Haniya Nafisa Unveils Debut Album Vaakkath, Merging Kannur Dialect with Indie-Pop Production

Haniya Nafisa, the Kochi‑based singer‑songwriter‑producer who first gained attention with pandemic‑era cover videos, dropped her first full‑length studio album, Vaakkath, on 6 July 2026 through Devil Inside Records. The nine‑track set, assembled from a string of singles and collaborations, signals a fresh sonic direction that fuses electronic pop with lyrics penned in the Kannur dialect.

The project was never intended as a cohesive album. Nafisa explained that several tracks—originally released as standalone singles with different collaborators—began to coalesce into a unified body of work. As more songs and artists joined the fold, the format shifted from an EP to a full album. The record features recurring contributions from MHR, Raunaq, Zail, Amani Kl10, and Wraith V, each appearing on multiple tracks.

Musically, Vaakkath leans heavily into electronic production, a marked departure from Nafisa’s earlier, more melancholic indie releases such as 2024’s “Mulchedi.” The artist noted that the new material was “quite different from what I’ve done before,” a change she believes has struck a chord with listeners. While the arrangements sit firmly within contemporary indie‑pop, the lyrical content remains distinctly regional. Nafisa writes in the Kannur dialect, a choice she says reflects authenticity and personal heritage.

The title Vaakkath translates to “on my word” in the local dialect. Nafisa broke the word into vaaku (word) and kath (letter), underscoring the album’s focus on language. She has experimented with dialectal lyrics before, most notably on MHR’s album Valiyaparamb and her own track “Illathath,” the first independent song she wrote in Kannur. Growing up, Nafisa felt pressure to adopt standard Malayalam in public settings, but she now embraces her linguistic roots.

Nafisa’s musical journey began with the 2024 single “Mulchedi,” a mournful piece written during a difficult personal period. The track’s success prompted her to pursue independent music more seriously, leading to a broader catalog that includes the English single “When Life Gives You Lemons” and the collaboration “Maarum/Usad” with Filipino band Munimuni. She has also ventured into playback singing, performing “Zindagi” for the Telugu film Most Eligible Bachelor (2021) and “Kisses in the Clouds” for the Cannes‑winning short All We Imagine as Light.

Beyond music, Nafisa has built an acting career. She debuted on screen in the Tamil film Connect (2022) and has appeared in Malayalam titles O.Baby and Apple Chedikal. She announced that a new, “big project” will begin filming next month, though details remain undisclosed.

In addition to her current releases, Nafisa is collaborating with artists Anohnymouss, Drumyuga and Amrit Ramnath. She cited her admiration for Sushin Shyam’s layered vocal arrangements as an influence on her production ambitions. Nafisa stated that mastering independent production is the next step in her artistic development.

Vaakkath is available for streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. The album’s release marks a significant milestone in Nafisa’s career, illustrating her evolution from a cover‑song artist to a multifaceted musician who writes, produces and performs in her native dialect.

The project underscores a growing trend among independent artists in Kerala who blend regional languages with contemporary pop aesthetics. By foregrounding the Kannur dialect, Nafisa contributes to the broader conversation about linguistic diversity in Indian music while maintaining a modern indie‑pop sensibility.

As of the release date, Vaakkath has not yet entered any major chart rankings, but its reception among listeners and critics has been positive. The album’s blend of electronic production and dialectal lyricism positions Nafisa as a notable figure in the evolving landscape of Malayalam independent music.

The album’s release also coincides with Nafisa’s ongoing efforts to expand her creative output, both in music and film. With future collaborations and projects in the pipeline, the artist’s trajectory suggests continued growth and experimentation in the coming years.