alayna shines on gorgeous single ‘Softly’ & announces sophomore album ‘Set Her Free’
Critically acclaimed singer and songwriter, alayna, has today released a stunning new single Softly, which will feature on her highly-anticipated sophomore album, Set Her Free to be released February 13, 2026.
Listen to Softly HERE/ watch the video for Softly HERE
Pre-save Set Her Free HERE
Shining a light on one of Aotearoa’s most talented songwriters, Softly is a gentle, yet powerful soul and R&B anthem. Aptly, Softly is the song that set the wheels in motion for alayna’s upcoming album, set for release in 2026.
“It’s the seed that started this whole album. I was really writing my way around places, trying to see what set my heart on fire. And all of a sudden, there it was. ‘Oh! It’s the women in my life.’ They are the most extraordinary examples of unconditional love. The album is about love in all forms – how my understanding of love has grown so much. It’s about the capacity of the heart of a woman.”
alayna adds: “Softly is a tribute to the friends who have held me throughout my entire life, and who I know – without a doubt – will continue to. Platonic love is powerful.”
Softly was co-written on a songwriting camp in Bali with LA-based songwriter Emma Rosen (Ruel, FLO and GloRilla, Dean Lewis) and Grammy nominated Warren Felder AKA Oak Felder (Demi Lovato, Alicia Keys, Nicki Minaj) who also produced the song.
alayna says the idea for Softly came to her the morning of her session with Emma and Oak and working with them was a “pinch me” moment.
“Before the session, I remember thinking ‘Wow, the love of all the women in my life has been the foundation of my entire life, the glue that has held me together all this time’. Emma is such a beautiful writer and she helped me articulate this feeling so poetically. The cicadas were so loud right outside the room that Oak just ended up recording them as a soundscape on the track. It was only a few hours, but the song was made.
“It was probably one of my favourite days I’ve ever experienced as an artist, like all my dreams came true.”
The video for Softly is directed and produced by Westall Road (Marlan Prabahar and Laila Ben-Brahim), the dream team behind the videos for alayna’s recent singles Mother’s Mother and But, It’s Lonely, which also feature on the upcoming album.
“This was our most ambitious video yet. I got four of my close girlfriends to come to the beautiful Port Waikato. I said “you are going to be elements”. It was such an incredible day, so many laughs with my girls. So many bloopers!”
Softly signals a widening of alayna’s artistic vision and sets the scene for more exciting music just around the corner. “It felt like a real doorway, and ‘aha!’ moment for me. The most powerful love has always been right there, and I’d never written about it. As I continue to press forward I see more and more – I get smaller as I continue to realise how much this path is bigger than just me.”
Photo Credit: Marlan Prabahar
Album Art Credit: Nami Hampe, Creative Driection by Laila Ben-Brahim
