What’s her story?
Born Adéla Jergová, Adéla, 21, first entered the public eye in 2022 on YouTube’s Dream Academy, a pop-competition series where contestants trained and vied for a spot in a debut girl group. She didn’t make the final lineup (she was eliminated just before the finale), but viewers immediately singled Adéla out for her stage presence and performances style. While other contestants faded after the show, Adéla treated Dream Academy as a launchpad.
Instead of chasing another reality-TV moment, she leaned into artist development. She began releasing music independently before signing a joint venture with Capital Records.
“I got off of a show where for two years we were literally getting told by music executives what to do. We were getting molded,” she told Paper. “So it was really fucking weird coming off of that. I was just really lost and quite depressed … I dropped out of high school for the show, too, so I had to get my GED. It was a mess. It was the most terrifying year ever. But it was a necessary evil.”
The music
Vocally, Adéla sits somewhere between Charli XCX’s deadpan delivery and Dua Lipa’s controlled precision. But it’s her charisma that truly sets her apart. In live sessions and short-form performances, she blends choreography, improv, and storytelling in a way that recalls early Britney Spears, at her most playful. Fans also credit her for mastering the pop-girl playbook without feeling algorithmic.
“When I did the Dream Academy stuff, that was not the real representation of me, because you get told what to do,” Adéla told Paper. “On the show, they choose the outfits for you, they're like, ‘Be like this,’ so when [Dream Academy] started, and we started to get attention, it did not penetrate my psyche. I was like, ‘This doesn't really feel like mine.’”
Co-signs
For an artist still early in her career, Adéla’s co-sign list is long. She’s appeared in TikToks with Demi Lovato, Rachel Sennott, and Troye Sivan. Grimes has appeared in a video of hers for her single “Machine Girl.” She’s also gotten Paris Hilton’s approval.
Lovato in particular has been vocal about her admiration. When asked on the Las Culturistas podcast why there hadn’t been a “song of the summer,” Lovato laughed and said:
“What are you talking about? Not only did I release ‘Fast,’ there’s so many incredible songs that came out this summer. All the pop girlies are having their moments. You’ve got Adéla, who I stan so hard. You’ve got Gaga, Sabrina, Tate McRae, Kesha, Kim Petras, PinkPantheress, all of these incredible artists, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I could keep going. Everyone has brain rot and can’t think past the 30-second TikTok mark, which I can relate to…stream ‘Fast.’”
What’s next?
With The Provocateur still finding new listeners and a massive tour on the horizon, Adéla is headed for pure acceleration. Her 20-plus-city run with Demi Lovato kicks off on April 8 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and wraps on May 25 in Houston, Texas.
