Dominique Fils-Aimé: Striving for freedom

Canadian singer Dominique Fils-Aimé likes to work in trilogies. Now "My World Is the Sun" is being released as the second part of her second triptych.

Her first three albums were strongly influenced by role models such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and Etta James, and focused on exploring musical styles that led to the development of genres. Her previous album, Our Roots Run Deep (2023), was more about "roots, trees, and the nature that surrounds and equals us. Now, with this album, I feel like we've reached a stage where we're exploring other aspects of nature that complement these elements."On "My World Is the Sun", the singer turns her attention to society and social life. "This time, I wanted to anchor myself more firmly in the present and be more authentic, musically and historically, as well as in terms of my values." She remains oriented toward the blues, jazz, and the sounds of her ancestors' Haitian homeland but is always oriented toward song, hymn, and chant in terms of form. "Going Home," released as a single, has hit potential with its simple guitar accompaniment, double bass accents, and hook-like vocal line. Despite its apparent pleasantness, Dominique Fils-Aimé's music always retains great depth. She places the original elements of hymns, work songs, and call-and-response traditions in an artistic context."The River" is a good example of her versatility and creative use of resources. Initially a bluesy soliloquy, it transitions into a straight groove and evolves into a Caribbean style with brass sections. Dominique Fils-Aimé also loves vocal harmonies. In "Sea of Clouds" and "Sun Skin," her chant melodies are reflected in a multifaceted way.

"There's definitely something unifying and uniting about singing together," she comments. "It's special when different frequencies come together to create a sound that touches us on many levels." Like many other artists these days, the singer, who has also worked as a psychotherapist, hopes her music will heal humanity. "If we can help people connect and heal their own pain, they are more likely to develop empathy. Because right now, I feel like everything is divided, and individualism dominates many areas."Fils-Aimé then showcases her jazziest side with "Life Remains." To her, jazz is "a state of mind that sometimes sounds different than you'd expect. She believes that an important energy and message lies dormant in the essence of jazz that must be preserved: the pursuit of freedom. Jazz has always been about breaking free from convention."Jan Kobrzinowski, JazzthetikThis article appeared in the March/April 2026 issue of the Jazzthetik.

Dominique Fils-Aimé at Moods

22MarSun
- Dominique Fils-Aimé
  JazzJazz Modern CreativeSoul / Blues / FunkVocal JazzSoulSoul JazzGlobal Jazz
More