Interview with ADÉLA: The Incoming Diva of Pop

Hi ADÉLA, thank you so much for chatting with me today! Congratulations on all of your recent success. I want to start off by asking about your debut single, “HOMEWRECKED,” which I absolutely love! It’s truly fabulous and so much fun. How would you describe the song and what it personally means to you?

ADÉLA: I would describe the song as a weird, pop, cute, potent moment! For me, it’s about infidelity in a family setting. It’s basically about me killing the person that somebody has hurt me with. It’s super dramatic, not realistic at all, and super theatrical. That’s exactly who I want to be as an artist. I think a lot of the time, I’ve been called “too much” and “over the top,” but I think that’s what excites me about art and about music. The beat is actually pretty simple, but there’s so much vocal production. I’m a huge harmony fiend, and the lyrics are over the top. I really love a weird ass pop song. A huge inspiration was Lady Gaga with “The Fame Monster” and MARINA. It’s just a weird, pop, fun, over the top, and messy song!

More is always better!

ADÉLA: I agree! Like, what the fuck? I so agree. The girlies who are demure or whatever, shut up!

If you had to choose, what would you say is your favorite lyric from “HOMEWRECKED”?

ADÉLA: I really like “Used to be a good girl, but I think I’m growing thorns.” Yes, it’s been done and said, but I think the way I chose to sing it is just so campy and theatrical. Also, with the choreo and the music video, me and Emily from “Pop Star Academy” both choreographed it together. I choreographed that move for “thorns,” and I wanted a thousand hands moment. The way it goes “thoooorrrns!” is super stupid and vibrato-y, and it’s just so theatrical! I think that’s my favorite moment, probably.

The cover art for “HOMEWRECKED” is also so captivating and striking. It kind of has a horror or villainous undertone with the color palette and bloody gloves. What inspired the cover art, and what was the thought process behind it?

ADÉLA: I didn’t think that was going to be the cover art for a good second. Everything was styled by me, the whole concept was me, everything was me. I’m an independent artist, so I didn't have anybody working with me then. Now, it’s garnering attention and people are reaching out, but it was really all me. Me and Emily were up until 4 a.m. rhinestoning those bloody gloves the day before. Even though I am truly a good person to my core, and I know that I am, I think I’m very truthful. A lot of the time, people love to see me as the villain because of that. Most of the time, we end up being so close and they end up appreciating it later on. I think the truth tellers are always hated at first. I think playing a villain and doing this unhinged character felt so funny and tongue-in-cheek to what people perceive me as so often.

The bloody glove especially, I was so excited about. Emily’s costume also has a puncture wound in it, and it also has rhinestones, and I just wanted it to be campy! I didn't want it to be too bloody or too realistic. Because I come from theater and ballet, we made the gloves rhinestone and the blood rhinestone. It's very tongue-in-cheek, stylized, and glamorized. We got the [cover art] shot, and I was like, “Wait! I love this shot!” I’m looking unhinged, I’m looking into the fucking mirror. There’s a whole scene with the fan and me kind of acting like a superstar in a room with a dead body. It’s so weird. We got that shot, and it was so fire. I wanted it to be the cover. It just felt so right, and I just loved the whole look and the idea behind it.

What was shooting the dance performance for “HOMEWRECKED” like, particularly with the support of some of the girls from “Pop Star Academy”?

ADÉLA: The dance performance with Emily and Narjesse from “Pop Star Academy,” and then Zoe and Peyton — two other amazingly talented dancers — was just so fun! I know all these girls, and we’re friends, so it was truly like a family working together to build this thing. Everybody just loved the song, and we had so much fun! It was super stressful for me because I did everybody’s makeup and everybody’s costumes. Again, it’s like a one woman show, but it feels so fire because it’s so authentically me. I have complete control, which is both so satisfying and also completely, earth-shatteringly chaotic. I think we just had so much fun! Emily really pulled through with the choreo, and we were directing my videographer. We were like, “Can you get this angle? This is the best angle for this step,” so it’s truly us producing it. Everybody just worked together to create the best possible product. I’m just so grateful to the girls that they believed in it and like me enough to do this with me.

You’re part of this really big cultural moment with KATSEYE and Netflix’s “Pop Star Academy”! What would you say is your favorite memory from the whole experience of Dream Academy, and who would you say you’re still the closest to from the whole experience?

ADÉLA: You know what? I don’t have just one. I think the favorite memory is the entire experience. I think the overarching lessons that I learned from it — both the good and the bad — were so rewarding and such a special experience that literally no one will ever go through again. There’s only a handful of us that did this, and I got to be there from the start. Even the bullshit, even the best parts, I think they worked together to show me what I want as an artist and what I don’t want as an artist. On a personal level, it taught me so much by being with all the girls and living with girls. First and foremost, I’ve always been obsessed with women my entire life. I just get so emotional about being a woman in general. I love it and love everything that comes with it.

Being surrounded by so many [women] for two years, and from all over the place, it was such a navigational experience. It was such a sisterhood. I think my favorite memory is just being with the girls and how we lived together. We had this ecosystem and made it work. We got so lucky because there was so much love. The internet is talking about this girl hating this girl from “Pop Star Academy,” and I’m like, “What?” The gag is that we had the most loving two years of our lives — amongst the girls, I have to say. That’s my favorite memory, just being with the girls, understanding each other, growing together, and going through growing pains together. That’s the best thing for me.

Unfortunately, the internet is going to project hate against women no matter what.

ADÉLA: Yeah, it’s so interesting. For me especially, I came into the program with way more experience, maybe, than other girls. I’ve been a professional ballerina my entire life, so I had a lot of maturity. I’ve been living alone since I was 14. A lot of the girls would come to me for advice and shit, and it was such a sisterhood moment. To see how the audience [has reacted], I think it says everything about where we are as a society still. We’ve come a long way, but just the fact that people got so excited about 20 girls possibly hating each other when there was none of that, and none of that was shown either? It’s very telling, and I think it’s harmful. I was like, “Oh, we’re still here!” It’s so interesting.

After the experience of being on a Netflix project, what would you say is more scary and challenging: being a pop star or being a reality TV star?

ADÉLA: Oof! Reality TV for sure! It’s so funny because in high school, we got “most likely to,” and I got voted most likely to be a reality TV star. I was like, “This is not true! I never want that!” It’s an insane thing to be on, because you can get edited however a third party decides to edit you. Then people who lack critical thinking skills are just like, “Yup, that’s this person!” Maybe not! I think I’ve grown so much and have processed this so much, and I truly know that all of us are so close. I have my truth about the whole experience, and it’s just the fact that it was the most positive female environment that it could’ve been. When we had issues, we always talked it out whether it was shown on camera or not. The reality TV star aspect of it all is so crazy because you have no say — unless you’re like “The Kardashians” who get to edit their shit out! That’s kind of fire. If you’re like the producer on the show, then that’s fire. Other than that…

You have a very unique career path in that most people will have watched you as a reality star before knowing you as a proper pop star and musician. What has it been like trying to hop off of the “Pop Star Academy” stardom and into this new solo music career?

ADÉLA: One thing that works in my favor is that the show was about talent and us being performers. If I came from a random reality TV show that was about dating, then that would be different. But I think people were interested in our talents and wanted to see what we did after, if you had a storyline or if they just gravitated toward you for whatever reason. It hasn’t been too challenging for me, and also all I can do is be completely and authentically myself as an artist. I know that what I will make is cool and good enough to where one day, it’s gonna stick. Whether it was gonna be now or in 10 years, I am completely confident in my artistic integrity and ability to know that I am gonna make it. It wasn’t daunting for me personally, honestly. It’s like the perfect launching pad because of what the show was. It really worked well because people are not only invested in me as a talent or in my personality, but I think the show is unique because it got them invested into both.

Because the nature of the project was what it was, I think a lot of my natural cuntiness and whatever was not necessarily welcome [laughs] — it had to be hidden! But I think with even what they did put in, people are already invested. It’s actually super exciting for me to keep showing more and keep inviting them into more of an authentic presentation of what I want to be.

The gays that have watched “Pop Star Academy” are loving you! I know that!

ADÉLA: Period! That’s what I was saying! I was getting so much hate at first, but I was like, “Just wait until my core audience sees this…” I know one day, down the line, they’re going to look at this and be like, “What a gag that Adéla did this!” That makes me so happy, truly!

I absolutely love your Spotify bio, which says “born to be solo.” What would you say, so far, is the biggest pro and con of having a solo career versus being in a traditional girl group?

ADÉLA: For me, I think the biggest pro is the authenticity. I can be completely myself, and I have complete control over everything that happens in my project. It’s 100% me. That being said, I am independent right now. Even as a solo act, once a label is involved, that can totally change. Suddenly, you have all of these people telling you all of these things because now you are a product that they need to sell. But right now, my perspective on [girl groups] — because of the nature of K-Pop and what a girl group represents — it has to be so synchronized and cohesive. All of your authenticity and personality, some fit that vision and some don’t. I think for me personally, I really felt that my authenticity was a different type of artform and for a different type of artist career. Now, I really can say that I’m so happy and it’s authentic for me.

The con is that you’re doing it yourself. You don’t have the label push, the huge budget, or the “industry professionals” who know the industry. It’s all you. You have to be the student, you have to know pop culture, you have to know music, you have to know what’s relevant, and you have to know what feels right for you to do and what doesn’t. You have to figure it out on your own. It’s a really confusing path that one goes on when they go solo and they’re an independent artist. I just started, but I’ve been doing it for a year now where I’ve been trying to find my “thing” before I put out a song. I feel like I get it now, and I get what I want to say. I get my vision, but it’s definitely kind of fucked at first [laughs].

I’m a quarter Slovakian, so I love that you’re representing Slovakia with your career so far! What would you say are some of the biggest things about Slovakia that people may not know about, and how would you say growing up in your small town helped you blossom into who you are today?

ADÉLA: I think people literally don’t know Slovakia in general! “Hey, so one thing you don’t know about Slovakia is that it exists!” I tell somebody I’m from Slovakia and they think it’s Czechoslovakia. That has not been a thing for a good minute now. And [they don’t know] the general location.

Also, I think a lot of Slovak people are very direct — more than other nationalities or parts of the world, because we are eastern European. For me, I think that’s where my truth telling and bluntness comes from, which I think is interesting. I also want to shout out — this is a stupid thing — duck season! We have duck season in the fall. Fuck, that’s so good. I love a good duck. Roasted duck? Are you kidding? That’s fire!

I think [being from Slovakia]... it was so weird for me because I always felt super different. I started doing ballet professionally when I was 11, and I learned fluent English on my own when I was eight. Slovakia now is definitely more globalized and liberalized, but it used to be a very conservative country — especially growing up, and it honestly still is. From a young age, I had a different point of view about so many things. It was such a mindfuck to be a person. I felt like I did not belong where I grew up, because I was so immersed into American culture. It came down to basic human shit. My friends in school would say homophobic slurs and racist shit, because there’s no diversity in Slovakia. I, as a kid, understood that I couldn’t necessarily blame them because we were literally 10 years old. They had no other point of view other than Slovak media or their parents, and neither of those were giving a globalized view on the world because of a language barrier and Slovakia being so removed from everything. For me, I always felt so out of place. That and my natural need and want for success, and to be a performer, I think that made me work so much harder to make it out of there. I just felt like I did not belong where I was, and I disagreed with so much on what the country and the place stood for. I felt really, really torn my whole childhood. I think it reflected in my work ethic, and I ended up moving out when I was 14. I moved to Vienna, and then I lived in London because of ballet. I just really wanted to be in places that were way more accepting and “ahead,” really, in thinking. It’s such an interesting thing, and I talk to my friends… even in the U.S., in different states, it’s just so different. The world is so different.

Summer is coming to a close! What would you say was your “Song of the Summer” and why?

ADÉLA: One? Only one? Let me give two or three. “One Of Your Girls” by Troye Sivan. It’s not a new one necessarily, but I just fucking love that song so much. I keep talking about it all the time. My dad — and this is what I mean when I say that being from Slovakia is so funny — I taught my family about all of the liberal ways of thinking that you can imagine. I was like, “Okay, so you guys need to stop being fucking homophobic, you need to stop being racist, you need to stop doing this, and you need to stop doing that,” and now with “One Of Your Girls,” my dad… it’s such an anthem for the LGBTQ community, and also the music video is such a fucking moment. I think about that song, and I showed it to my dad, and he’s walking around the house singing a song by a gay pop star. It just warms my heart. That song is just so amazing.

I have to say “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan. I am such a huge Chappell fan. I think she’s the coolest fucking person alive.

And “B2b” by Charli xcx. The production on that is actually insane, and I would actually do anything for Charli xcx. “B2b” is so fucking fire! When I first heard it, I was gagged! Also, just the whole entire “BRAT” album. It was Brat Summer! What am I talking about? It’s so iconic. I wrote an essay about it for school. I wrote an essay about “BRAT,” the marketing behind it, and how brilliant it is. My teacher was like, “Can I use this as an example for the next class that I’m going to have after this semester?” It was this old man and he was like, “I became so interested in Charli xcx after reading this!” I was like, “Yes! You should be!”

I hear a debut EP is already in progress and on the way. Is there anything you can tease about it?

ADÉLA: It’s going to be around five to six songs long. It’s definitely a concept album. Every song is a new chapter for the character. It’s honestly going to be about the past years of my life, and my thoughts and feelings about the whole experience. The progressing in “HOMEWRECKED” is aimed to be the first step of the story. It kind of tells you that the whole thing is super dramatic, I kill a bitch, and then I have to leave the country, and I want to become a star! There’s some truth. Like, obviously, did I kill somebody? That’s just not what happened, and I wouldn’t tell you if I did — but I didn’t. The whole thing is just super dramatic, and it’s going to start super swinging. The character is going to go through what I have observed and felt like all of us went through throughout the process of [Dream Academy]... For me, the biggest thing about this is just seeing how people are so quick to judge the women and the little players in things like this when there’s companies, and huge corporations, that are behind stuff like this and never get the flack. To me, that’s what I want to explore in my art. It’s going to be a huge dramatic pop story of this character going through this thing, and I want to take you on a journey with me and show you my point of view — told by me. I think the documentary did a good job of being as true to us as possible, but an eight-episode cut of two years… I have just so many other thoughts that I want to share and explore what it’s like to be a young woman going through that.

Final question! To the haters, lovers, and everyone in between that is taking the time to read this interview, what message would you like to leave them with?

ADÉLA: Stream “HOMEWRECKED”! And honestly, thank you just for paying attention! Even if you like it or if you don’t, every comment and every like? I think I am not in the business of being perfect or pleasing everybody. I’m in the business of being truthful, authentic, and making artistic and cultural moments out of real life and things that happen to me. If you’re contributing to that in any way, whether it’s loving it or hating it, whether you’re just watching on the sidelines or being vocal about it, thank you! To me, it’s all kind of an even playing field. I enjoy all types of attention, and it’s not that serious. It’s not that deep — also, it is at the same time, but it isn’t… I don’t know, just thank you! This is just the start of the journey. It’s going to be crazy, and I have so much inspiration. After this chapter is closed, I’m going to talk about the next thing. I just hope that people love it enough, and people will connect to the music, find their own meanings, and relate in some ways.

Keep up with ADÉLA on Instagram and Spotify.