Biography
anaiis is a French-Senegalese singer-songwriter known for her introspective lyrics, multilingual vocals, and genre-blending style rooted in alternative R&B and soul. Born in Toulouse, France to a Senegalese father and a Franco-Italian mother, she spent her youth moving between cities including Dublin, Dakar, Oakland, New York City, and London. This nomadic upbringing deeply influenced her worldview and artistry, exposing her to a wide range of musical and cultural traditions. She began her musical journey playing violin and singing in a classical choir, later discovering soul and R&B in California, and developing her songwriting in Dublin after learning English as a child.
anaiis attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and graduated from the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, further honing her craft before relocating to London to pursue her music career. Her debut EP, 'Before Zero,' arrived in 2018, followed by the acclaimed album 'Darkness at Play' in 2019 and 'This Is No Longer a Dream' in 2021. Her work is characterized by self-reflection and a pursuit of collective healing, often exploring themes of identity, liberation, and transformation. In 2025, she collaborated with Grupo Cosmo on a record that weaves together Brazilian musical traditions and features artists like Sessa and Luedji Luna, further expanding her cross-cultural sound.
anaiis’s music is celebrated for its emotional depth, poetic lyricism, and fearless self-expression. She has become a distinctive voice in the UK and international R&B scenes, using her art as a means of personal and communal healing. Her legacy continues to grow as she inspires listeners and peers alike with her commitment to authenticity and creative exploration.
Fun Facts
- anaiis is multilingual, singing and writing in several languages including English and French.
- She shot the music video for her single 'Nina' on Gorée Island in Senegal, a site of historical significance for the African diaspora.
- She played violin and sang in a classical choir as a child before turning to soul and R&B.
- Her 2025 collaborative album with Grupo Cosmo explores themes of Black identity, motherhood, and the natural world, reflecting her ongoing personal transformation.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Nina Simone - Major artistic and philosophical influence; inspired anaiis to pursue freedom and fearlessness in her music. (Single 'Nina' (2018) is a tribute to Simone's legacy.) [2018–present]
Key Collaborators
- Om'Mas Keith - Producer of her 2019 album 'Darkness at Play.' (Darkness at Play (2019)) [2019]
- Arca - Early collaborator and former classmate at NYU; contributed to her early tracks. (Unspecified early tracks) [2010s]
- Grupo Cosmo - Collaborated on a 2025 album exploring Brazilian musical traditions. (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo (2025)) [2025]
- Sessa - Featured artist on the 2025 collaborative album with Grupo Cosmo. (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo (2025)) [2025]
- Luedji Luna - Featured artist on the 2025 collaborative album with Grupo Cosmo. (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo (2025)) [2025]
- Topaz Jones - Featured on the single 'Chuu.' (Chuu (2021)) [2021]
- Chronixx - Featured on the single 'Cry in Your Sleep.' (Cry in Your Sleep (2021)) [2021]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| anaiis & Grupo Cosmo | 2024-11-14 | Album |
| SHINE | 2025-05-16 | Album |
| SHINE | 2025-05-16 | Album |
| The Fork | 2025-04-04 | Album |
| this is no longer a dream [DELUXE] | 2023-12-01 | Album |
| this is no longer a dream | 2021-09-10 | Album |
| darkness at play | 2019-01-18 | Album |
| Devotion & The Black Divine | 2025-09-26 | Album |
| José Louis And The Paradox of Love (DELUXE) | 2023-06-30 | Album |
| Master Changes | 2024-10-17 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Deus Deus
- B.P.E (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo)
- To Be Found
- Toda Cor (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo)
- Smell The Daisies
- Dreamer Too
- Voyage (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo)
- transcending (Karen Nyame KG remix) - Remix (this is no longer a dream [DELUXE])
- Honeydew (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo)
- Finding Toda Cor (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
anaiis has been played 4 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2025 | 01:47 | beyondfrom Dream Manifest Deluxe | Adjacentw/ Benny Poppins | |
| Oct 21, 2025 | 01:32 | Green Juicefrom Devotion & the Black Devine | Adjacentw/ Benny Poppins | |
| Oct 14, 2025 | 00:31 | Moonlightfrom Devotion & the Black Divine | Adjacentw/ Benny Poppins | |
| Sep 16, 2025 | 01:03 | My World (Beyond)from My World (Beyond) - Single | Adjacentw/ Benny Poppins |