{"id":779159,"date":"2026-05-26T11:22:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T09:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/numero.com\/?p=779159"},"modified":"2026-05-26T11:22:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T09:22:18","slug":"interview-with-aya-nakamura-i-have-no-problem-showing-my-vulnerability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/numero.com\/en\/culture-en\/music\/interview-with-aya-nakamura-i-have-no-problem-showing-my-vulnerability\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Aya Nakamura, the music icon performing at the Stade de France"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Aya\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Aya Nakamura weearing an It-Spain coat with Le Silla boots. Photo: Jean-Baptiste Mondino.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She owes her stage name to a character from the series Heroes who possesses the gift of traveling through space and time. And that’s exactly what Aya Nakamura<\/a><\/strong> has accomplished through her meteoric rise in the music world. From Aulnay-sous-Bois to the steps of the Met Gala, by way of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games<\/a><\/strong> and a wax figure at the Mus\u00e9e Gr\u00e9vin, the singer, at just 30 years old, has become a role model for an entire generation and a free, proud, and commanding icon whose aura shines far beyond borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Destin\u00e9e<\/em>, Aya Nakamura’s new album<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endorsed by Madonna<\/a><\/strong>, Alicia Keys<\/strong>, Kali Uchis<\/strong>, and Rihanna<\/strong>, the talented and charismatic French-Malian singer has amassed a collection of hits, clever wordplay, and prestigious <\/strong>collaborations (Balenciaga<\/strong>, Lanc\u00f4me<\/strong>), as well as dazzling appearances at Fashion Week (for Jean Paul Gaultier<\/a><\/strong>, Chanel<\/strong>, Jacquemus<\/strong>), carving a bright and inspiring path in the pantheon of music while remaining natural, authentic, sincere, and genuine. And the reign of this powerful and independent woman, born into a family of griots from Bamako, shows no signs of fading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the ten most listened-to French-speaking artists in the world, will give three concerts at the Stade de France<\/strong><\/a> in May 2026. Known to her fans as the Queen or \u201cThe Queen of France,\u201d she will be promoting her brand-new album, the moving and danceable Destin\u00e9e<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, released in November 2025. This album, which speaks of love, empowerment, and mental health, blends musical genres (pop, R&B, shatta, zouk, kompa, amapiano, jazz, afrobeat, and soul), establishing her as one of our brightest and most audacious stars of the last decade. Interview with a star whose destiny is dazzling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aya Nakamura wearing a Kristina Fidelskaya corset, Dries Van Noten skirt and Messika necklace and ring. Photo: Jean-Baptiste Mondino.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Interview with singer Aya Nakamura<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Num\u00e9ro<\/em>: You have just released your new album entitled Destin\u00e9e<\/em>. Why did you choose this title?<\/strong>
Aya Nakamura<\/strong>: Because I was at a point in my life where I needed to follow my own path. I felt like everything I did was an accomplishment. So I decided to call this album Destin\u00e9e (Destiny), a word that suggests everything is already planned. I believe in destiny. I’m convinced that everything in the world is connected. Spirituality plays an important role in my life. I think I have a lucky star, and I’m attentive to my energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you were younger, you dreamed of being a fashion designer. Was it your destiny to become a singer?
<\/strong>Frankly, I think that, most of the time, things happen as they’re meant to happen. I don’t know if I was “destined” to become a singer, but in any case, it’s a desire that has always been with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLove is a universal theme. It\u2019s a feeling capable of connecting all human beings<\/em>.\u201d \u2014 Aya Nakamura<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You say this album is a part of you, that it reflects who you are. Is it the one you’re most proud of?
<\/strong>Today, yes, because it’s impossible for me to compare it to the previous ones, quite simply, as they correspond to different stages of my life. It seems to me that this album is clearer and more raw in terms of the lyrics. To me, it’s more sincere. I wanted a very musical album in terms of lyrics and vocals. I wanted them to be the focus. And I also wanted to diversify and have fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the cover of Destin\u00e9e<\/em>, you appear with gray-blue hair in a futuristic setting. What was the mood board you created for this shoot?<\/strong>
I would say it’s an introspective aesthetic. We visually represented the fact that I can be honest and that I feel a little bit unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aya\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Aya Nakamura wearing a Nina Ricci coat. Photo: Jean-Baptiste Mondino.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have no problem exposing the moments when I am most vulnerable<\/em>.\u201d \u2014 Aya Nakamura<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On this album, as in your other productions, there are many love songs. In your opinion, do the most beautiful songs always speak of this feeling?<\/strong>
Love is a universal theme. It’s a feeling capable of connecting all human beings. For these songs, I drew inspiration from experiences that have happened to other women, but most of the time, I draw from my own life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In songs like Anesthesia<\/em> or Blues<\/em>, you address the topic of mental health. You talk about “numbed feelings,” “traumatized moments,” and “pain” that is still “raw.” Is it important for you to show your vulnerability as a superstar?<\/strong>
I think the higher you climb as an artist, the more distance it creates between you and others, so, from my perspective, showing my vulnerability is a step that brings me closer to my audience. It’s very important to me. There’s more to life than just the “strong, smiling woman.” There aren’t only happy moments in life. I have no problem exposing the times when I’m most vulnerable. I think it’s normal. For me, as an artist, it’s fundamental.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aya\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Aya Nakamura wearing an It-Spain kimono for the cover of
Num\u00e9ro 258<\/em>. Photo: Jean-Baptiste Mondino.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to allow ourselves moments of rest<\/em>.\u201d \u2014 Aya Nakamura<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Given your current level of fame, and the pressure and expectations that come with it, how do you take care of your mental health?<\/strong>
I believe it’s essential to step back, to learn to observe yourself, to truly know yourself, and to be aware that you need to give yourself time to rest. It’s also important to surround yourself with a good team, to have a support network that can assess your strengths and weaknesses, and is attentive to your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In your song Summum<\/em>, you say the line “at the peak of my femininity.” For you, is it essential to write songs that empower women when they listen to them?<\/strong>
Yes, that’s what I try to do, but first and foremost, I talk about what I feel. [Laughs.] I infuse my songs with everything I have inside me, and that’s perhaps what the audience then feels, quite simply. And above all, I’m a woman. Today, I feel like I’m at the peak of my femininity. I don’t know if it requires sacrifices, but what I’m sure of is that there are certain parts of society where you can’t be 100% yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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