The French-Senegalese singer-songwriter discusses her collaborative project with the Brazilian band and her latest double single, “Sunshine” / “P4P.”
Ahead of her performance at the Montreal International Jazz Festival this summer with Grupo Cosmo, anaiis took us through their their collaborative, self-titled 2024 EP. Along with guitarist Sessa, percussionist Biel Basile, and bassist Marcelo Cabral, the mini album fuses various genres from alternative rnb and brazilian soul. The multi-lingual recording took place in Brazil during a week in 2023 and emerged out of improvised jam sessions.
“I think the super cool thing about our collaboration is the fact that we all have our own individual solo projects or group projects, and there’s something so beautiful about us coming together and all of our worlds blending in,” says anaiis of the collaboration. Though the songs were initially meant for a solo album, having carte blanche offered a new perspective. “I loved making the music with them in such a way that it just felt like we needed to be a band,” she adds.
From the bossa nova-tinged opening track, “Toda Cor” featuring Luedji Luna to the the vibrant and groovy “B.P.E,” each cut blends seamlessly into the next. Total creative freedom has also altered anaiis’ creative process with a newfound embrace for improvisation. “I’ve started making all of my albums in the same kind of format, just kind of getting together, improvising, writing something, and then recording it live in a room,” she shares about the transformative experience.
Back in July, anaiis returned with “Sunshine” / “P4P,” a pair of double singles that highlight the symbiotic relationship between joy and rage. “Both of the songs are really related to each other,” she states. “‘Sunshine’ is responding to the difficulty into tapping into feelings of joy when the world is so heavy. Joy is a really important part of resistance, because we need to feel energized.” Finding moments of glimmer amid chaos and destruction feels impossible yet a necessary part of resistance.
“P4P” (Pray for Peace) addresses issues of injustice firsthand. “For me, I have this issue. I feel a lot of rage… it’s a protest song in my in my own little way,” states anaiis. “We do have to fight, actually, and it’s going to require a lot of sacrifice.” The singer-songwriter is no stranger to amplifying the voices of marginalized. “I’ve always felt like it was such a big part of my duty to make music,” she shares. “I always site Nina Simone, who says ‘artists must reflect the times’ and I think everybody serves their role in the revolution. I think for me it’s to to bring healing and empowerment.” The hypnotic yet visceral cut confronts the complacent nature of stillness amid turmoil.
Ultimately, both songs offer a necessary moment of reflection for collective resilience. “The feelings of love and joy are going to fuel us and keep us energized, through this fight for justice around the world,” asserts anaiis.
anaiis is currently on a North American tour and is set to perform at Le Ministère in Montreal on September 23rd at POP Montreal festival.
