Kochi’s Haniya Nafisa releases debut album ‘Vaakkath’, embraces role as singer-producer

Kochi: Kochi-based singer-songwriter Haniya Nafisa has reached a new milestone with the release of her debut album Vaakkath, two years after her indie debut.

The 23-year-old artiste, who has released over 15 independent tracks since 2024, said she has only recently found the confidence to call herself “a singer, songwriter, producer and composer”.

The nine-track album, Haniya said, was not planned. In conversations about the project, she reflected on experimenting with different genres, collaborating with fellow artistes, and discovering her identity as a producer.

She also spoke about singing in the Kannur dialect, adding a distinct regional voice to her independent music.

Vaakkath marks Haniya’s first full-length body of work as she continues to build her presence in India’s indie scene.