Alayna (singer)
Alayna | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alayna Powley 1993 (age 32–33) Hamurana, Rotorua, New Zealand |
| Genres | R&B, Soul, Folk |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Labels | 20XX, Nettwerk Music Group |
Alayna Powley (born 1993),[1] known mononymously as Alayna, is a singer-songwriter from New Zealand. In 2013, her YouTube cover of Sam Smith's "Nirvana" gained attention online.[2] She has collaborated with producers Finneas O'Connell and Stint.[3][4]
Life and career
Early life and education
Alayna was born in 1993[5] and raised in Hamurana, Rotorua, New Zealand.[3][6][7] Both her parents are teachers.[8] She is one of three children.[9] Growing up, her father, who was in an Irish band, played guitar and taught her songs.[4][7][10] She started singing at the age of six and recorded a CD for her grandparents.[7][9][10] She attended Kaharoa School and Western Heights High School,[3] and holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts from the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand (MAINZ).[3]
2013–2016: Early career
Alayna began making music in high school and wrote her first song, "Threads", at age fifteen.[10] She placed in the 'Play it Strange' songwriting competition twice, which led to professional recording time.[4][6][10] In 2013, her YouTube cover of Sam Smith’s "Nirvana" received attention online.[2]
After graduation, Alayna moved to New York to pursue music while working in restaurants.[3][7] Her first upload to SoundCloud, "Bliss", led to a contract with the independent Vancouver label 20XX.[10] The label introduced her to producers such as Stint, who she collaborated with on the official release of "Bliss",[3] and Finneas O'Connell, who produced "Between Dusk and Dawn" on her debut EP.[4]
2017–2019: Debut releases with 20XX
After her US study visa expired, Alayna returned to New Zealand and travelled regularly between there and the United States.[2][6] In 2017, she released her debut single, "Falling Autumn", produced by Astronomyy.[11] The song received airplay on BBC Radio 1[4][6] and attracted interest from labels including Sony Music and Universal Music Group.[10] Her debut EP, Sweet Soul, was released on 28 August 2018.[2] Her tracks were also included on official Spotify playlists.[3][7]
2020–2024: Self Portrait of a Woman Unravelling
In 2020, Alayna signed with the Canadian label Nettwerk Music Group[7] and released her second EP, Tender.[4] She then began work on her debut album, Self Portrait of a Woman Unravelling, which was released on 7 July 2023.[7][12] The album features a stripped-back sound, differing from the R&B and soul style of her earlier releases.[4][6] Following the release, Alayna performed at Auckland's Big Fan Studios and at Rotorua's Level 13 in July 2023.[6][12]
In 2024, her song "A World Without You", written about a family member's illness,[4] was nominated for an APRA Silver Scroll Award.[13]
Alayna supported Georgia Lines in Auckland in September 2024.[14]
2025–present: Set Her Free
Alayna announced that her sophomore album, Set Her Free, would be released on 13 February 2026. The lead single, "Softly", addresses her relationships with women.[15]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Self Portrait of a Woman Unravelling |
|
| Set Her Free |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Sweet Soul |
|
| Live at Roundhead Studios, Auckland, NZ |
|
| Tender |
|
References
- ↑ "Alayna Powley". In Profile. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Parsons, Kat. "Feature - Alayna: Just So - Rotorua - Tāmaki Makaurau". NZ Musician. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Chetwin-Kelly, Bridie (14 September 2018). "Meet the Rotorua songwriter who's about to make the big time". RNZ. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Connor, Fiona (30 January 2023). "Up-And-Coming Aotearoa Artists: Alayna". Rolling Stone Australia. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ↑ "Alayna Powley". In Profile. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gibbs, Carly (26 May 2023). "An exploration of the heart: Rotorua songwriter Alayna Powley attempts to unravel who she is in her debut album". Bay of Plenty Times. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 James, Shauni (3 February 2022). "Rotorua's Alayna Powley reaching new heights in music journey". Rotorua Daily Post. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Campbell, Phil (3 February 2019). "SunLive - Alayna all the way - The Bay's News First". www.sunlive.co.nz. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- 1 2 "Newsmaker: Alayna Powley". Rotorua Daily Post. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nicholas, Jill (16 December 2017). "Our People: Singer-songwriter Alayna Powley". Rotorua Daily Post. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Kent, Matthew (28 February 2017). "alayna delivers on stunning Astronomyy-produced debut "Falling Autumn"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- 1 2 Lochrie, Conor (7 July 2023). "Alayna Shares Debut Album 'Self Portrait of a Woman Unravelling'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ↑ "2024 APRA Silver Scroll Award and APRA Maioha Award Shortlist Announced | NZ Music Commission". Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ↑ Downs, Sarah (17 September 2024). "Meet the New Zealand Artists Georgia Lines Is Tipping for the Top". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ↑ "alayna - Softly: 13th Floor New Song Of The Day". 13thfloor.co.nz. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.