When I asked French-Gabonese artist Anaïs Cardot what she was most looking forward to about her first headlining show, she noted that “putting faces” to her listeners and “engaging with people through music” were at the top of the list. In an utterly joyful Instagram post, the singer shared photos and videos of those goals coming true as an audience watched her weave effortlessly smooth vocals into their hearts and souls.
Because she has lived in the U.S., Canada, Gabon, and France, Cardot is multilingual and counts influences such as Ella Fitzgerald and her own family among her musical repertoire. Her exploratory debut EP is set to release sometime in the summer of 2023, and her raw, relatable songwriting has already amassed her a fanbase that sold out her first headlining show.
Cardot has long been known for her covers, which she infuses with her angelic vocals, and boasts over 94k followers on TikTok, where she often posts snippets of them. Most recently, she brought her immaculate vibes to her latest single, “Can’t Explain,” a track about falling in love that presses into the cracks in your heart and curls up there. The piano-driven song also features strings that bolster Cardot’s rich, lush vocals as she sings about the struggle of expressing one’s most vulnerable feelings.
Below, Anaïs Cardot tells Keke Magazine all about her forthcoming EP, her roots, how growing up with arthrogryposis made her fall more in love with music, and more.
KEKE MAGAZINE: You said on Instagram that it took 3 years for this “Can’t Explain” to come out –– how many more songs have you written in that time?
ANAÏS CARDOT: I definitely had the time to grow as a musician during those three years; so many songs have been written. I might have written over 30; many of them will be on my upcoming EP.
KM: Is your forthcoming EP made up of songs from throughout the last few years, or are they more recent? What story are you telling with the EP? Any hints you can drop for fans?
AC: Only one of the songs is from 2019. And I think I wrote the most recent one [in] February 2022; I produced it with my friend the following May. It might seem corny, but my EP really is about love in general. It’s about my journey with emotions, [and] how I tend to not accept love around me, whether it’s from me or from someone else. I think the good hint I could give is the name of the EP—it’s named after a certain flower.
KM: What do you love to hear in music? Is there a certain sound or instrument that you find yourself most drawn to?
AC: I think what I love to hear in music is definitely the chord progression, how it makes you travel in a matter of three minutes. My other favorite thing to hear in music is definitely anything around strings and horns, from violins and cellos to saxophones and trumpets.
KM: Who or what have been the biggest influences throughout your life, musically or otherwise? Have the places you’ve lived and traveled to had an impact on your music?
AC: I think my biggest influence when it comes to music definitely is my dad; he is the one who really put me onto it. My aunt also had her influence, she’s pushed me into singing and learning more about it. My family and friends are always inspiring to me! I’d also say that growing up in Gabon really shaped my perception of music: French, Portuguese, Congolese, or Gabonese music was always around me. In the past three years, Paris and LA were really impactful on my music; the people brought light and soul to my sound.
KM: If you could sing a duet with anyone right now, who would you choose and why?
AC: I think I would love to sing a duet with Stromae. The way he navigates in music has always been impressive to me. He has this beautiful way to put together any sound from all over the world and still make it sound beautiful, as if everything was meant to be in that exact place.
KM: How has your journey with arthrogryposis affected your musical journey?
AC: To be honest, I wouldn’t say arthrogryposis affected my musical journey. I’ve been taught to never think it’s an obstacle, and I’m so aware of the limits that society puts in front of me that my goal is to always overcome them. It definitely made me more interested and in love with music. It never stopped me from going anywhere I want to go to make music. To me, my condition is a blessing!
KM: When did you start singing? Did you always know that you wanted to pursue music?
AC: I started singing when I was a kid. My dad was a musician, so I would often sing with him and my sisters, at night after dinner. I didn’t really know I wanted to make music until I was 12; I would make music with my aunt, her friends, and [a] bunch of other kids, and it really fed my love for performing. Then, when I turned 15, I realized that I wanted to make music; that’s when I started putting myself out there on the Internet.
KM: When was the first time you felt truly seen as an artist?
AC: I think I felt seen as an artist, but by myself. I’m not sure it makes sense, but I realized I was an artist only because I understood that I was an artist. I grew up in a really artistic family, so to me, it was normal to be an artist in many ways, but it took me a lot of time to understand that I could be a musician also. I understood that I was an artist after I put together my first EP in 2019. I wrote it with my friends in Ottawa, and with little means, I was still able to create it and put it on platforms.
KM: What are some images, songs, pieces of art, etc., that represent your current aesthetic and/or musical era?
AC: “Angola” by Cesária Évora really represents my aesthetic when it comes to music. I grew up listening to her music when I was a kid, especially at family gatherings. She illustrates a side of what I want my music to be like. The video she made for this song also is inspiring to me: a super simple video that feels relatable or like a memory. Another thing that really inspires me is the way many women from Africa, the Caribbean, or even Brazil are often dressed in traditional events. I would often see these women at my grandma’s [house] as a kid when she would host traditional ceremonies (called djembe).
KM: What are you most looking forward to about your upcoming first headlining show?
AC: I think I’m really excited to perform my new songs and “put faces” on whoever listens to me.
Last time I performed in Ottawa, people were really familiar with my old music or any covers I would do, but now I’m coming with more. I missed engaging with people through music.
KM: What would you tell younger Anaïs about where you are now and what you’re doing?
AC: I would tell younger Anaïs that I should not say that I cannot do something when it comes to music. That I will be able to write songs, and that they will touch at least someone. I would also add that I am able to play the guitar now: I used to be scared to do it because I thought my hands were too small!
KM: And what would you tell the future version of yourself? What do you hope for her?
AC: I would tell my future self to be easy on herself, and to stay as cautious as we’ve always been since the beginning; To stay as curious as possible when it comes to music, and to fight for any idea that she thinks is worth it.
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