Title: “Addicted to the Ache”
Artist: Abella Diaz
From: TBA (2027)
Release Date: August 2, 2026
Length: 4:12
Format: CD Single, Digital Download, 7” Single, Weekly Airplay, Worldwide Streaming
Recorded: EastWest Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Genre(s): R&B, Latin Pop, Adult Contemporary
Label: Ruff Round Records
Written: November 2025
Writer(s): Abella Diaz
Producer(s): Abella Diaz, Young Khalifa

“Addicted to the Ache” is the debut single by Latin-American R&B singer-songwriter Abella Diaz. Written by Diaz in November 2025 and produced by Diaz alongside Young Khalifa, the song blends contemporary R&B, Latin pop and adult contemporary influences with a slow reggaeton-inspired rhythm, atmospheric synthesizers and layered vocal harmonies. The track was recorded at EastWest Studios in Los Angeles, California and the song serves as the debut single from Abella Diaz as well as the long awaited lead single from her untitled debut studio album, scheduled for release in 2027.

Lyrically, the track explores the emotional conflict of remaining devoted to a passionate but destructive relationship. The song uses imagery of danger, fire, addiction and temptation to portray the irresistible pull of a toxic romance. It’s production is minimal, putting emphasis on the vocal delivery of Abella Diaz, her sultry and seductive Latin-American vocal tone carries the sense of danger and lust throughout the track without it ever evolving into something overtly sexual. Early reviews have seen critics praise Diaz’s simplistic and rhythmic songwriting style, sultry vocal performance and the song’s fusion of modern R&B with Latin-inspired rhythms and beats, highlighting it as a confident introduction to her musical style. The track will be released through Ruff Round Records as a CD Single, Digital Download, 7” Single and made available to Weekly Airplay and Worldwide Streaming services on August 2, 2026.

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Background, Writing & Recording:

“Addicted to the Ache” was written solely by Abella Diaz in November 2025, during her early songwriting sessions for her upcoming debut studio album. According to Diaz, the song was inspired by the emotional contradiction of remaining devoted to a relationship that feels irresistible and destructive at the very same time. Rather than depicting heartbreak from the perspective of loss, she stated that she wanted to explore the feeling of willingly returning to someone despite recognizing the inevitable pain that accompanies the relationship, purely because she felt like from her own experience and the experiences she had witnessed within her friendship group that this wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling or experience.
Musically the track combines elements of contemporary R&B, Latin pop and adult contemporary, while incorporating a restrained slow reggae inspired rhythm throughout the track. Built around atmospheric synthesizers, rhythmic percussion and acoustic guitar, the track has a Caribbean sound to it. While the production intentionally remains minimal and sparse throughout the majority of the track, allowing Diaz’s vocal performance to remain the primary focus. Critics noted the contrast between the song’s warm, melodic instrumentation and it’s dark toxic lyrical themes, highlighting the confusion between toxicity and desire.

Lyrically, the song puts emphasis on emotional dependency, temptation and obsession throughout. With imagery of fire, addiction and danger playing a pivotal part of the track. Rather than portraying the relationship as overtly abusive, Diaz presents it as emotionally intoxicating, confirming that this mindset is one that her current generation often fall into the traps of romanticizing. The recurring refrain, “I’m addicted to the ache.” essentially captures the entire message of the song, serving as a metaphor for becoming emotionally dependent on pain itself, while it’s closing lyrics, “I don’t remember who I was … before you loved me.” continues to highlight the dependency nature of the tracks theme, representing loss of identity caused by an all-consuming romance.

Recording for “Addicted to the Ache” took place at EastWest Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California with production by Diaz alongside Young Khalifa, who also engineered, mixed and mastered the track. The primary aim from the recording sessions of the track were to create an intimate, late-night atmosphere within the track with Diaz’s lead vocal reportedly recorded only using complete takes to keep the minor imperfections and nuances within the track to add to it’s raw subtle beauty. Very little vocal modification was made throughout the production of the track, while layered harmonies from session vocalist Sofia Navarro were added to reinforce the song’s haunting chorus, adding a little more tone to the chorus.
Instrumentally, the track features an acoustic guitar played by Gabriel “Gabe” Ibarra, whose melodic chord progressions provide the majority of the song’s harmonic tone, while Daniel Armas contributed to the songs percussion and drums, influenced by contemporary Latin rhythms. Young Khalifa has stated that the objective was to create a recording that felt “cinematic and full of intense drama without being overproduced, allowing the tones and vocals carry the weight”, which helped to keep a tender and seductive tone to the overall track.

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"Addicted to the Ache"

“You showed up like a secret I was never meant to learn
Those eyes lit with a fire, and a smile that I knew would make me burn
You spoke in a baritone, deep and so seductive
Like danger in disguise
I swore I wouldn’t touch this
But I was telling lies
Yeah, I was telling lies

I said I’d be careful
But you pulled me in deeper
Now I’m dancing with the devil
Still calling him a keeper

I’m addicted to the ache
To the fire you create
To the way I lose myself
Every time you walk away
You're the rush, you’re the flame
You’re the reason I break
And I wouldn’t change a thing
'Cause I know I’ll never be the same

You move like a memory I never got to keep
A fever in my bloodstream, haunting every dream
You gave me just enough rope
To keep pulling me back
Like salt upon my lips
Like sunlight turning black (Fuck!)

I tried to escape it
But you’re in my reflection
Loving you’s a sickness
And I just crave your attention

I’m addicted to the ache
To the fire you create
To the way I lose myself
Every time you walk away
You're the rush, you’re the flame
You’re the reason I break
And I wouldn’t change a thing
'Cause I know I’ll never be the same

I said I’d be careful
But you pulled me in deeper
Now I’m dancing with the devil
Still calling him a keeper

I’m addicted to the ache
To the fire you create
To the way I lose myself
Every time you walk away
You're the rush, you’re the flame
You’re the reason I break
And I wouldn’t change a thing
'Cause I know I’ll never be the same

I don’t remember who I was…
Before you loved me.”

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Credits & Personnel;

CREDITS

Produced by Abella Diaz, Young Khalifa
Engineered by Young Khalifa
Mixed by Young Khalifa
Mastered by Young Khalifa
Production Management by Zahriah Devi-Khabib, Leilani Royce
Recorded at EastWest Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

PERSONNEL

Abella Diaz – vocals, lyrics, composition, production
Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Ibarra – acoustic guitar
Daniel Armas – drums, percussion
Sofia Navarro – backing vocals
Young Khalifa – production, engineering, mixing, mastering
Zahriah Devi-Khabib - production management
Leilani Royce - production management

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Sound Alike;

Jessie Reyez - Figures
(vocal tone and minimalist instrumentation and production)