Alumni case study Fari Chiketa
Fari Chiketa is a Brighton-based artist and songwriter blending live looping, beatboxing, and electronic textures into a unique sound. From supporting Omar to performing at The Great Escape, she is building a career defined by collaboration and creativity. Discover how WaterBear helped her turn raw talent into professional artistry.
The Art of the Loop: How Alumni Fari Crafted Her Authentic Sound
Fari Chiketa is a songwriter who truly embodies the collaborative spirit of the Brighton music scene. Her unique sound is built on intricate live looping – a skill she honed after being inspired by the “one-woman band” approach of artists like Kimbra – which she showcased in her support slot for acclaimed UK soul artist, Omar, in January.
Fari’s journey is defined by a “musicians helping musicians” philosophy. Since graduating, she has focused on finding a sound that is authentically “Fari,” blending beatboxing, looping, and electronic textures into a cohesive brand. Whether she is performing for a crowd of hundreds or just three people, her goal remains the same: to share her music with the world and take her sound on the road.
Why Waterbear
For Fari, the decision to join WaterBear was sparked by a desire for a personal, artist-centric education. After initially starting a degree in Journalism and Politics, she pivoted to WaterBear after a single interview.
“This is cliché, but my first sit-down talking about my music with musicians made me want to be here,” Fari explains. The small class sizes provided a bespoke environment where she wasn’t just another face in the crowd, allowing her to meet her first producer and release her debut music.
Experience During the Course
While Fari’s background was largely self-taught, learning by ear rather than formal theory, she found that WaterBear provided the perfect tools to bridge the gap between her raw talent and professional production.
One of her most valuable takeaways was a songwriting exercise where students were prompted to write based on a single word, picture, or sentence. This technique has become her primary weapon against writer’s block. Beyond the classroom, Fari utilised the WaterBear Opportunities page to recruit her band: George Campbell (Production), Charlie Allen (Guitar), and Lee Bright (Drums). This team, formed during her studies, continues to play with her today.
Career Impact
Fari credits the WaterBear Opportunities Team for opening doors that once seemed out of reach. From sharing demos with Universal Music to auditioning for Glastonbury Festival to filming a music video, these experiences provided a massive boost to her professional confidence.
A major milestone was performing at The Great Escape 2023, an opportunity she secured through the college. However, her proudest achievement to date is the release of her single, ‘Light.’ Produced alongside Fickle Friends’ Jack Wilson, the track was a song Fari had been “singing in her head for five years.” Bringing it to life exactly as she imagined it was a deeply fulfilling moment in her early career.
Advice for future students
“Go out and see music. It’s so easy to become a music student and forget that your inspiration still comes from seeing and hearing bands and artists. It really helps to visualise where you want to be.”
Skills and Tools Gained
Live Looping & Electronic Composition
Collaborative Songwriting
Networking
Band Management
Visual-Based Creative Writing
Live Performance