On the afropop-infused “Glitter and Gold,” Emirati pop singer Alya tries to follow her romantic heart while listening to the advice given to her by her father at the same time. Taking a spin on the classic saying “All that glitters isn’t gold,” Alya reasons with herself to decide if the man she is entertaining is really as valuable as she makes him out to be in her head. Over a soft and sultry beat, she weighs these options as she battles between her romantic gut instincts and the cautionary warnings of those around her — “Don’t go fallin’ in love.”

“Glitter and Gold,” with infectious rattling and sunny guitar hums, paint the scene of Alya’s internal struggle between lust and love. “If I’m settling for you / am I settling for whoever?” she asks not only her possible lover but herself, questioning if she is compromising her worth for a bare minimum partner. This doubt is followed-up by witty bars from the Nigerian rapper Lifesize Teddy, as she pokes fun at this no-good man by threatening group chat roasts and warning of premature balding. “It’s a no from me,” she finishes off, agreeing with Alya’s father but with a modern, realistic perspective from a friend who understands the situation, but cares enough to offer up an honest opinion.

“Glitter and Gold” is hip-swaying and relatable, as it reinvents the age-old dilemma of taking the love advice from your parents with a grain of salt, but knowing that there’s an element of guidance to what they tell you. The confident and swooning Alya, with her hypnotic and energetic voice, strongly tells the story of her questionable romance, but is still having fun with it through catchy hooks and soft, sensual bars. All that glitters may not be gold, but Alya is able to tell the difference, and will not accept anything less than what she deserves.