ADÉLA's Debut Album 'Prima' Is Out — NME Calls It Her Bid for a Seat at the Table

Slovak singer ADÉLA released her debut album Prima via Capitol Records on Friday, September 4, 2026. The title literally means "first" and doubles as a nod to the top rank in ballet, a nod to her training background. NME's review calls the record a distillation of early-2000s pop's golden era into confident, introspective songs, describing it as her "bid for a seat at the table."

From hyperpop to millennium pop

Lead single "Ain't In LA" was ADÉLA's song of summer 2026. NME links it to the pop vocabulary of early Kesha and Miley Cyrus's Bangerz era. The track's message is framed as an "anti-escapism" statement — embracing where you are, whether that's Bratislava, Leipzig, or Reading — built on chopped, pitched-up vocal hooks over her thick Eastern European delivery. The lyrics also namecheck Madonna and Destiny's Child.

Other key tracks head in different directions. "Boys" pairs a conversational, Pussycat Dolls–style vocal with Timbaland-esque club production; "Marjuana" is a straightforward EDM cut that NME says could hold up at Tomorrowland scale; and "KGB" rides a pounding house beat, with the line "call me the K-G-Bitch" singled out as a highlight.

Compared to 2025's dense hyperpop record The Provocataur, Prima slows things down considerably. "Hitachi" and "Therapy" lean into more lyrical territory, dealing with first heartbreak and self-awareness. NME flags "Nicole Kidman," a tribute to the Hollywood star, as one of the album's rare missteps, saying its slow tempo and heavy brass don't quite land.

From Dream Academy to 2026

ADÉLA first became known as a contestant on the 2023 reality competition Dream Academy, whose six winners went on to form the group KATSEYE. She has since released tracks including "Supercar" and "DeathByDevotion," and in 2026 built her profile through live performance energy and the reach of "Ain't In LA."

Release details

• Album: Prima (ADÉLA's debut)
• Release date: Friday, September 4, 2026
• Label: Capitol Records
• Review source: NME