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Aya Nakamura launches her own label and signs her first artist
French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura is launching her own independent music label, ushering in a new chapter in her career. Having parted ways with Warner Music, the artist is making a clear statement: she’s ready to produce fresh talent—starting with rising artist RNBOI.
by La rédaction.
Aya Nakamura launches her own label
At 29, Aya Nakamura is already reshaping the music industry and not just pop. After releasing a string of global hits, she’s taking the independent route and leaving Rec. 118 behind. It was under Warner Music France’s umbrella that she had released her 2023 album DNK.
Since the meteoric rise of her 2018 hit Djadja and across four studio albums, Aya Nakamura has consistently defied expectations. Dismissed by much of the mainstream media but idolized on social platforms, she became a generational icon, especially following her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. With this new label, whose name she has yet to reveal, she’s doubling down on her drive for creative independence.
This move is no accident. It’s part of a deliberate strategy: reclaim control over her artistry, scout new voices, and, most importantly, pass the mic. Always an emblem of individuality, in her style, her voice, her visuals, Aya Nakamura now wants to carve out space for those who shine beyond conventional molds.
RNBOI: Aya Nakamura’s vision for the future
The first name to emerge under her new banner: RNBOI. Hailing from Nemours, he was discovered on the DVM Show, a talent-search program launched by Aya Nakamura herself. With a moody blend of autotuned rap and mainstream R’n’B, RNBOI quickly caught her attention. “He’s got something different,” she told Billboard France.
With over 800,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, RNBOI is far from a blank slate. A collaborator of Tiakola, Monsieur Nov, and Kerchak, he embodies a new wave, one that Aya Nakamura is eager to champion through a lens of freedom, cultural fusion, and defiance of labels.
This could well mark the beginning of a new era in French music, one where the most streamed artists become champions of the underground, amplifying unheard voices. By stepping into the role of producer, Aya Nakamura shows she’s no longer content being a success story. She’s becoming a driving force. A label born of a name.
Goumin (2025) by RNBOI, out now.
