Alena Ciera – All In My Head [EP]

Alena Ciera‘s EP All in My Head is a resonating echo of heartfelt sincerity and a true show of her musical depths. Filled with emotional honesty and melodic allure, the five tracks of the album explore an assortment of sentiments—betrayal, longing, vulnerability—each packaging a unique microcosm of deeply felt sentiments into some of the most energetic pop anthems that I’ve heard in a while.

The album leaps off with its namesake “All In My Head,” layering upfront lyrics of heartache onto a lively, almost bubbly, melody. The song opens with Alena questioning why she is still stuck in the same emotional space and wondering why things haven’t changed for her. She reflects on the actions of her former flame and how they put her through a lot, making her feel dejected in the end. With lines such as “How could you string me along? And not care?” the song phrases the swirl of uneasy emotions that surface when someone falls out of love with you and the struggle to at least understand their feelings afterward. The term ‘bittersweet’ could not find a more fitting song than this.

In a similar fashion, “Change Your Mind” is a stirring pop-rock anthem that presents a fragile romance that is teetering on the edge of falling apart – lining up the unsettled tone of the lyrics with the uplifting energy of the beat. Ciera voices her willingness to change in a bid to sway her partner’s mind, even though both parties have made mistakes and haven’t always tried hard to make it work. “We have been here so many times…” the young singer says, “Fighting about who’s wrong or right/ Not seeing each other’s sides/ Not caring enough to try.” On the one hand, there’s this quiet acceptance in her words that lets you know that things are on shaky ground. But on the other hand, the vibrant pulse of the track teems with hope and tenacity. Listen closely, and you’ll hear a resounding message – things can turn around, no matter how grim they seem.

Spiraling on from the buzzy sun-showers of these first two tracks, “Somebody To Love“ lays bare Alena‘s desire for a deep and lasting love in an emotionally charged ballad. Though the young singer’s voice is as sweet and innocent as ever, the song carries an emotional weight that sounds like it’s been earned over more years than Alena has been alive. With her tender soprano and the glimmering layers of producer Austin Bello‘s nostalgic arrangement, she paints her ever-evolving journey through love with a uniquely personal touch.

Shifting gears to the next chapter of the EP, “What You Want” comes into focus and has Ciera steeling herself against a tide of mixed signals and the game of cat and mouse that can come with dating. Wrapped in a cheerful sheath of vibrant pop rhythms and retro synths, the tune serves up a real-deal judgment of a love affair shrouded by her partner’s hazy wishes and wants. And while lines like “Everyone knows that you are still in me/ they see the way you stare, when I am there/ You can’t keep your eyes off of me...” spotlights the couple’s undeniable connection, Alena doesn’t pull her punches when she regularly asks “Was it really not enough?/ Do you even want this love?”

The closing track, “In Your Feelings,” brings it all together with a slick fusion of upbeat electro-funk rhythms and Ciera‘s feel-good vocals. Sounding like an old-school skating rink jam, the song is an energetic concoction of tightly filtered drums, neon-lit keyboards, and 80s-dipped new-jack swing elements niftily stitched together by producer Austin Bello. It’s a bright and breezy tune that fuses in-depth songwriting with high-energy, groovable music and allows Alena to close out the album on a euphoric note.

Alena Ciera, with All In My Head, dishes out a spot-on selection of catchy pop tunes, each with their own distinct vibes. Her talent for navigating a maze of emotions — from heartache and vulnerability to desire and joy — takes center stage in her musical storytelling, breathing life into every turn of phrase. Mastering the art of balancing poetic depth and feel-good music, Alena merges meaningful songwriting with an upbeat pop aura, creating a series of tracks that are thoroughly appealing.

Stream & buy Alena Ciera’s music on…
( Amazon | Apple_Music | Bandcamp | Deezer | Spotify | Tidal | YouTube_Music )

Connect with Alea Ciera on…
( Facebook | Instagram | Official_Site | Soundcloud | TikTok | Twitter | YouTube )