go after my dream" and "Thank you so much for helping me out, thank you so much for working so hard." I'm like wow, you're thanking me but I should be thanking you for supporting me. It's a different type of happiness. It gives me goosebumps.
How are your parents and family feeling about your success and everything that you're doing?
My mom actually cried. She was like, "Oh, now you're not only my Fatou now, I have to share you with all of your supporters." But she was very proud and very happy for me. And my two little brothers also were like, "Well, yeah, we kinda expected you to go in that direction," so they are also very proud and happy for me.
What are some other career goals you have besides modeling and singing?
In future I would love to try acting or like emceeing for music shows.
What type of lasting impact do you hope to have on K-pop?
I just hope that me doing this right now gives the next generation the confidence to follow their dreams. Also to speak their mind, because [as an idol] we have to be very careful about what we say. You have to think, like, 100 times, but …we're not reboots, so speak your mind and be confident of where you stand and stand up for yourself.