Rising New Zealander alayna returns with new single ‘Cherry Tree’
September 23, 2022 BY Jason Currell
After sharing her Tender and So.. EP earlier this year, today rising singer-songwriter alayna has shared a delicately elegant and poignant new track titled “Cherry Tree”, the first single from her planned debut album (tba).
It marks a new era for New Zealander alayna. The previous singles saw her transition from R&B to singer-songwriter, and “Cherry Tree” is a glorious statement of her transformation. Inspiration was taken from the cherry blossom trees in Auckland, alayna infuses her soothing soulful voice in this dreamy, calming track that tells the story of a fragile relationship.
“We started talking about a relationship and this kind of beautiful show that blossom trees put on before they fall and restart the cycle again. We leaned into the idea of letting go of a relationship and being able to take my power back, but asking for the ending to be soft,” alayna explained the initial idea of the song. “Being the first single for my album it’s like a letting go of the old, my old season and last projects, particularly the relationship that consumed the Tender and So.. EP with love and acceptance, stepping forward into the unknown or what’s next.”
Listen to “Cherry Tree” here and below:
About alayna:
Currently based in Auckland, alayna has been an avid explorer of herself for years, and, though she’s just coming to terms with herself now, she realizes, too, that she’ll be ever-changing, evolving, and continuing to figure things out. Her upcoming new material sees alayna slowly transition from a R&B and soulful singer to a singer-songwriter where her lyrical skills truly shine. Growing up listening to heavyweights such as Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, alayna’s songwriting depth could be attributed to these influences and the experiences that shaped her.
alayna’s debut EP Sweet Soulwas released back in 2018 and amassed over 30+ million streams. The single “Falling Autumn” reached #8 on Spotify’s US Viral chart and got spins on BBC Radio 1. The EP’s closing track “Between Dusk And Dawn” is an emotionally raw ballad she co-wrote with Grammy Award-winning FINNEAS. Her acclaimed sophomore EP Tendercame out in 2020, in which HillyDilly said she “has one of the best voices, and her delicate melodies are second-to-none… she continues to impress on each release.”
alayna is currently putting the finishing touches to her debut full-length studio album for Nettwerk.
