Billboard France — the latest global edition of Billboard — recently unveiled their latest cover and taking center stage is Aya Nakamura, who the publication dubs as “France’s No. 1 popstar.” The cover, which was unveiled last April 25, highlights her status as a global music icon and underscores her impact on the French and international music scenes.

Nakamura, known for her chart-topping hits like “Djadja” and “Copines” — that latter of which even made its rounds on social media across Asia, has consistently broken barriers in the music industry. Her recent achievements include performing at the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony and receiving multiple accolades at the Les Flammes awards, where she was honored with titles such as Female Artist of the Year and International Breakthrough.

Photographed by Marion Gomez for Billboard France.

In her Billboard France cover story, Nakamura speaks on artistic evolution, her musical beginnings, and how to rise above language barriers. With a fanbase that spans multiple continents, the hitmaker has become an international name and yet she continues to create music for herself, never for a specific audience.

“I came across fan accounts in Brazil, in Venezuela… I also travel, and I hear my music everywhere — in the U.S., in Thailand. But I don’t create music for a specific territory. I just try to offer something I feel, and if it can travel far, all the better,” says Nakamura to Billboard France.

This feature follows Billboard France‘s maiden cover, which dropped last February. The cover spotlighted Afrobeats star Burna Boy, celebrating his historic achievement as the first-ever non-French-speaking African artist to put on a show at the Stade de France, the country’s largest venue.