released: 26 september 2025

genre: soul

from: toulouse, france / senegal (based in london, uk)

label: 5db records

a few thoughts: anaiis makes soulful, healing music. her collaboration with grupo cosmo last year was among my favourites of 2024, made me into a real fan. so naturally, i was thrilled to find out she was releasing a solo album this year, and oh… my… fucking…god. devotion & the black divine is a 14-track masterpiece, a body of work that is immersive in its lush, gorgeous and at times dynamic instrumentation, as well as an introspective and vulnerable quality to anaiis so effortlessly caresses us with. her vocals are stunning throughout, with a sensuality and beauty to it that is powerful and goosebump inducing. examples include her gorgeous vocals on “in real time” and “here comes the sun”, the former being a truly angelic moment on the album, with stunning strings and a truly ethereal energy, while the latter having a jittery, playful melody, with an incredible composition that sounds warm and embracing. the dub-infused groove of “deuce deuce” is so infectious, with a powerful chorus of singers elevating the track to stunning new heights. “call me (a) (b)” is another highlight, with a subdued intro that busts into life with emphatic drumming, a playful melody that has this infectious r&b groove that is just so perfect, as anaiis sings “love me, baby”, throughout, a triumphant message of self-love. the colourful and joyful energy of “my world (beyond)” is beautiful, as the subtle guitar grooves add a playful, groovy energy to the track. this also applies to the feel-good “green juice”, an infectious cut on the album. the dynamic, jittery “bright lights” closes the album out emphatically, as it explodes into life with a grandiose composition combining anaiis’ triumphant lyrics about shining her light on the world and being unapologetic about it, with a phenomenal chorus of singers that just elevate the track perfectly and make for an epic conclusion to an incredibly lavish, detailed and memorable album. devotion & the black divine showcases anaiis’ excellence yet again, a truly superb album.

the album: