Alesta

Following the release of Unlocked in 2014, Stan commenced working on Alesta the subsequent year at a Romanian music camp organized by Romanian composer Marius Moga; there she collaborated with three recording studios simultaneously.[6][9] The title of the record is an abbreviation of Stan's stage name, also meaning 'ready' in Turkish.[6][10][11] The accompanying artwork for the Japanese and other versions of the album show Stan posing in front of a black backdrop, with lettering displayed in white or red above her head.[6] Editions of Alesta released by Ego Records and Warner Bros. Records featured a photograph with her laying over a motorcycle sporting a blonde wig, white underwear and a distorted pair of blue jeans.[12][13][14]

According to Stan's Italian label, Ego Records, the material from Alesta draws influence from Eastern and Western European music, which "confirms her as the undisputed queen of dance music made in Romania".[11] Italian publication RnB Junk labelled the album as a dance record, comparing it to the singer's Unlocked, and stating that it incorporates elements of ethnic and Eastern European music "from other universes".[10] When interviewed by Cosmopolitan, Stan confessed that her favorite track from the album was "Écoute", with every single track "telling a different story".[15] In an interview with TV Groove, the singer felt that the "summerish" record had a "very danceable and partying vibe".[16] According to Stan, most of the songs on Alesta are uptempo, and the album overall incorporates genres of electronic pop, dance and R&B music.[16] The majority of the tracks are sung in English, with some songs performed in French, Romanian and Spanish, as well.[6]

To promote the record, Stan performed in the vitrine of a Bershka shop in Tokyo, Japan (pictured).

To promote Alesta, Stan performed in Tokyo, Japan, in the vitrine of a Bershka shop, where she also released her clothes line, Alesta X Bershka.[17] With this occasion, the singer hosted an autograph session and a press conference with Japanese magazines and televisions from Nagoya and Tokyo.[17] Subsequently, Stan embarked on a two-week tour throughout Japan.[18][19] Stan further performed material from the album at the 22nd Tokyo Girls Collection, Zippie Dance Party, YouTube Space Tokyo and YouTube Live during March 2016.[20]

The first single from the record—"We Wanna"— was released on 8 June 2015 and featured the vocals of Romanian recording artist Inna and Puerto Rican reggaeton performer Daddy Yankee.[21] With it being previously featured on the German edition of Stan's second studio album Unlocked,[22] the track experienced commercial success when reaching the top 30 of the charts in Argentina,[23] Poland[24] and Turkey,[25] and the top 60 in Italy,[26] Romania[27] and Slovakia.[28] Subsequently, "I Did It, Mama!"—the second release off Alesta—became controversial in Romania because of scenes where Stan was portrayed miming the sexual intercourse with a male background dancer in its music video.[29][30] While its lyrical message was compared to Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" (1986)[31] and its title to Delia Matache's "Da Mama" (2013),[32] the recording charted at number nine on native Airplay 100.[33]

The record's third and fourth singles were "Balans", a collaboration with Swedish-Congolese singer Mohombi,[18] and "Écoute", featuring with Romanian band Havana; both songs benefited of a music video, with the clip for the latter single being filmed in Obârșia-Brezoi, the place where Stan spent her youth.[18][34] "Balans" peaked on both Russia's Tophit and the Japanese Radio Chart at lower positions,[35][36] and "Écoute" became a minor success in Europe.[37][38][39] The fifth release from the album, "Boom Pow", was accompanied by a music video which was shot in her native Constanța and premiered on 24 August 2016,[40] while "9 Lives", the last single, featured collaborative vocals from Bulgarian reggae performer Jahmmi.[41]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Alesta.[6]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Alesta.[6]