It’s one of the most anticipated records of the end of the year. French-Mali singer Aya Nakamura releases her fifth album, “Destinée” this Friday, November 21st. A record highlight while the star is at the top: at the end of October she announced three consecutive concerts at the Stade de France, on 29, 30 and 31 May 2026, a first for a French female artist. And 240,000 spots were lost within minutes. The consecration for the musician whose performance on the Pont des Arts with the Republican Guard at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics made a strong impression.
The 30-year-old singer, who grew up in Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), launched a new work of 18 songs, more intimate than the previous ones. He explores new styles, flirting with jazz, sometimes almost sad songs, without abandoning his usual world of mixing rap, zouk, pop and R’n’B. “I took a bigger risk than before, drink (2023), right? I have the impression that this is the first time I have opened up so much,” he admitted, in an interview with Télérama published this Wednesday.
Aya Nakamura announced the color from the start. He took a beating, but came back stronger and more aggressive than before. “Destinée” opens with the deeply personal “Anesthesia,” a slow ballad in which her round, warm voice, tinged with auto-tune, is highlighted. “I don’t care about other people now, I do what I want. I know who I am so I do what I want. » Referring to the criticism surrounding his participation in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics? Maybe.
He is the most listened to French artist in the world.
But the star, the world’s most listened to French artist, showed his resolve, loud and clear, confident in himself. “Before I was naive, I have to thank you, thanks to you I knew the ugliness. I became worse than Madrina, he continues in these opening titles. I have a drugged feeling, full of memories to erase, moments that traumatized me. » In mid-September, ten identity activists were fined for public incitement of hatred and racist insults against her, just before the Olympics.
We especially love “No stress” and its swaying beat, reminiscent of “Djadja,” (the clip reached one billion views on YouTube in February). Just like “Bueno” it really makes you want to dance. “I just want love and affection,” he sings. Even though it was my fault, I said it wasn’t my fault. »
A trademark that brings a breath of fresh air, still allowing itself to twist the French language, invent words, twist other languages. In “Alien,” the supposed egotrip queen mischievously rhymes “alien” with “Malienne.” “I never pretend with other people, I never do gechan. I have it all in my DNA. I’ve got that thing, stuck somewhere. My sensuality is incomparable. »
An album that tells a love story
Throughout these eighteen works, sometimes a little repetitive, with short and catchy titles, colored with echoes, Caribbean and Afro sounds, he mainly tells his love story. They are more or less happy (“Tell me” with Jamaican Shenseaa or “Baby boy” with American star Kali Uchis). The person who entered the Grévin Museum in June sorted things out with an ex, describing the beginnings of a relationship, her taste in men (“Summum”). He evokes a breakup in “Blues”, an almost soulful song with a slow rhythm, in which there is no melancholy. “Blues, I have blues, I’m not strong in terms of breaks. Behavior, I’m at the end of my rope, I see it’s blurry,” he shouted with the unusual phrasing that became his trademark.
Sensuality comes to the fore in “Obsession.” “I’m going to do dirty things to him,” he warned, not unabashedly. I gave him a thrill and he asked for more. » Or in “Pamela” (duet with Kany). “You look like Pamela. I’ll eat you out all night. You know it’s hot,” he laughed. We find a touch of his zouk on the lively “Unplug.” Aya Nakamura is a strong woman and she claims it. “Alpha female,” as she sings on “Disarm.”
“ Destiny “, album by Aya Nakamura, 18 songs, released November 21, 2025.
