Aya Nakamura | |
|---|---|
 Nakamura in 2019 | |
| Born | Aya Danioko 10 May 1995 Bamako, Mali |
| Nationality | Malian French (since 2021) |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Paris, France |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Labels |
|
Aya Danioko (born 10 May 1995), known by her stage name Aya Nakamura, is a French pop singer.
Nakamura published her music online, gaining a following with "Karma" and "J'ai mal". Dembo Camara, a long-time friend, became her producer and manager. Notably, her song "Brisé", garnered traction on YouTube, and a duo with rapper Fababy "Love d'un voyou" resulted in her charting in France for the first time. She released her debut album Journal intime in 2017, followed in 2018 by its follow-up Nakamura, which was certified Diamond in France. More than 1.2 million copies have been sold worldwide, and her songs rank high in French-speaking countries and abroad. It spawned the hit singles "Djadja" and "Copines" and launched the singer's international career. The same year, she beat the record held by Edith Piaf since 1961 as the most listened-to French-speaking female artist in the Netherlands.[1]
Throughout her career, Nakamura accumulated five number-one songs and a number-one album in France. She was awarded a Victoires de la Musique award for her 2020 album Aya, certified double platinum in 2023,[2] having sold 200,000 copies. She also won an NRJ Music Award and received multiple nominations for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best French Act. Two year after its release, the Nakamura album passed the billion[1] streams mark on Spotify, making her the most listened-to French-language female artist on Spotify.[3]
In February 2023, she became Lancôme's new international beauty muse.[4]
Aya Danioko was born in Bamako, Mali on 10 May 1995. She comes from a family of griot, West African storytellers, praise singers, and poets of oral traditions. She immigrated to France with her family as a child, growing up in Aulnay-sous-Bois.[5] She is the oldest of five siblings.
She studied fashion in La Courneuve, which she describes with "I wanted to be a fashion designer, but that stopped appealing to me, so I sang".[6] She later launched into music with the stage name Aya Nakamura, after the character Hiro Nakamura of the science fiction TV drama Heroes.[7]
She applied for French nationality as an adult and was granted it in May 2021.[8][9]
Aya Nakamura gave birth in spring 2016 to a baby girl named Aicha. Her second daughter was born in early 2022.[10]
In December 2020, she started a relationship with music video producer Vladimir Boudnikoff, but confirmed her separation in October 2022. In 2022, Nakamura and her now-ex-partner Boudnikoff were both charged with reciprocal domestic violence. On 11 November 2022, their trial was adjourned, since neither she nor Boudnikoff appeared in court.[11]
Since 2019, she has supported the ALIYAH association, created by the parents of a little girl suffering from hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).[12]
In 2014, at the age of 19, she released her first single "Karma" on Facebook. With the help of the producer |Seysey, she composed a break-up song, "J'ai mal", with a zouk-inspired melody. The song's video had reached more than 1 million YouTube views by that time. An old-time friend, Dembo Camara, became her producer and artistic agent.
In 2016, she made the song "Brisé" with the composer Christopher Ghenda. She then released another song, "Love d'un Voyou", featuring the rapper Fababy. As a tribute to her cultural heritage and roots, she did a concert at the Modibo-Keïta stadium in Bamako, opening for the American-Nigerian star Davido. She dedicated a song to famous Malian singer Oumou Sangaré, who was born in Bamako like her.
In January 2016, the singer signed a deal with Rec. 118 and Parlophone, a label from Warner Music France. During the same year, she kept doing collaborations and she released her second single "Super Héros", featuring the rapper Gradur.
On 25 August 2017, she released her debut album Journal Intime, led by her first platinum hit, "Comportement". The album was certified platinum in France. On 23 September 2017, she participated in La Nuit du Mali in Bercy organized by the Wati-Boss, Dawala in order to celebrate the Independence Day of Mali in Paris. She shared the stage with OumouSangaré and other Malian artists such as Cheick Tidiane Seck, Lassana Hawa, and Mokobé, among others.[13]
On 6 April 2018, Aya Nakamura released "Djadja"—the first single from her second album—which stayed two consecutive weeks at number one on the French chart, and was later certified Diamond.[14]
The song quickly became a summer hit in France and soon became an international hit. She became the first French female artist to reach number one in the Netherlands since Edith Piaf with "Non je ne regrette rien" in 1961.[15]
"Djadja" was also the first Francophone song since 2009 to reach the top of the Dutch charts, the last one being "Alors on danse" from Belgian artist Stromae.[16] "Djadja" then conquered charts and radios all over Europe.[17][18][19][20][21][22]
The following single "Copines" released in August 2018. It entered at number four in France before climbing to number one in November 2018, and was also certified Diamond.[14]
On 2 November 2018, Aya Nakamura released her second album Nakamura.
In January 2019 she won the European Music Moves Talent Award for Best Urban album.[23]
In February 2019 she was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Urban Album at the France Music Awards.
In April 2019, she released the video for "Pookie", which became the most viewed French video in 2019.[24]
In May 2019, she was portrayed by The New York Times as "one of the most important acts in Europe now, musically and socially".[25]
In June 2019, she earned her first nomination at the BET Awards as Best International Act.[26]
In Summer 2019 she gained momentum with the single "Pookie", including high-profile international versions with multi-platinum rappers Capo Plaza and Lil Pump.[27]
In October, "Djadja" went Platinum in Spain[28] and Portugal, while "Pookie" was certified double Platinum in Italy.[29]
On 25 October 2019, Nakamura released a re-issue of the now double platinum Nakamura with five new songs, including the top-five single "40%".[citation needed]
In the December year-end recaps, she was named Most Watched French female artist in 2019 by YouTube, and Most Streamed French female artist in 2019 by Spotify.[30]
On 3 January 2020, she was announced to perform at Coachella Music & Arts Festival 2020.[31]
On 12 June, Nakamura released a Spanish-language version of "Djadja (Remix)" with Colombian singer Maluma.[32]
On 17 July 2020, she released the single "Jolie nana" as the lead single from her third studio album Aya. It debuted at number one on the French singles chart, and achieved Gold status in 2 weeks.[33] It also reached the top 10 in Belgium and Switzerland as well as top 40 in the Netherlands. On the UK Afrobeats chart, it reached number 7.[citation needed]
On 9 October, she released the second single from the album, "Doudou". It peaked at number 6 in France, in the top 40 in Belgium and number 16 on the UK Afrobeats chart.[34]
She announced the album on 15 October, with a release date of 13 November. The track-list was released on 4 October, revealing collaborations with Stormzy, Ms Banks and Oboy.[citation needed]
In 2021, Nakamura was featured in the music video for ‘Sans Moi,’ a track in the Franglish's album Vibe,[35] and in the music video for ‘C’est Cuit’ by Major Lazer.[36] Her cover of Vogue France was chosen as the favorite cover of 2021.[37]
| Title | Details | Peak positions | Units | Certification | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [14] |
BEL (FL) [38] |
BEL (WA) [19] |
NLD [39] |
ITA [40] |
SPA [41] |
SWI [42] | ||||
| Journal intime |
|
6 | 143 | 34 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Nakamura |
|
3 | 29 | 8 | 10 | 90 | 92 | 20 |
|
|
| Aya |
|
2 | 14 | 2 | 36 | — | 71 | 8 |
| |
| DNK |
|
1 | 65 | 2 | — | — | — | 6 |
| |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||
| Title | Year | Peak positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [14] |
BEL (FL) [46] |
BEL (WA) [47] |
GER [18] |
ITA [48] |
NLD [39] |
POR [21] |
SPA [17] |
SWE [20][22] |
SWI [42] | ||||
| "Super héros" (featuring Gradur) |
2016 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Journal intime | |
| "Comportement" | 2017 | 13 | — | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
| "Oumou Sangaré" | 2018 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Djadja" (solo, featuring Loredana or featuring Maluma) |
1 | 16 | 16 | 43 | 23 | 1 | 37 | 5 | 72 | 29 | Nakamura | ||
| "Copines" | 1 | —[A] | 7 | — | — | 46 | 181 | — | — | 60 | |||
| "Pookie" (solo, featuring Lil Pump or featuring Capo Plaza) |
2019 | 5 | 18 | 9 | — | 2 | — | — | — | —[B] | 55 | ||
| "Soldat"[60] | 6 | — | —[C] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||
| "Jolie nana" | 2020 | 1 | 8 | 2 | —[D] | — | 18 | — | — | — | 4 | Aya | |
| "Doudou"[65] | 6 | —[E] | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||
| "Bobo" | 2021 | 3 | — | 23 | — | — | 67 | — | — | — | 16 |
|
Non-album singles |
| "Dégaine" (featuring Damso)[68] |
2022 | 1 | — | 15 | — | — | —[F] | — | — | — | 19 |
| |
| "Méchante" | 27 | — | — | — | — | —[G] | — | — | — | — | |||
| "VIP"[71] | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "SMS"[72] | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNK | ||
| "Baby"[73] | 2023 | 2 | — | 8 | — | — | —[H] | — | — | — | 22 |
| |
| "DJO" | 2023 | 18[75] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Mood 3 | |
| "Hypé" | 2024 | 2 [76] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| Title | Year | Peak positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [14] |
BEL (WA) [19] | ||||||||||||
| "Love d'un voyou" (Fababy featuring Aya Nakamura) |
2015 | 9 | 37* (Ultratip) |
||||||||||
| "Sorry" (Abou Debeing featuring Aya Nakamura) |
2016 | 188 | — | ||||||||||
| "Bad Boy" (Fally Ipupa featuring Aya Nakamura) |
2017 | 68 | — |
|
|||||||||
| "Moi je vérifie" (Naza featuring Dadju and Aya Nakamura) |
171 | — | |||||||||||
| "Pourquoi tu forces" (DJ Erise featuring Aya Nakamura) |
2018 | 177 | — | ||||||||||
| "Comme ci comme ça" (Tour 2 Garde featuring Aya Nakamura) |
— | — | |||||||||||
| "C'est cuit" (Major Lazer featuring Aya Nakamura and Swae Lee) |
2021 | 72 | — | Music Is the Weapon (Reloaded) | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts.
| Title | Year | Peak positions | Certification | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [14] |
BEL (WA) [19] |
SWI [42] |
SPA [77] | ||||
| "Oublier" | 2016 | 96 | — | — | — | Journal intime | |
| "Fuego" (featuring Dadju) |
2017 | 85 | — | — | — | ||
| "J'ai mal (Part 2)" | 18 | — | — | — | |||
| "Problèmes" (featuring MHD) |
118 | — | — | — | |||
| "Jalousie" (featuring Lartiste) |
121 | — | — | — | |||
| "Karma" | 146 | — | — | — | |||
| "Orphelin" (featuring KeBlack) |
151 | — | — | — | |||
| "La dot" | 2018 | 3 | 32 | 71 | — |
|
Nakamura |
| "Sucette" (featuring Niska) |
4 | — | — | — |
| ||
| "Oula" | 5 | — | — | — |
| ||
| "Pompom" | 8 | — | — | — |
| ||
| "Ça fait mal" | 13 | — | — | — | |||
| "Whine Up" | 15 | — | — | — | |||
| "Gangster" | 18 | — | — | — |
| ||
| "Faya" | 21 | — | — | — | |||
| "Gang" (featuring Davido) |
35 | — | — | — | |||
| "Dans ma bulle" | 40 | — | — | — | |||
| "Cadeau" (featuring Naza) |
171 | — | 60 | — | |||
| "40%" | 2019 | 4 | 30 | — | — |
|
Nakamura (Deluxe Edition) |
| "Claqué" | 45 | — | — | — | |||
| "Idiot" | 65 | — | — | — | |||
| "Plus jamais" (featuring Stormzy) |
2020 | 1 | 36 | 24 | — |
|
Aya |
| "Tchop" | 7 | — | 62 | — | |||
| "Préféré" (featuring Oboy) |
4 | — | — | — | |||
| "Fly" | 8 | — | — | — | |||
| "Sentiments grandissants" | 9 | — | — | — | |||
| "Love de moi" | 13 | — | — | — | |||
| "Biff" | 14 | — | — | — | |||
| "Nirvana" | 17 | — | — | — | |||
| "Ça blesse" | 18 | — | — | — | |||
| "Hot" | 19 | — | — | — | |||
| "La machine" | 21 | — | — | — | |||
| "Mon chéri" | 27 | — | — | — | |||
| "Mon lossa" (featuring Ms Banks) |
28 | — | — | — | |||
| "Ailleurs" | 2021 | 124 | — | — | — | 20/21 | |
| "Cadeau" (featuring Tiakola) |
2023 | 4 | 47 | — | — | DNK | |
| "Daddy" | 6 | — | 99 | — | |||
| "Chacun" (featuring Kim) |
25 | — | — | — | |||
| "Corazon" | 27 | — | — | — | |||
| "Tous Les Jours" | 37 | — | — | — | |||
| "T'as Peur"
(featuring Myke Towers) |
38 | — | — | 29 |
| ||
| "Beleck" | 39 | — | — | — | |||
| "Coller" | 51 | — | — | — | |||
| "Haut Niveau" | 56 | — | — | — | |||
| "Le Goût" | 59 | — | — | — | |||
| "Bloqué" | 80 | — | — | — | |||
| "Bisous" | 62 | — | — | — | |||
| "Chérie" | 23[79] | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | W9 D'OR | Female Artist most listened [81] | Herself | Won |
| 2019 | Music Moves Europe Talent Awards | Public Choice Awards (France) [82] | Won | |
| MTV Europe Music Awards | Best French Act | Nominated | ||
| BET Awards | Best International Act | Nominated | ||
| All Africa Music Awards | Best Francophone | Nominated | ||
| Artist of The Year | Nominated | |||
| Crossing Boundaries with Music Award | Nominated | |||
| Best Female West Africa [83] | Nominated | |||
| Best Collaboration | "Sucette" (feat. Niska) | Nominated | ||
| Song of The Year | "Pookie" | Nominated | ||
| NRJ Music Awards | Francophonic Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Francophonic Performance of the Night | Nominated | |||
| Francophonic Female Artist | Herself | Nominated | ||
| 2020 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best French Act[citation needed] | Herself | Nominated |
| NRJ Music Awards | Francophonic Female Artist of the Year | Herself | Won | |
| 2021 | Apple Music Awards | Artist of the Year (France)[84] | Herself | Won |
| 2023 | The Future Awards Africa | Prize for Music | Herself | Pending |
