Multi-faceted pop sensation AYLA unveils her highly anticipated debut album, ‘DOPAMINE’, featuring the focus single Open Your Doors. This album is a rich tapestry of emotive storytelling and sonic exploration, comprising 13 tracks that highlight AYLA‘s distinctive blend of modern pop sensibilities. The project is a culmination of years of artistic growth and collaboration, demonstrating AYLA‘s evolution as an artist.
Focus single, Open Your Doors, co-written with Danny Harley (The Kite String Tangle), encapsulates the album’s theme of self-discovery and embracing new experiences. The song is a refreshing departure from the ‘sad girl pop’ vibe, bringing an uplifting and hopeful message. AYLA describes the track as a celebration of breaking free and taking hold of new opportunities, inspired by her excitement on the day she wrote the song, just before embarking on her first overseas trip.
“Danny and I had a great synergy during the creation of Open Your Doors,” AYLA explains. “His innovative production ideas, including creating instrumental layers from vocal samples, added a unique texture to the track. It’s a song that brings a sense of openness and hope, contrasting beautifully with the more introspective and heartfelt tracks on the album.”
‘DOPAMINE’ features eight previously released singles, showcasing AYLA‘s unique sound and lyrical depth, with four tracks released between 2018 and 2021, and the remaining four from 2023 and 2024. Described by AYLA as a “collaboration collection”, the album was crafted through numerous co-writing sessions with some of the industry’s top talents.
Contributors to ‘DOPAMINE’ include Reuben Styles, Ed Quinn (Telenova), Taka Perry, Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music), LDRU, Sam Thomlinson, Danny Harley (The Kite String Tangle), and Peter Holz (Vance Joy, Gang of Youths), who handled the mixing. The album stands as a testament to AYLA‘s evolution as an artist and her ability to fuse poignant storytelling with diverse musical elements.
AYLA reflects on the process: “As I reworked tracks, did more co-writes, dug out old demos, and wrote new tracks, it started to make more sense to release a full body of work. It was a pretty unconventional way to make an album! As an independent artist, it was quite the journey to bring it all together, but I’m really proud of the album I’ve made.”
The album’s creation, however, was not without its challenges. AYLA notes, “The process has been absolutely incredible in so many ways, I’ve been able to work and collaborate with so many talented people. In a way, though, this is also what has been the most difficult part of creating this album – working with SO many different (amazing) people.” This diverse range of influences required additional production to streamline the sound and ensure a cohesive body of work.
AYLA playfully considered titling the album ‘Love Songs and Existentialism’, reflecting the range of themes explored in the tracks. The songs delve into the human experience, touching on topics like breaking free, hopefulness, hopelessness, and nostalgia. Tracks like Bitterness discuss heartbreak from a friendship perspective, while others like Small Talk, Should’ve Been Fine and Deep examine the complexities of love and loss.
AYLA‘s breakout debut single, Wish I Was, emerged as a sudden and powerful force, striking triple j Unearthed with remarkable impact. It went on to become the 15th most played song of the year on triple j, the highest for a solo female artist. This success led to standout performances on triple j’s Like A Version and at renowned festivals like Big Pineapple, Festival of the Sun, and Woodford Folk Festival. She has also supported acclaimed acts such as Kate Miller-Heidke, San Cisco, and Kim Churchill, and expanded her reach with shows in the UK and Netherlands.
As AYLA steps back into the spotlight with ‘DOPAMINE’, she invites listeners to join her on a journey of emotional discovery and sonic innovation. The album promises to be a milestone in her career, solidifying her place in the contemporary music landscape.
With thanks to Pretty Good Thanks
