Alewya - Zero (2026) [Hi-Res]

On her debut album, the London-based singer—born in Saudi Arabia and of Egyptian and Ethiopian descent—delivers a fascinating testament to her personal and family history. This background is a crucial detail, beautifully unpacked through her lyrics on tracks like "City of Symbols," which retraces her parents' journey and their arrival in England. More than anything, however, this story comes alive through the diverse sonic references woven throughout the record, painting a vivid portrait of a lifetime shaped by music.

In 2021, her acclaimed EP Panther in Mode already signaled this quest for meaning, serving as a love letter to the sounds that forge her identity. This time, Alewya goes even further, crafting heavy, electro-organic tracks that early M.I.A. would surely have championed, such as "Maktoub" or "Guttah." Yet the album also holds poignant, intimate moments, featuring interludes of conversations and slices of life overlaid with distant sounds and traditional instruments—reminiscent of Ethiopian kissars and begenas—that border on a state of trance. It serves to show that wherever she goes, and whatever the context, her roots remain a constant companion, anchoring a remarkably rich artistic identity. © Brice Miclet/Qobuz