ADÉLA: The New Pop Sensation from Slovakia
At just 22 years old, ADÉLA has already walked an enviable path: she trained at the Vienna State Ballet and the English National Ballet School, moved to the United States in 2022, and after participating in the reality show Dream Academy (2023) by HYBE and Geffen Records, she signed with Capitol Records in 2025. Her EP The Provocateur (2025) was the appetizer for what is now her debut studio album: PRIMA.
The album, already available, features 11 tracks and was entirely co-written by ADÉLA. To shape it, the artist worked with top-tier songwriters like Julia Michaels and Theron Thomas (co-writer of Miley Cyrus's 'We Can't Stop'), and producers such as Blake Slatkin, Dylan Brady, and The Dare. The result is elegant pop with influences from dance-pop, hyperpop, and electropop.
“PRIMA is a concise album with a unique vision that mixes cynicism, hedonism, and underdog status,” highlighted specialized critics.
The Phenomenon of 'Ain't in LA'
The single 'Ain't in LA' is not only the album's closing track but also the one that gave ADÉLA a place in history: it became the first Slovak artist to enter the Billboard Hot 100, reaching position No. 61. The song, co-written with Theron Thomas, has an anthem-like hook that speaks of the American dream and humble origins. Additionally, it served as the springboard for ADÉLA to open for Demi Lovato on the It's Not That Deep Tour, including the date at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, on May 16, 2026.
Track Ranking of PRIMA (from worst to best)
Billboard magazine ranked the album's 11 tracks from least to most impactful. Here it is:
| # | Song | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boys | A girls' night out medley; the least distinctive sound on the album. |
| 2 | I'm the Man | A sensual mid-tempo exploring gender and her relationship with her father. |
| 3 | Fantasize | Well-crafted but with a less interesting 90s sound; follows 'Hitachi' in the sequence. |
| 4 | Marijuana | A 1:50 hyperpop ballad, almost an interlude; mid-2010s nostalgia; precedes 'Therapy'. |
| 5 | Red Bottoms | A Tate McRae-style mid-tempo; deals with her father's affair; wordplay on 'dirty shoes'/'dad issues'. |
| 6 | KGB | Lead single; abrasive electropop with production by The Dare; subverts the Soviet acronym; lyrics about working nights to learn English. |
| 7 | Hitachi | A ballad about self-indulgence and loneliness; dramatic strings; forms a trilogy with 'Fantasize' and 'Starving Artist'. |
| 8 | Therapy | A confessional Billie Eilish-style song; explicitly uses Auto-Tune; talks about the industry, money, and older men; penultimate track. |
| 9 | Starving Artist | Closes the narrative trilogy; conversational chorus with double meaning; confirms the end of the relationship. |
| 10 | Nicole Kidman | Accelerated soul sample (Kanye West style); references Kidman's controversial film; chorus 'Babygirl in control / I feel like Nicole'. |
| 11 | Ain't In LA | Best song on the album and breakthrough hit; co-written with Theron Thomas; anthem hook; message about the American dream and humble origins; closes the album. |
A Promising Debut
With PRIMA, ADÉLA proves she doesn't need big productions to shine: her proposal is direct, personal, and with a careful aesthetic. Critics already compare her to artists like Billie Eilish and Tate McRae, but with a unique identity that blends ballet elegance with hyperpop rawness. Without a doubt, one of the revelations of the year.
Source: Billboard