Alewya is locking in her debut era with intention. The London-based Ethiopian-Egyptian artist has released “Selah,” a new single that sharpens the vision for her upcoming album ZERO, set for release June 26 via Because London Records.
“Selah” leans into an Afro-infused, club-ready sound, driven by pulsing percussion and a bassline that never fully settles. Produced by longtime collaborator Busy Twist, the track keeps Alewya’s signature tension intact. Her vocals move between restraint and release, cutting through the production instead of blending into it. The result feels immediate, but not predictable.
Alewya describes the track as instinctual, and that lack of overthinking shows. There’s a looseness to “Selah” that gives it replay value, something that feels lived-in rather than engineered for trend cycles.
The official video, directed by Iggy London with creative direction from Lee Trigg, expands that energy visually. Set inside a London house party, the clip builds from something intimate into something more chaotic and collective. Movement takes over the frame, blurring the line between performance and participation. It’s less about narrative and more about atmosphere, which aligns with how Alewya builds her music.
“Selah” follows a string of singles that have been mapping out the sonic direction of ZERO. “Eshi” pulled directly from Ethiopian musical traditions, incorporating the masenqo, while “City of Symbols” merged those influences with underground London textures. “Night Drive” introduced a more introspective tone, signaling a shift into a new creative phase.
Together, these releases position ZERO as more than a standard debut album. It reads as a fully formed statement from an artist who has been refining her voice across multiple disciplines. Before music, Alewya worked in painting and animation, and that background still shapes how her songs feel. They’re layered, textural, and built around movement rather than rigid structure.
That approach has set her apart within the current landscape. While many artists pull from global sounds, Alewya doesn’t dilute those influences for accessibility. She keeps them intact, letting different cultural and sonic elements exist without forcing them into a single lane.
Since her 2021 project Panther in Mode, she has built a steady rise through performances, collaborations, and visual work, including a COLORS session and festival appearances across Europe. With “Selah” now landing on the FIFA 26 soundtrack and ZERO approaching, that momentum is translating into wider reach without losing definition.
Alewya isn’t chasing a moment. With “Selah,” she’s making it clear she’s building something that holds its own.
Featured image credit: Bernice Mulenga
