alayna Tugs at the Heartstrings on her Exquisite New Single ‘Hold Me’
alayna Tugs at the Heartstrings on her Exquisite New Single ‘Hold Me’
November 14th, 2025
Critically acclaimed Rotorua artist, alayna, showcases the power and the depth of her songwriting on the heartbreaking new single, ‘Hold Me’, from her upcoming sophomore album SET HER FREE (out February 13).
Listen to ‘Hold Me’ here.
A heartfelt and emotional ballad, ‘Hold Me’ captures the simple humanness of wanting to be held. “From self, from someone else, from someone you miss, from someone you love. It feels very universal,” says alayna.
Alayna wrote ‘Hold Me’ in Los Angeles with the Grammy Award-winning Sebastian Kole (Alicia Keys, John Legend) and the dynamic songwriting/production duo Zaire Koalo and Trevor Brown aka The Orphanage (Demi Lovato, Alessia Cara, Bebe Rexha).
“Sebastian really is the most incredible songwriter I’ve ever witnessed. I had met him earlier that year in a Bali writing camp. This particular day to the studio he drove in and came in the door and said ‘I’ve just been singing something in the car, I think it’s for you I’m just going to go to the piano for a while’,” says alayna.
“He had ‘Hold Me’ to show me, almost in its entirety. I was so blown away by this gift from an absolute heavyweight in songwriting and how he captured a feeling so beautifully. Sebastian taught me about how the best songs are right at the edge of yourself – of losing yourself.”
It was a ‘pinch me’ moment for alayna working with such big names.
“It was really powerful and a lesson in collaboration, in trust, and in letting go. I’m so grateful for being in rooms with artists just like this. Trevor and Zaire were incredible producers to work with as well, so kind and encouraging. It was one of my favourite days in the studio I’ve had.”
Alayna teamed up with Westall Road to shoot ‘Hold Me’ alongside two other upcoming music videos for an 18-hour day!
“I created the silver dress that I wear in the video with two pieces of fabric wrapped around myself. We used a projector screen of water, ripples, oceans and endless skies to show the magnitude of this feeling I’m wanting to convey, and this type of powerful humanness. It’s a simple concept of a video but with a massive amount of emotion behind it.”
“Thanks to Marlan Prabahar and Laila Ben-Brahim, who are the Creative Directors and producers; Renée Alumasa, who did make-up; Kether Day on lighting and Cherie Mathieson for being an extra pair of hands on set.”
Pre-save SET HER FREE here.
Check out all things alayna here:
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Hailing from Rotorua, New Zealand, the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter has spent the last decade carefully shaping her sound – soulful, intimate, and steeped in emotional honesty.
With past collaborations alongside the likes of Finneas, Ta-ku, Sango, and Alex Lustig, and a discography that includes the beloved SWEET SOUL and TENDER EPs, alayna’s 2023 debut album SELF PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN UNRAVELLING marked a turning point: raw, reflective, and deeply human.
Now, following a season of inward reflection, alayna is ready to turn outward. Her upcoming work, while still anchored in vulnerability, reaches beyond herself – honouring the quiet foundations of love, friendship, and the women who hold us. Her music explores what it means to be nurtured, to be seen and to evolve, inviting listeners into moments of stillness, tenderness, and transformation.
Known for her evocative vocals and ability to craft deeply resonant songs, alayna continues to grow a global community – one grounded in honesty, softness, and strength. With a new chapter unfolding through cinematic visuals, intimate storytelling, and a creative shift toward connection, alayna’s next body of work, her sophomore album titled SET HER FREE opens a door to something expansive, yet deeply personal: a mirror held gently up to all of us.
Photo credit: Laila Ben-Brahim and Marlan Prabahar