Dubai-born and raised artist Alya has officially entered the music scene with “Lemonade,” a debut single with contemporary pop, R&B and dance alongside Arabic-inspired sounds.

The 21-year-old Emirati singer, dancer and actress released the track as the first single from her upcoming debut EP, which is being released through gamma. Recorded in Los Angeles, “Lemonade” was produced by Afterhrs, the creative team known for work connected to artists including Teddy Swims, Maroon 5 and One Direction.

Photo: Instagram/@itisalya

The song draws from Alya’s Emirati background while keeping its sound rooted in contemporary international pop. The song is mainly in English and gives listeners an early idea of the sound Alya wants to explore in her music.

For Alya, the release also brings together several sides of her creative background. Her background in dance and acting also feeds into the musical and visual identity surrounding her debut, with choreography forming part of the release.

“I loved every part of bringing ‘Lemonade’ to life, from recording in Los Angeles to developing the choreography and working with incredible talent in the UAE and internationally,” Alya said.

She describes the track as a reflection of where she wants to take her music, calling it “fun, confident and unexpected.”

Photo: Instagram/@itisalya

Born to an Emirati father and British mother, Alya grew up in Dubai and has a background in dance and acting, which she is now bringing into her music and visual work.

“Lemonade” marks the first release from a planned debut EP, giving Alya an introduction to audiences in the UAE and beyond as she begins building her identity as a recording artist.

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A$AP Rocky confirmed during an appearance on “The Jason Lee Show” that Rihanna is actively recording, offering the most direct update yet on a follow-up to her 2016 album “ANTI.”

“Nah,” he said in response to speculation that family life had put her music on pause. “She in the studio right now. Yeah, I said it. Sorry, babe.” He added, “Bro, she working. She cooking, no funny. Damn, I’mma get in trouble for this.”

Photo: Gabriel Hutchinson / WikiPortraits

It was a brief comment, but it carried significant weight. Rihanna has not released a full album since “ANTI” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and produced “Work,” “Needed Me,” and “Love on the Brain.” In the years since, she has built her influence beyond music through Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty, while also embracing motherhood with Rocky, the couple now share three children, RZA, Riot, and Rocki, the couple now have three children, RZA, Riot, and Rocki.

She headlined the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show in 2023, where she revealed her pregnancy with their second child. She later earned an Academy Award nomination for “Lift Me Up,” her contribution to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack in 2022, before lending her vocals to “Friend of Mine” for The Smurfs soundtrack in 2025.

She also made a surprise appearance alongside Jay-Z at his “Extra Innings” concert at Yankee Stadium, where the pair performed “Run This Town” and “Bitch Better Have My Money.”

Those appearances kept fans engaged, but they did not mark the release of a new album. Rocky’s remark suggests that has changed. He framed it as work already in progress, not a plan or a tease.

Photo: Getty images

Rihanna herself has hinted at the same. Earlier this year she posted behind-the-scenes video of a recording session sandwiched between other parts of her day, including preparing a Mardi Gras costume for her son. The footage was casual, but it placed her in the studio in a way fans hadn’t seen in some time.

There is still no title, no release date, and no detail on collaborators or sound. What there is now is confirmation from inside her circle, as A$AP Rocky has revealed that the process is already underway.

For an artist who redefined pop in the 2010s and then stepped back to build businesses and a family, returning to music carries different stakes. The audience is larger, the expectations are higher, and the gap, nearly a decade since “ANTI” has only amplified both.

Rocky may have spoken out of turn. But if he’s right, and Rihanna is “cooking” in the studio right now, then the conversation shifts from if to when. For a fanbase that has waited since 2016, that is a shift worth noting.

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Ariana Grande just dropped her new single, “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” kicking off the rollout for her upcoming album, “Petal.” The album is scheduled for release on July 31 through Republic Records.

Grande co-produced the track alongside Max Martin and ILYA, two of her longtime creative partners. The song features a mid-tempo pop sound layered with atmospheric production and subtle electronic elements. Grande opts for a more subdued vocal approach, keeping focus on the lyrics. The song reflects on a past relationship and the guilt of realizing she barely tried while still taking someone’s love for granted.

Photo: Instagram

The chorus delivers the line: “I hate that I made you love me / ‘Cause I barely tried. The track explores themes of regret and self-reflection within a complicated relationship.

Ariana says “Petal” explores feelings and stories she had previously been hesitant to express. She explained in an Instagram Reel that the album is “definitely from a place I’ve been maybe too shy or polite to tap into before”

Before this, she put out “Twilight Zone” in 2025, but now, she appears to be entering a new phase balancing music with her continued work in acting. There is a music video coming too, directed by Christian Breslauer and shot by Oscar-winning cinematographer Janusz Kamiński. It premieres June 1, and the visuals feature a comic-book-inspired aesthetic that matches the official lyric video.

Photo: Instagram

The song debuted strongly, reaching No. 1 on the worldwide iTunes Song Chart shortly after release.”Petal” Ariana Grande’s eight studio album arrives July 31.

“Hate That I Made You Love Me” marks her first major solo single from an entirely new studio album “Petal,” reflecting a change in her musical direction.

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