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Aya NakamuraMarion Gomez\/Billboard France<\/p>\nHow does one reinvent themselves after becoming, in under a decade, a cornerstone of the French music scene, with over six billion streams and 24 diamond certifications (16 in France and 8 internationally, according to the National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing)? <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve asked myself that question,\u201d Aya Nakamura admits.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy answer is that when you\u2019re an artist, you\u2019re supposed to evolve. Otherwise, you\u2019re no longer living your music. I think as long as you stay true to who you are, if you\u2019re still feeling things, you\u2019ll always be able to put that energy back into your work\u2026 at least if you\u2019re passionate.\u201d<\/p>\n
At just 29, the singer\u2019s hits have already travelled the world \u2014 so much so that she was the natural choice to represent Francophone music at the Paris Olympic Games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wonder if I could have done the same thing if I\u2019d been born twenty years earlier,\u201d she reflects. \u201cIt definitely wouldn\u2019t have been as easy\u2026 Especially because there\u2019s something new here \u2014 a Black woman singing in a completely distinct and unapologetic style, without waiting for doors to open, speaking directly to her audience through different platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now striking out on her own, Aya Nakamura is turning the page and launching a new chapter \u2014 with the announcement of her very first signing.<\/p>\n
The Beginnings<\/p>\n
Born in Bamako, Mali, Aya arrived in France just a few months later. Coming from a family of griots \u2014 West African storytellers and musicians \u2014 she grew up in Aulnay-sous-Bois, in a household where music was already part of everyday life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s kind of special, because my mother was a singer and would\u2019ve loved to have a career. Now, I\u2019m doing it in her place \u2014 almost like a form of redemption for her. I want to go all the way, and I hope it can inspire other women to pursue their own dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her real start came in 2014, when she posted her first track, “Karma,” on Facebook. A fan of the TV series Heroes, she took inspiration from the character Hiro Nakamura to create her stage name.<\/p>\n
The turning point came in 2017 with her debut album Journal Intime, now certified platinum. Freshly signed to Rec. 118 (Warner Music France) at the time, Aya Nakamura laid the foundation for the sound that would come to define her. On the track “Oumou Sangar\u00e9,” she paid tribute to her Malian heritage \u2014 a connection she\u2019s been feeling drawn to again.<\/p>\n
\u201cLately, I\u2019ve been thinking more and more about doing something like that again,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Olympic Recognition<\/p>\n
It was in 2018 that Aya Nakamura reached international acclaim with the release of Djadja. The track topped the French charts for two consecutive weeks and quickly crossed European borders. In the Netherlands, it made history: for the first time since \u00c9dith Piaf in 1961, a French-language song performed by a woman hit number one.<\/p>\n
That meteoric rise was solidified with the release of her second album, Nakamura, in November 2018. Driven by diamond-certified singles like Copines, La dot, and Pookie, the album became an unprecedented commercial success for a Francophone artist \u2014 certified diamond in France and double diamond abroad. Today, it stands as the most-streamed French-language album in Spotify\u2019s history, with over 2 billion streams.<\/p>\n
Following up with two more albums \u2014 AYA and DNK \u2014 Aya Nakamura reached a symbolic high point on July 26, 2024, performing on the Pont des Arts for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games. Accompanied by musicians from the Republican Guard and the French Army Choir, she delivered a historic performance that drew a record-breaking 31.4 million viewers \u2014 the highest television audience ever recorded in France.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople keep calling it \u2018iconic.\u2019 It took me six months to truly realize what I had done. In the moment, you\u2019re just pushing forward, head down, working hard to deliver something you\u2019re proud of. Then, when you step back and see the impact, the controversies… it feels like a movie. In the end, I feel like I succeeded.\u201d<\/p>\n
On February 23, 2025, another milestone: the “Djadja” video surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube, making it only the fourth French-language song to reach that number \u2014 and the first by an African artist.<\/p>\n
Next stop, the Stade de France (France\u2019s biggest venue, with a capacity of 80.000 people)? \u201cYes, but not just yet,\u201d she says. \u201cI want to take my time. In France, it feels like the final step, and I still want to share more shows with my audience before experiencing that big moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond Borders<\/p>\n
How can one explain such a rare ability to transcend language barriers? Aya Nakamura pauses before answering.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t realize right away that I had an international audience \u2014 it really grew gradually,\u201d Aya Nakamura reflects. \u201cPeople would tell me, \u2018You\u2019re being listened to all over the world,\u2019 but it was really through interacting with fans on social media and stumbling across videos that it hit me. I came across fan accounts in Brazil, in Venezuela\u2026 I also travel, and I hear my music everywhere \u2014 in the U.S., in Thailand. But I don\u2019t create music for a specific territory. I just try to offer something I feel, and if it can travel far, all the better.\u201d<\/p>\n
That global dimension is also reflected in her collaborations. After teaming up with Colombian superstar Maluma for a remix of “Djadja” in 2020, she joined forces with Nigerian artist Ayra Starr in March 2024 for a reimagined version of her hit “Hyp\u00e9.” The track climbed to number 17 on the UK charts \u2014 a rare feat for a song sung predominantly in French.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think music is energy. The tracks that stand out the most are often the ones where I express what I\u2019m feeling as deeply as I can. People don\u2019t just listen for the lyrics\u2026 It\u2019s like when I used to listen to artists like Rihanna without understanding everything she was saying. What resonates with listeners is the energy I\u2019m giving at that specific moment \u2014 and also the blend of influences that\u2019s rooted in me and that people can feel.\u201d<\/p>\n
This authenticity, paired with her distinctive vocal style and a French language she\u2019s reshaped on her own terms, has forged an instantly recognizable artistic identity.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if that\u2019s what makes the music universal, but I think the honesty I bring to it, the constant drive for something new \u2014 not just chasing trends, but putting out things I\u2019m 100% proud of and never compromising artistically \u2014 maybe that\u2019s what connects with people. I try to follow my instincts, my creative impulses, while maintaining a high level of quality.\u201d<\/p>\n
In February 2025, Aya Nakamura surprised fans with the release of “Chimiy\u00e9” \u2014 a track that marked a notable shift in her discography. Collaborating with French rapper Alpha Wann and his team (JayJay, Selman and StillNas), she ventured into previously unexplored territory, blending R&B and even elements of spoken word.<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave myself the challenge of making something more rap-oriented, without being a rapper,\u201d she explains. \u201cThat\u2019s what pushed me out of my comfort zone. I like to stand out, including with the people I work with. Some of my producers don\u2019t even listen to my music \u2014 and that creates room to experiment. Without those encounters, I would\u2019ve never made songs like ‘Djadja’ or ‘Pookie.’\u201d<\/p>\n
From Music To Fashion<\/p>\n
Aya Nakamura\u2019s cultural influence now extends well beyond the realm of music. In February 2023, she was named global ambassador for Lanc\u00f4me, marking her entry into the exclusive circle of luxury brand muses \u2014 a milestone that would open the door to a new world of opportunities.<\/p>\n
On May 6, 2024, she received one of the most coveted invitations in fashion: the Met Gala in New York. With her appearance, she became only the sixth French musical artist to walk its legendary red carpet, following icons like Catherine Deneuve, Vanessa Paradis, Lou Doillon, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Carla Bruni.<\/p>\n
Just weeks later, on June 23, 2024, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour personally selected her to perform her single Fly at the prestigious Vogue World Paris show, held in Place Vend\u00f4me. Dressed in a custom haute couture gown by Jean Paul Gaultier, Nakamura took part in a striking celebration of music and fashion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really love fashion and the creative universe it represents,\u201d she shares. \u201cI\u2019m enjoying getting deeper into it. I absolutely loved performing at Place Vend\u00f4me and being part of this blend of music and fashion. I felt completely at ease \u2014 and I found the entire production of the event to be incredibly high-quality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Independent Now<\/p>\n
Alongside her growing institutional recognition, Aya Nakamura has taken full control of her professional destiny. In a bold move, the chart-topping artist has officially stepped into independence by launching her own label.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a whole different experience,\u201d she admits. \u201cTo be honest, I\u2019ve always felt independent \u2014 especially when it comes to creative direction. I\u2019m deeply involved in all the strategic decisions, from choosing the singles and setting release dates to selecting the producers and crafting the visuals. Becoming fully independent gave me a new perspective on the business side. I can make all the decisions and stand by them \u2014 whether they lead to success or not. I still have a team around me and I know how to let go when needed, but being able to oversee the entire process, beyond the creative part, is something I find really exciting. It matters a lot to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
This commitment to autonomy has also steered her toward a new role: producing new talents.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve already signed one artist, but no one knows yet: RnBoi. He\u2019s young, just starting out, and it\u2019s going really well. It happened a few months ago. I took the leap \u2014 I think he brings something different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Popstar and Mother<\/p>\n
Behind the icon is a young woman \u2014 and a mother of two daughters. Balancing a global career with motherhood is a daily challenge, one she meets with unwavering determination.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be completely honest, it\u2019s a bit complicated with fame,\u201d she admits. \u201cBut part of my balance comes from trying, as much as I can, to live like a normal person. I go to the park with my kids, I cook for them \u2014 those moments are precious to me. It\u2019s not always easy, and I sometimes try to stay low-key to preserve a bit of normal life, because I\u2019m absolutely committed to maintaining that freedom and living fully in those moments, away from the spotlight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the pressures of celebrity, she refuses to isolate herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, of course I still have fun \u2014 I go out! I\u2019m young, after all,\u201d she laughs. \u201cAs an artist, it\u2019s important to pay attention to that \u2014 to remember to put yourself first sometimes, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
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