ADÉLA, the 21-year-old Slovakian artiste, is turning public scrutiny into creative power, per nme.com. A year after her highly-publicised elimination from the Netflix series Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, she is cementing her status as a singular, straight-talking solo star with her debut EP, The Provocateur.
ADÉLA, whose full name is Adéla Jergová, garnered online criticism after the docuseries aired, but she has since embraced the “rage-baiter” persona. As she tells NME, “my bluntness and honesty gets people kind of jarred and makes them uncomfortable, which I’ve always kind of enjoyed.”
The EP, which dropped on August 22, is a masterclass in unapologetic self-expression. It swerves from electro-pop to industrial club bangers, documenting her journey through the music industry. The project includes the Grimes-co-produced track “Machine Girl,” where ADÉLA knowingly addresses her media-driven image, singing about being a “pinned up poster of pop perfection.”
A devoted student of pop, ADÉLA’s influences—from the provocative careers of Madonna and Lady Gaga to her own ballet training—have shaped her disciplined and defiant approach. She moved to Los Angeles three years ago to chase her pop dream, refusing to soften her blunt personality.
For ADÉLA, her post-reality show reputation is just a reflection of her core mission: to make people comfortable with being uncomfortable. She states, “Being human—truly human—in pop music, I like to talk about my imperfections.”
The artist’s journey from a reality show “villain” to a celebrated provocateur proves her determination to control her own narrative. The Provocateur is a bold, meta snapshot of an artist taking her power back, one sharp, catchy song at a time.
•Featured image: ADÉLA/Jason Al-Taan
