No one expected Adéla Jergova to take over the pop scene the way she has over the last year, from playing small venues to opening for Disney legend Demi Lovato, but here we are. I was lucky enough to be at the Orlando show, and I knew once I heard her live that the music world had another superstar on its hands.
The 22-year-old Slovak pop sensation went from a Dream Academy reject to one of the most successful debut solo artists in the last year. After announcing her debut album was slated for September, anticipation for the project’s release skyrocketed. Featuring collaborations with Julia Michaels and Cashmere Cat, and production from Blake Slotkin, the album is an incredible debut that showcases her drive to become a main pop girl alongside her killer vocals.
“KGB”
Adéla teased the first single for her new era on TikTok a few days before she went on tour, and she surprised everyone by opening her set on the first night of Lovato’s tour in Orlando with the song and its release date announcement. Truly iconic.
“Nicole Kidman”
In the final single for her first album, Adéla pays homage to one of the most decorated actresses of our time, Nicole Kidman. The music video shows Adéla recreating the most iconic scenes from Kidman’s career to emphasize that yes, we all want to be as successful as Nicole Kidman.
“I’m the man”
There aren’t enough artists talking about how girls are becoming the man in the relationship. Times are changing, and Adela knows it as she sings “I’m the man / In my itty-bitty dress, yeah, I’m the man (I’m the man).”
“Boys”
This song also debuted live in Orlando, and the performance features insanely cool dance breaks. Do you like getting attention from men while clubbing or not? Adela explores that theme here on a spunky electro-pop beat.
“Red bottoms”
“Red Bottoms” is arguably the rawest song on the album, though “Therapy” is a close second. The lyrics are so tangible, and it hits close to home to compare yourself to used red bottoms, referencing expensive Louboutin shoes. Ironically, Adela also titled her first-ever headlining tour the Red Bottoms tour.
“Hitachi”
“Hitachi” explores the sadness of people in a relationship who have drifted apart, specifically from the woman’s point of view. The title “Hitachi” comes from the Hitachi Magic Wand, a vibrator created in Asia. She sings Now you’re sleepin’ next to me with your clothes on / Oh, I wanna get back, wanna get back how it was / You used to wanna turn me on, wanna turn me on / Just like my Hitachi does…”
“Fantasize”
“Fantasize” sees Adéla in a relationship that just isn’t doing it for her anymore, and she starts thinking: “What if I just daydreamed about other people?” Ultimately, she decides to make those fantasies a reality.
“Starving Artist”
“Starving Artist” is heavily charged with sexual innuendo and is about, essentially, running back to an old flame just for sexual satisfaction. The production went off, and I envy anyone who gets to see this song performed live.
“marijuana”
This is my favorite song off the album, and unsurprisingly many other people’s as well. Even though it’s short, “Marijuana” sees Adéla and a love interest fooling around while hotboxing in a car. The song’s trap pop aesthetic has caught the attention of many listeners. Adéla has been playing it live long before its public release, but perhaps the best time she played it was at Lollapalooza this past summer.
“therapy”
This song is almost acapella and features Adéla speaking about how hard it’s been since she started chasing her dream, moving away from home, and not seeing her family as much. The added layer of sincerity comes through her vocals being backed by a piano and minimal production.
“ain’t in l.a.”
When this song was played live for the first time in Orlando, I knew it would become an instant cult classic, and once it was released, it did. The song inspired multiple TikTok trends, and if you were in a major city and saw a hot pink wall that said “The Baddest B*tches Are In ___” you were not alone. The song put Adéla in the global spotlight, and the music video showcases her appreciation for her Slavic roots, acknowledging that some of the most incredible people you’ll meet don’t come from big cities; rather, from small towns.
As a woman of Slovak descent, I am so proud to see how far Adéla has come. From being the first contestant kicked off Dream Academy to opening for Demi Lovato and now surpassing KATSEYE in Spotify monthly listeners, she has accomplished some truly impressive things in a short time as an artist. It’s rare to see that kind of star power so early on, but Adéla’s rise to fame was not without its challenges. Her future is incredibly bright, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Stream PRIMA anywhere online now!