Aya Nakamura, in 2025. FIFOU
On November 6, Aya Nakamura gathered about a dozen journalists to listen to her new album, Destinée, which was officially released on the evening of Thursday, November 20, on streaming platforms. The listening session took place in an audiophile bar on Rue Vivienne in Paris's 2nd arrondissement, near the offices of the luxury brand Celine. With the world's most-streamed French-language singer, fashion is never far away. Now a haute couture runway icon, she is the only musician featured in the latest Lancôme perfume commercial, directed by Oscar-winner Damien Chazelle, alongside actresses Julia Roberts, Isabella Rossellini and Ni Ni.
The French-Malian artist cemented this status during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. Dressed in Dior and a gold feather gown, she performed on the Pont des Arts bridge, accompanied by the Garde Républicaine marching band. The moment went viral and became the highest-rated television broadcast in French history, with more than 31 million viewers tuning in.
Her new album, Destinée, marks her major return to the music scene since the Olympics. In late October, she announced three shows at Stade de France, France's biggest venue, for May 2026, requiring fans to purchase the CD to access the online presale for the first two dates. The tactic – legal but controversial – infuriated fans who felt "held hostage." Still, all three shows, with 240,000 tickets sold, were marked "sold out" within hours. Destinée is already guaranteed at least platinum certification (more than 100,000 copies sold) upon release, crushing the competition and securing a sizable payday, as CD sales pay artists far better than streaming.
