Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I am 18 years old, and I am currently studying at Harvard University and Berklee College of Music. When I was very little, I frequently sang songs I made up in my head. Then, when I was four, my mother brought me to a performing arts studio in our community. People would come up to my parents and encourage them to have me pursue a performing career, so I started auditioning when I was around six. When I was seven, I booked my first professional show as Little Cosette in “Les Misérables”. I later performed in “White Christmas” and then an almost two-year Broadway run with the original cast of “School of Rock” when I was ten, performing at the Tony Awards and the Thanksgiving Day Parade! During “School of Rock,” I started writing more music, finding songwriting to be a very personal and emotional outlet. To date, I’ve written about 130 songs, released 14, and recorded 26. And it’s been SO MUCH FUN!!
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world?
A: I’m excited about the opportunities to expand my fan base and connect with more listeners. One of the main avenues I’ll be focusing on is live performances. I’ll be putting on shows and possibly even touring to reach new audiences and connect with people face-to-face. I’ll also continue to share my music and engage with fans on social media.
What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Ava Della Pietra”?
I’ve always prioritized writing honest and personal lyrics, and I think my recent music reflects that authenticity I hope to express. As I continue to grow and evolve as an artist, I want my listeners always to feel like they’re hearing something that makes them feel seen and understood, but also something they can dance to!
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: I love so many artists! Lauv, Tate McRae, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and many other incredible musicians have influenced my music. I find inspiration for making music in my everyday life. I view songwriting as a diary, so I learn something new about myself each time I sit down at the piano and write about my feelings.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “sick.”?
A: “Sick” is a playful twist on being head over heels in love. It’s about that intense, all-consuming feeling when you’re so obsessed with someone that it almost feels like you’re physically sick because you’re not together. It’s also about being in love with the idea of love itself.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: I would describe my music as ironic. Songs like “Ego” and “Talk it Out” are about somewhat negative topics but are nevertheless masked with an upbeat style. “Sick” is a happy song about being in love, but I use words like “headache” and “terrified” to describe what I’m feeling. Similarly, even though some of my songs are written when I’m feeling down, the songwriting process turns the experience into a positive one where I have a chance for self-reflection and clarity.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “sick”?
A: Originally, I intended to record a completely different song as the second track of the session in LA, but the lyrics that I had written were describing a past experience that no longer felt relevant or authentic to me. That moment of realization was a challenge in itself—acknowledging that something I’d been working on wasn’t meeting my expectations. It was a tough call to make, but it opened the door for “Sick” to come through. The challenge then shifted to conveying the essence of being overwhelmingly in love without being too corny, but still making it lighthearted and fun. The process taught me the value of flexibility, creativity, and the magic that can happen when you’re willing to take a leap of faith!
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: My music conveys a message of hope, resilience, and the importance of maintaining genuine connections with others. I think it encourages people to embrace their emotions, communicate openly, and support each other through life’s ups and downs. My goal is to create music that is authentic to me but also connects with my listeners.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: I would have loved to collaborate with John Lennon since he was both an incredible lyricist as well as an iconic artist and musician.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: No matter how trite it may sound, my advice to those who are interested in starting a music career is to first believe in yourself. Then, surround yourself with people who believe in your work and who can support you in this journey. Read a lot and talk with many people in the industry who can help guide you on how to write, record and release music. Lastly, don’t give up.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: I would tell my younger self to take more chances when it comes to releasing songs. I used to get held up believing that a song had to sound perfect before anyone else could hear it. I sometimes still do, but I’ve learned to love the small imperfections. It turns out, they make music sound more unique and real.
Whenever I’m in the studio, I mess around with how I sing some of the lyrics to loosen up and figure out the vibe I’m going for. There have been times when I’ve been caught up in fits of laughter, amazed at how these ‘weird’ ideas actually end up enhancing the track. In a recent session, I was having such a good time, and I told my producer, “Wow, this is really amazing!” He responded, “You know, sometimes people forget music’s supposed to be fun.” Music isn’t about getting everything spot on. It’s about having a good time, experimenting, and embracing the stuff that isn’t perfect. That’s what makes it special.
