anaiis announces forthcoming mini album, anaiis & Grupo Cosmo

This seven-track record intricately weaves together diverse cultural and musical influences, exploring profound themes such as Black identity, motherhood, birth, and the natural world. anaiis describes the album as "a sonic emergence of the person I was becoming at this moment in my life," reflecting her personal growth and transformation.

For anaiis, creating this album was a transformative experience, built on a human, organic, and spontaneous approach to creating music. "We spent days on the beach, sharing meals and stories, while creating together. Every track was recorded live to tape—no computers around. By the end of the week, we had an album that captured the essence of that moment."

On the record, anaiis collaborated with Grupo Cosmo, the Brazilian trio featuring drums and percussion, bass, and Sessa on acoustic guitar. The album's roots trace back to a 2020 artist residency in Salvador, Brazil, where anaiis first connected with Grammy nominated Luedji Luna. The pair wrote Toda Cor in a studio after bonding over shared cultural experiences as Black women, despite their geographical differences. However, the production didn’t fully reflect Brazil's energy until anaiis discovered Sessa’s music in 2022.

Reflecting on the first single, "Toda Cor", with Afro-Brazilian artist Luedji Luna, anaiis recalls, "I wrote the song with the wonderful Luedji Luna. Though we come from different parts of the world—Senegal and Bahia—we felt an immediate sisterhood. The song speaks to our shared Trans-Atlantic connection and creating home wherever we are." Whilst Luedji adds, “Toda Cor is where the diaspora meets. A song where my poetry connects with the poetry of Anais, this amazing and talented artist. An honour to be part of.”

Tracklist:

1. Toda Cor (anaiis, Grupo Cosmo & Luedji Luna)

2. Voyage (anaiis, Grupo Cosmo & Sessa)

3. Honeydew (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo)

4. BPE (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo)

5. A Gente Mesmo: interlude (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo)

6. Como Es (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo)

7. Finding Toda Cor (anaiis & Grupo Cosmo)