A display of intersectionality through artistry
R&B artist anaiis is welcomed back to Montreal on her first North American headlining tour
French-Senegalese soul and R&B artist anaiis brought her forthcoming album Devotion & The Black Divine to Le Ministère's stage on Sept. 23 as a stop on her first-ever North American headlining tour.
This album explores embracing one’s own divinity and engaging in conversation with the natural world and all of creation as creatives. It is a genre-fluid meditative exploration of spirituality, new motherhood and the sacredness that exists within the Black experience.
The show was part of POP Montreal, which started that night. Anaiis last performed in Montreal at the Montreal International Jazz Festival (Jazz Fest) in June. For fans like Danisha Decius, that was their first time hearing the artist live.
“I actually saw her perform at Jazz Fest, but when I saw that this was going to be a more intimate setting, I was really happy to come and see,” Decius said.
It’s been so powerful to see how the music has touched people’s lives and given people a safe space to share deep emotions. — anaiis, soul and R&B musician
Another fan who saw the artist’s Jazz Fest performance, Yvecarla Jocelyn, first discovered anaiis’ music on Spotify about a year ago. She finds a shared aspect in the music.
“Everyone here knows her. It’s just beautiful to have the whole community come and pay to be here together and sing along with her,” Jocelyn said.
That sense of togetherness and unity is highlighted by anaiis herself.
“It's been so powerful to see how the music has touched people's lives and given people a safe space to share deep emotions,” anaiis wrote in an email to The Link.
Versailles McGeady-Bruce is a fan who discovered anaiis through an Instagram post about a year ago.
“I’ve seen some of her stuff online, and I love her energy, so I’m excited to see her live and just sway,” McGeady-Bruce said.
The evening began with charismatic singer-songwriter Elliott Skinner’s hypnotizing folk and neo-soul performance. Between songs, Skinner balanced cracking jokes with sharing his thoughts on contemporary issues.
“In our world, the things we love most are removed from work. In fact, some of the things we love most require the most work,” Skinner said about artificial intelligence, while introducing his unreleased song, “Labour.”
The room was overwhelmingly full by the time anaiis came on stage, making it clear her next return to Montreal will require a much bigger venue.
The first three songs were more mellow and carried mostly by synth keys and vocals. Afterwards, the artist welcomed the crowd in French before starting “My World (Beyond),” a popular single off her latest album.
“This album was made to try and reconcile with the chaos and beauty of existence and the hope that can be found when we tap into the most beautiful parts of ourselves,” anaiis said between songs.
Rows of tightly gathered people swayed in their own directions and felt the music.
“It’s been beautiful to connect with the listeners of my music,” anaiis said in the email.
Most songs transitioned into each other, creating a meditative and hypnotic feeling for the audience. It felt representative of the combined genres of R&B, soul and afrobeat, as well as the blended themes of cross-cultural collaboration, wonder in creativity and empowerment of identity.
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