For Grammy-winning singer-songwriter ALYA, music has always been a way to explore the experiences, emotions and memories that shape us. Following the success of her previous single ‘Believer’, which captured the feeling of finding love when you least expect it, she recently returned with ‘Dreaming’ – a sun-soaked, soul-stirring release that looks back to the innocence of childhood and the dreams of a love yet to come.
Blending celestial harmonies, effortlessly stylish vocals and a laidback groove, ‘Dreaming’ feels like an escape to somewhere warmer, capturing the heady excitement of a blossoming romance and the magic of getting lost in the moment. It also offers a glimpse into ALYA’s gift for weaving personal experiences into cinematic, emotionally resonant pop.
ALYA – Dreaming (Official Music Video)
Born and raised in Eastern Europe before settling in Los Angeles, ALYA’s sound reflects a rich mix of influences, from her Slavic folk roots to the distinctive vocals of Adele, Amy Winehouse and Céline Dion, alongside contemporary sounds spanning amapiano and alt-pop. Her career has also brought collaborations with an impressive range of artists, including Eric Clapton, D Smoke, Erica Campbell and Dr. Chaii, while her work with White Sun earned her a GRAMMY Award.
With a new album on the horizon, ALYA continues to explore her own distinctive approach to cinematic pop and personal storytelling. We caught up with the singer-songwriter to discuss the inspiration behind ‘Dreaming’, the experiences that shape her songwriting, her diverse musical influences and what fans can expect from her next chapter.
Your new single ‘Dreaming’ is super dreamy and evocative – its overall sound just screams nostalgia. Why did now feel like the right time to release this song?
I’m glad you picked up on that because that’s who I am and what my album represents… a bit of nostalgia, present and future. We’re releasing songs in no particular order but at the end you’ll be able to piece the puzzle of my life (in song) together quite simple.
There’s an innocence to the lyric, what message are you hoping to convey to listeners?
The message is one of holding on to those dreams because literally ‘dreams do come true’. In this instance it was my dream of finding and having love.
The song serves as the follow up to ‘Believer’ – how would you say the two songs differ?
The songs don’t differ; they actually go hand in hand, they are pieces of the same story of one (me) ‘Dreaming’ of, and then ‘Believing’ in love after not knowing if it could even be possible.
You’ve said openly that you’ve always been a dreamer of romance. How has your outlook on love changed over the years?
I would say my outlook hasn’t changed but has matured. At one point, it was all about only falling in love and now I’ve grown to understand that love like anything precious, has to be nurtured and if not, the possibility of it dying is very real.
A lot of your music feels incredible personal. How easy is it for you to be vulnerable in song?
It’s not only a feeling, it’s true! My music is absolutely personal. It’s the only way I know how to be. I’m grateful that I have a great team of people who have mentored me in a way to share it without feeling that it can be taken advantage of.
You’ve collaborated with some pretty major industry players – Tim Carmon, Yeezo, and Kim Rutherford – what’s your experience been like working with them?
Tim Carmon is a long-time music partner/producer of mine who is like my musical AMEX: “I don’t leave home without him”. He just knows what I’m going for without me having to say. He’s shown himself to be one of the most honest and integral people pit there. He tells me when it’s good just as much as telling me when it is not. Tim brought Yeezo on board and he’s been nothing short of amazing. Kim came in and fit right in so easily as well.
You’re currently believed to be putting the final touches to your upcoming album, what can you tell us about the record so far?
The record to be released in spring 2027 is called ‘In the Moment’. It covers a lot of who I am… the dreamer, believer, hurt, anxious one, and so much more. The album also has guest artists, producers and writers. We had the time of our lives putting it together over the last 3 years and I know the listeners will enjoy it because of the love and fun in it.
When creating songs, do you prefer to write / create from a place of imagination or reality?
I’m always writing from reality… my personal experiences from my dreams all the way to my losses and everything in between. It’s the only way I know how to be. Once again, I’m grateful that I have the perfect creative space with my team to be me and share it with the world.
Which other artists (if any) would you say have influenced you most whilst working on this project?
Celine Dion is always in the forefront of my influences, and has been since a very young age. Barbara Streisand, and Whitney Houston as well. I love these flawless divas and have always had them as my inspiration. How can you not?
What’s your number one hope for this music?
My hope for this music is that my story in my songs truly lifts and inspires many; that they would hear my lyrics and realise that they’re not alone and that if they just hold on, they too will see their dreams come true. There’s plenty of darkness out there, and I just want to be a part of the light in the world.
Let us know your thoughts on ALYA over on CelebMix socials now!