Alewya – Zero

Alewya debuts with “Zero”, her first album in which she further develops her earlier blend of alternative R&B, electronic music and influences from African rhythms. The result is a record that relies heavily on atmosphere and texture, and less on traditional pop structures. The production is often dark and pulsating, with plenty of space for silence and tension between the layers.

The album opens with “Threshold”, a slow building introduction that grows from minimal electronics and distorted vocals. The tension is not built through a clear climax, but through a constant sense of anticipation that is repeatedly delayed. In “I Know Why” the rhythm becomes more present, with sharp percussion and a beat that keeps shifting without fully settling, which creates an uneasy energy throughout the track.

“Suffer Well” is one of the more direct tracks on the album, built around a heavy bassline and a stripped back production that places her voice at the centre. The song feels fragmented in structure, but that adds to its character. “Blue Heat” moves in a more dance oriented direction, with a pulsing groove and a gradual build that increases intensity without ever fully exploding.

In the middle of the album, Alewya’s focus on contrast becomes clearer. “Mirror Skin” is more experimental and distorted, with voices and rhythms that are difficult to place within a fixed structure. “Hold Me Void” is more minimal, almost bare in its production, highlighting the space between sounds and the fragile nature of the vocal performance. This variation makes the album intriguing, but also at times distant.

Towards the end the atmosphere becomes slightly more accessible without losing its experimental core. “Afterlight” introduces more melody and warmth, while “Zero Point” closes the album with a slow fading composition in which rhythm and form gradually dissolve into silence.

“Zero” is not an easy album, but it is a confident debut from Alewya. She clearly chooses artistic risk and a distinct sound that does not always land immediately, but stays with the listener through texture and tension. It is a debut that intrigues more than it seduces, and it grows with repeated listening. (7/10) (Because Music)