Despite releasing her first independent tracks two years ago, Kochi-based artist Haniya Nafisa says she has only recently gained the confidence to describe herself as a singer, songwriter, producer and composer. After issuing more than 15 solo songs in that period, the 23-year-old has now completed her first album, Vaakkath.
The nine-track project was not originally planned. Several songs intended as singles gradually came together, and others were created while she studied music production. She considered making an EP once a common theme emerged, but the number of tracks and collaborators continued to grow, she explained during a call from Kochi.
Haniya first became known during the pandemic through cover versions. She said the response to the new album has been unexpected. The record was not meant to have this sound, which differs from her earlier work, and she believes that difference has drawn listeners.
Issued by Devil Inside Records, Vaakkath includes contributions from MHR, Raunaq, Zail, Amani Kl10 and Wraith V. The indie-pop album relies on electronic production, while the lyrics, written by Haniya, incorporate the Kannur dialect to reflect her background.
Vaakkath means “on my word” in that dialect, she noted. It can also be read as vaaku (word) and kath (letter). Using her native speech felt like an act of authenticity. She had tried similar phrasing in one earlier track but wrote her first fully independent song in the dialect with “Illathath.”
While growing up she had tried to hide the accent, believing it sounded unprofessional and might lead to bullying at school. She now finds herself unconsciously adopting the speech patterns of people around her.
Since her 2024 debut single “Mulchedi,” written during a difficult time, Haniya has deliberately broadened her musical range. The song’s success showed her that future releases would be closely examined, so she decided to create the music she genuinely wanted. Her output now includes the English track “When Life Gives You Lemons” and the collaboration “Maarum/Usad” with Filipino band Munimuni.
She made her playback debut in 2021 with “Zindagi” from the Telugu film Most Eligible Bachelor and later sang “Kisses in the Clouds” for the Cannes-winning film All We Imagine as Light.
For years she assumed she would continue writing intensely personal, melancholic material. Once she committed to independent music full time, she realised she could not wait for inspiration and needed to work more deliberately. Her songs remain personal but do not always draw directly from her own life.
That change led her to complete an online challenge in December, writing ten songs in ten days. The exercise taught her to compose on demand and confirmed she could finish an album.
Alongside music, Haniya has built an acting career, appearing in the Tamil film Connect and the Malayalam films O.Baby and Apple Chedikal. She is preparing for a new project that begins filming next month and is also working on music with Anohnymouss, Drumyuga and Amrit Ramnath while improving her production skills.
She admires the layered vocal arrangements of Sushin Shyam and hopes to master that approach, produce more of her own material and develop a distinctive sound. Vaakkath is available on all major streaming platforms.
