ON THE RISE
International singer and musician, ALYA, wraps listeners into a warm holiday embrace in the form of her new album, No More Lonely Christmas. With a song for every listener, the album evokes the comfort and joy of the holiday season while sharing with the world ALYA’s evolving sound.
ALYA developed her lifelong passion for music at the age of seven. In her earlier years, ALYA honed her skills through classical training, ensembles, and vocal competitions. Striking a deal with her mother, who insisted she pursue the accordion simultaneously, ALYA began her studies as an opera singer around age 12.
ALYA’s musical style is a subtle mix of pop, dance, and ballad. From her pure voice to honest emotions, she is able to captivate audiences of all ages around the world. Recently, ALYA’s single, “Hope,” went viral on TikTok with more than a million views. In the press, she’s hailed as a strong presence in the industry.
Embarking on a new chapter, ALYA is excited to share her new holiday album with fans and new listeners. “Christmas albums are awesome because they’re evergreen,” shares ALYA. “They are full of energy, magic, and festive vibes.” Throughout 2024, ALYA focused on completing the project and showcasing her new, evolved sound. No More Lonely Christmas also offers a sneak peek at her upcoming album, to be released in 2025, that will feature her updated style.
There is something for everyone on No More Lonely Christmas. ALYA’s versatility ensures that every listener finds a song for them, whether it be rock, jazz, or pop-inspired. “My music is designed to be inclusive,” shares ALYA. “I wanted to create something that you could turn on during a gathering and everyone would love—an album that makes you feel good. This album wasn’t made to highlight my singing ability. It’s made to make you feel good as a listener, not showcase me as a singer.”
The album consists of three traditional Christmas songs and multiple original tracks. One track, “Silent Night,” features the world-renowned Eric Clapton making a rare appearance on a holiday album. Another, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas - feat. Indiara Sfair,” showcases the breathtaking harmonica skills of the Brazilian musician.
The upbeat titular single, “No More Lonely Christmas” highlights the feeling of the entire album: a cozy, welcoming sound that wraps you up and makes you feel surrounded by love during a season of joy. This fun, fresh seasonal single joins the ranks of Mariah Carey’s classic hit, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (one of ALYA’s favorites).
ALYA finds joy in spreading her music and kindness. This holiday season, she has visited shelters for mothers with children and celebrated with them through musical performances and gift giving. “The holidays are about getting together, but some people don’t have the opportunity to get together with the people they love. I wanted to create an album that’s welcoming and cozy. The main message of my art is to be very welcome and inviting. Turn on the music and join us.”
Through the rush of the holiday season, ALYA wants listeners to slow down and savor the moment. “The holiday season isn’t for shopping and stress. It’s a time to get together and share the love and do something good. Check in on someone. Remember to be kind.”
Make sure to stay connected to ALYA on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
ON THE RISE
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LOS ANGELES — Damion Seraglio Bond and Hannah Leyla are turning up the heat with “Pina in Your Colada,” a playful tropical duet built around flirtation, humor and the kind of chorus that practically demands a room full of people sing along.
Featured as the opening track on Tropical Vacay, “Pina in Your Colada” drops listeners directly into vacation mode. Tiki lights are glowing, steel drums are playing, drinks are flowing and Hannah and Damion are trading lines back and forth like two people who have decided subtlety can wait until after the trip.
That exaggerated approach was intentional.
“I worried that if I hewed too closely to a serious sexual expression, today’s rather Me-Too sensitive folks might misinterpret the point of the song,” songwriter and creator Lloyd Eric Cotsen said. “By keeping it light-hearted and even cheesy over the top, it’s clearly aiming for fun.”
Cotsen envisioned the track as the kind of local favorite heard at a packed tropical bar, where vacationers already know every word and become part of the performance. That idea shaped the song’s crowd vocals and call-and-response structure, including Hannah’s equally confident answers to Damion’s advances.
Creating that chemistry, however, became one of the biggest challenges behind the track.
Cotsen used AI music platform Suno to develop the recording, but directing the male and female vocals proved considerably harder than expected. He ultimately worked through more than 160 versions while trying to get the exchanges right, eventually bringing elements from separate versions to a sound engineer to create the final result.
That persistence helped produce one of the song's defining elements: a performance that feels less like a conventional studio recording and more like stumbling into a beach bar where the entire crowd already knows the chorus.
“Recreating the vibe of a live performance in a bar with a crowd finishing the lines of a song they know and love was something I would have bet Suno couldn’t do,” Cotsen said. “It did it masterfully.”
That atmosphere also made “Pina in Your Colada” a natural opener for Tropical Vacay. Cotsen wanted the album to function almost like a vacation soundtrack, maintaining a tropical atmosphere while moving between comedy, romance and more reflective moments.
“It seemed like the most fun, captured the tropical spirit of the album best,” he said of choosing the song as its first track.
The project continues Cotsen’s genre-hopping approach to songwriting. His work has moved through folk-country, blues, soul, gospel and dance, while Tropical Vacay gives him room to explore Trop Rock and the stories that emerge when people temporarily leave their everyday lives behind.
For Hannah and Damion, that means a relationship that is flirtatious, competitive and occasionally more complicated than the beach-bar antics suggest. Cotsen describes the pair as having a “playfully combative romantic relationship,” with Hannah written as a confident character who can give Damion every bit as much as she gets.
And the fictional duo may eventually move beyond the digital world. Cotsen plans to host a concert with live singers performing selections from his catalog within the next year while continuing work on several additional albums.
For now, “Pina in Your Colada” offers a simpler invitation: turn it up, embrace the ridiculousness and pretend the nearest drink comes with a tiny umbrella.
“Pina in Your Colada” is available now on Spotify as part of Tropical Vacay.
