Adéla Introduces Herself With Ambitious Debut ‘PRIMA’
Alexandra Garcia
Writer
September 10, 2026
In 2023, the reality competition show Dream Academy premiered with the goal of creating a global girl group that we now know as KATSEYE. One of the 20 contestants on the show was 19-year-old Adéla Jergová from Slovakia. While Adéla was unable to make the group’s final lineup after being one of the first girls eliminated, that did not stop her from pursuing her dream of becoming a pop singer. She chose to pursue a solo career, and now, Adéla has officially released her highly anticipated debut album, PRIMA.
Now 22, Adéla has revealed that the album’s title carries two meanings. PRIMA means “first” in Italian, signifying that this is her first album, but it also refers to the title of prima ballerina in dance, an honor given to the best ballerina in a ballet company. Before pursuing a career in music, Adéla was professionally trained in ballet and is now working toward becoming “the prima ballerina of pop.”
The opening track and lead single of the album is “KGB.” References throughout the song touch on Adéla’s upbringing in Slovakia and her fascination with pop culture from a young age. Lyrics like “Just a little European girl, was plotting on my rise” and “I was, like, eight working the night shift to learn English” put into perspective how her musical journey is not something that happened overnight, but rather something that has been years in the making.
Following “KGB” is “Nicole Kidman,” which served as PRIMA’s fourth single. Named after the Oscar-winning actress, both the song’s lyrics and accompanying music video include references to some of Kidman’s films, including Moulin Rouge!, Babygirl and Eyes Wide Shut, as well as iconic moments like her AMC commercial. The track itself is a catchy pop tune that addresses celebrity culture and how it can be both glamorous and parasocial: “Live vicariously through me, write my life like it’s a movie.”
“I’m The Man” is an R&B track with playful lyrics about the reversal of typical gender roles in a relationship. “Boys” channels a confident early-2000s pop sound to describe a night out with friends and features Lara from KATSEYE, one of Adéla’s best friends, in spoken-word segments throughout the song.
“Red Bottoms” was the second single off PRIMA and is the namesake of Adéla’s upcoming tour. While it is one of the slower songs on the album, it stands out for its lyrics, where the singer voices her insecurities in a relationship by likening herself to a pair of Louboutins: “‘Cause when the red starts to go / Will you love what’s on the other side? … / If I’m not perfect, will you say goodbye?”
In the piano ballad “Hitachi,” Adéla reminisces about how a relationship used to be and how she wants things to go back to the way they were. Following “Hitachi” is “Fantasize,” a track that channels a ’90s pop sound reminiscent of Britney Spears’ music.
“Starving Artist” is one of the more unique-sounding songs on the album, with heavy bass used throughout and a slowed, reverb-heavy final chorus. Its experimental production helps it stand out from the other B-sides.
With “Marijuana,” Adéla taps into a more hyperpop sound that is also mixed with elements of mid-to-late-2010s pop. The ballad “Therapy” features very minimalistic production, forcing the listener to focus on the song’s confessional lyrics. The track acts as a “therapy session” for Adéla as she opens up about different things on her mind, including wanting to move her mom to the U.S. but being unable to afford it and her relationship with her younger sister.
PRIMA’s closing track is “Ain’t In LA,” an empowerment anthem where Adéla embraces her Slavic roots while acknowledging and uplifting “all of the girls in them unknown cities.” With a sound reminiscent of 2010s pop, specifically Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop,” the lyrics include references to her mom’s upbringing in communist Czechoslovakia and how her walls were covered in smuggled pop culture posters because Western content was banned there. Adéla has often said that her mom’s love for pop culture sparked her own, ultimately leading her to pursue a career in music. It is undoubtedly the standout song on the album and a fitting closing track for her debut.
The song’s music video was filmed in Slovakia, serving as a tribute to the singer’s roots. It features young Slovak dancers dressed in the country’s traditional attire, along with appearances from Adéla’s mom and younger sister.
Released as the album’s third single in late July, the song has since become Adéla’s most-streamed track on Spotify and earned her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. Its catchy lyrics and 2016-inspired promotional material helped the song go viral and sparked several social media trends, including the “The Baddest Bitches Are In _____” hot-pink graphic for different cities and countries.
Overall, Adéla’s PRIMA is a solid and ambitious debut. While it had a promising run of singles, the album tracks themselves feel a bit weaker in comparison. However, the album as a whole still serves as a great introduction to who Adéla is and the potential she has. It is safe to say that Adéla is a name the pop world should be on the lookout for.
Edited by: Jade Read
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