WEEKEND MUSIC TIP PT 96 – 99
German Post Punk Revival paired with rave elements and mystical lyrics - this is 99, band,…
WEEKEND MUSIC TIP PT 94 – ALEWYA
ABOUT INFINITY’S TWIN – ALEWYA ON HER UPCOMING ALBUM „ZERO“
Ethiopian rhythm, Arabic mysticism and the raw energy of London — this striking mix comes together in Alewya, singer, painter and multidisciplinary artist. The all-round talent releases her debut album „ZERO“ on 26th June, promising an enticing blend of hypnotic club music and R&B, exploring themes of cultural roots, family and passion.
After touring with Little Simz, releasing her own ColorsxStudios session and appearing at Boiler Room, one of her pre-released singles has been selected for the FIFA 26 soundtrack. “Maktoub,” another promising single from the album, drops today and builds even more anticipation for what’s to come.
We sat down with Alewya to talk about whether she follows football, what London symbolizes for her, and how she transitioned from graffiti to making music.
Leonie Kampen: How did your journey from painting and graffiti lead into music?
Alewya: It was natural, I started painting and graffiti and was led into animation, which then led me to adding music to them, but I realised that other people’s sounds took me out of what I was making. So I began to learn to produce.
LK: How do both practices correlate or influence each other?
A: I couldn’t say how, they just are both natural. Less thinking, the better.
LK: Is music a spiritual experience for you? If so, how does that spirituality influence your work?
Music is spiritual, full stop. You can’t separate it.
A: It’s not a performance, I just listen.
LK: You are about to release your new album – What are your feelings?
A: Right now I am feeling tired, I’m dealing with a lot of things at once. I will be relieved, I know.
LK: Three years to finish one album – how did you know when it was finished?
A: There’s no rush, it was a feeling of completion.
LK: The album is titled “ZERO” — can you explain the meaning behind it? Does it relate to a “point zero” in any way?
A: I’ve read this book called Zero by Charles Seife, it’s about the history of zero. It came from India/Africa, into the Middle East and by the time it reached the West it caused chaos as the West had not prepared for the concept of nothing having value. In the book I read the sentence “zero is infinity’s twin”. I feel that.
LK: Your work often feels visually and conceptually rich — you’ve described a “city of symbols.” Is London part of that, and what symbols does it hold for you?
A: Every city has a language to me, the statues, the posters, the colours of the buildings, the advertisement styles, the news, the names of brands, of institutions, car stickers, shopping bags etc.
LK: Where do London and your Ethiopian and Egyptian heritage meet? If they do at all
A: They meet in me and who I am and what I create in this life.
LK: Your track Selah was featured on the FIFA 26 soundtrack — do you follow football at all?
A: I don’t follow it but it’s around me my whole life so I love the culture of people coming together!
LK: What has been your biggest achievement outside of music?
A: Buy my mother a car and make her proud.
