Written by Sophie Wyatt
Blending intimate cords with dreamy pop vocals, Portugal-based artist Mokina is using her music to transport listeners away from the day-to-day. Entering the music scene with the release of her independent work in 2018, the Italo-Egyptian singer-songwriter has found influence in an array of artists from Kate Bollinger to boygenius. And now she has returned with her latest single ‘Fool’, which also signifies the start of her latest chapter of her musical journey.
Describing her first memories of music as doing “zoomies to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring”, it’s clear that from an early age Mokina was enthralled by music. Whilst her music has been described as endless lists of different musical variations (atmospheric-indie-folk-singer-songwriter to name a few), she insists that rather than being boxed into these constrictive labels, her music is made to emulate “little music bubbles that people can float in”. And her ethereal presence and sound do just that.
Mokina’s latest single “Float” sees her reunite with long-time collaborator and producer Jeremy Lachance, continuing a creative partnership that has helped shape much of her previous music. Playing with lo-fi drums and soft synth textures, Mokina plays with the idea of pulling the fool tarot card and the start of a new relationship. Symbolising vulnerability, risk and transformation, the fool card represents new beginnings. Mokina went on to explain, “I wrote fool about the beginning of a relationship, and in general for it to represent this kind of blind foolish leap into something new.”
Being Montreal-born, Italo-Egyptian and now residing in Portugal, Mokina tells us that this plays to her advantage as an artist. Much like her ever developing sound, her life progressing through new chapters allows her to grow. “It removes the constraints that my music should only stick to one genre or always sound the same”, she explains. “It can contain multitudes and resonate in different contexts.”
“Fool” is just the start of this exciting new chapter within Mokina’s artistic journey. 6th November 2026 will see the release of her debut album Jardim Celeste. In the meantime like many other listeners, we will be floating through her current musical library in preparation.
