Underrated - ADÉLA

Adéla Jergová was unknown to the world for most of her life. Now, at just 22, she has released a seven track EP with a breakout single “Superscar” and amassed over 100 million listens all in her first year of putting out music. Shes’s made her mark on the modern pop scene by opening for Demi Lovato, one of her idols and musical inspirations. 

Born and raised in Slovakia, Adéla spent most of her life knowing she wanted to be a performer. At just three years old, she began classical training for ballet. During that time, she discovered pop star Hannah Montana, and her dream of performing for people was born. Fascinated by the seemingly endless amount of stars coming out of the US, Adéla taught herself English through American music and media. She realized if she wanted to be a star, she needed to get out of Slovakia and get to Los Angeles. With over 15 years of ballet training and success under her belt, Adéla was more than ready to begin her desired career. She applied for The Debut: Dream Academy where she was accepted out of 140,000 applicants to train for a spot in a global girl group (which became KATSEYE). At last, she had a reason to leave Slovakia and begin her journey to the City of Stars. 

Her time on the behind-the-scenes docuseries Popstar Academy: KATSEYE was short lived but memorable. Carrying herself with confidence fueled by her hard work, she became an older sister figure for the other girls and unknowingly secured a spot in the hearts of those that watched the series. Inspired by the dystopian experience that was Popstar Academy where rigorous vocal and dance training _  and her relationship to ballet, she wrote and released her EP /The Provocateur/ under her name stylized as ADÉLA on August 22, 2025, two years after the series debuted. 

Bridging modern hyperpop sounds with themes and visuals inspired by Madonna, ADÉLA begs the music industry to answer her questions about what parts of yourself you need to lean into or lose to achieve success. “Superscar” directly addresses the pushes and pulls of the industry on women, specifically through the sexualization of their bodies and attitudes. While this is a theme throughout the EP, “Superscar” ties in her bizarrely controlled experience in Popstar Academy with, “Prove how bad you need it / Put on a show for me.” Without knowing her backstory, her music strikes a cord in anyone who has achieved success or been reduced to their sexuality by those in power. For female pop stars, this isn’t news, but for ADÉLA it’s something to write, rage, and perform about. 

Pairing five out of her seven songs with a music video to show off her dancing abilities, ADÉLA keeps her ballet background at the center of her work. With this history at the core of her drive, she depicts ballet as a double edged sword that channels her feelings while stripping away her sense of self. One prime example is in the music video for “DeathByDevotion,” where she uses documentary-style filming to show a behind-the-scenes view of her dance practice. Taking a drag off a cigarette before entering the studio, Adéla uses this dichotomy of play versus practice to show what it takes to be the performer she wants to be.

It’s clear upon first watch or listen that each song is filled with the energy and confidence of someone who has formed a solid persona and image. Pairing ballet with her music, Adéla has carved out a distinct style that pushes the boundaries of femininity in ballet. Aside from her visuals, her now iconic neon pink hair and refined dance technique, ADÉLA’s sound comes from heavy synth chords, overbearing bass and booming vocals. She doesn’t shy away from the mic nor the instruments in her studio, instead she brings them into her art to create a grand sonic stage that shocks listeners into nodding along. 

With a new album promised, fans are eager for more of the unrelentingly provocative and energetic sound that she’s given them a taste of. For those of us in the know, ADÉLA has made an exciting splash that can only be followed by a tidal wave of a career. Fueled by hard work, dedication and pink hair dye, ADÉLA is more than ready to keep shocking the world by being herself.