Anaiis has been building her world with intention for almost a decade. Never rushing, never over-explaining, and in 2025, it all came into focus. Her music has always been deeply informed by the legacies of Black artists, activists and visionaries who came before her. You can hear it not just in sound, but in spirit: with echoes of Maya Angelou’s poise, and Nina Simone’s emotional truth and political weight. Nowhere is that lineage clearer than in one of her introductory releases - 'Nina', a song dedicated to her enduring impact, and a reminder that Anaiis’ work sits within a much longer cultural conversation. After the gorgeous and experimental Grupo Cosmo release in 2024, Devotion & the Black Divine arrived in 2025 - not as a reinvention, but as a moment where the world caught up. Anaiis has been this assured throughout her career; the difference now is simply that the world is now noticing. The project is intimate, spiritual and emotionally precise- music that asks you to slow down and listen properly. Moonlight stands out as a expansive defining track from the album, carried by stunning string arrangements that elevate the song into something almost cinematic, without ever losing its emotional closeness. Across the project, Anaiis moves with restraint, allowing space and silence to hold as much weight as melody. That intimacy translated effortlessly to the stage this year. Her recent sold-out Islington show wasn’t about spectacle, it was about deep connection. The kind of room where people lean in and where the transcendental energy is felt. It confirmed what her records have been quietly suggesting for a while now: Anaiis is an artist her audience don’t just listen to, they feel. Rooted in depth, patience and a global perspective, Anaiis’ music reflects years of intention and work that feels considered, resonant and made to stay with you. -Rachel Fryer