Senegalese singer FANIA has released a new album titled L’EMPREINTE” (The Imprint), a self-composed and self-produced project that continues her blend of African rhythms, world music influences, and contemporary production styles.
The album positions itself as an introspective body of work, with FANIA describing her artistic identity as rooted in originality and independence. “I am the imprint of an artist. I will never be a copy, nor a robot,” she notes in her artistic statement, framing the project around themes of identity, spirituality, and personal expression.
A multilingual and cross-genre approach
On L’EMPREINTE, FANIA moves across multiple languages including Wolof, Pulaar, Soninké, French, and English. This multilingual approach reflects her Senegalese background and broader intent to reach audiences beyond regional boundaries.
Musically, the album incorporates African instrumental influences with elements of world music and modern production textures. Rather than sticking to one genre, the project leans into a fusion style that prioritizes atmosphere and vocal delivery over commercial formatting.
Production and recording
The album was recorded in Dakar at Pape Armand Boye’s studio before being mixed in Paris at Studio 180 by Arnaud Bascuñana.
The production credits highlight a collaborative but instrumentally grounded setup, featuring live musicians such as Stanway (piano), Jean Mermoz Deguénou (Rhodes), Sékou Diabaté (guitar), Alassane Cissé (bass), Laye Lô (drums), Thio Mbaye (percussion), and Milda (trumpet).
A focus on artistic control
Unlike many mainstream releases, L’EMPREINTE is positioned as a fully artist-led project, with FANIA handling writing and composition herself.
As she continues to build her catalog, FANIA’s latest album adds to a growing body of work that sits between traditional African sounds and global music experimentation, without fully aligning to mainstream commercial Afrobeats structures.
L’EMPREINTE by FANIA is out now on all streaming platforms.
