a coming-of-age conversation about small details, big feelings, and writing about the world as you grow into it

ava valianti is a 16 year-old singer-songwriter from newbury, massachusetts, blending pop and indie into something tender, raw, and unmistakably her own. her voice carries that rare balance of aching vulnerability and bright, melodic edge, crafting stunning songs that linger long after they finish. whether performing to sold-out rooms or writing alone behind her bedroom door, she is already shaping herself into one of pop’s most promising young artists. and as a friend of the blog, it feels especially lovely to witness her stepping into this chapter with such brightness and confidence.

her debut ep, petunias, is a luminous collection about growing up, falling apart, finding hope, and recognising that the smallest moments sometimes bloom into something bigger than you expected. each track unfurls like a journal entry set to melody, moving between hushed vulnerability and anthemic release. from breakout singles like laugh track, distant, buttercups, and clean my room to new songs like hot mess and running on empty, the ep captures the emotional spectrum of youth in a way that feels deeply personal and widely relatable.

we were lucky enough to chat to ava, opening a gentle window into the heart of petunias.

petunias explores the idea that small, ordinary moments can hold unexpected emotional depth. when you were writing these songs, what everyday experience first made you realise there was something bigger hiding inside it?

I think that throughout the months that I wrote “petunias”, I reflected constantly on the emotions I was feeling at the time. It felt like a very heightened moment in my life in so many ways, so it was super easy to tap into and write about and I constantly felt inspired by everything around me! So honestly, there wasn’t really one moment, but rather a stretch of time where I was truly able to connect with how I was feeling and put pen to paper.

your voice moves beautifully between vulnerable moments and bold, anthemic release. how did you decide which stories needed softness and which ones needed that defiance?

Thank you so much! I think it was really based on the emotion I wanted listeners to feel when they heard a song for the first time. With slower, more introspective songs like “Running on Empty”, I wanted to give my vocals a delicate and vulnerable sound.

But with songs like “Distant” or “Hot Mess”, I wanted to bring more power in my voice into the really fun songs in order to feel more energy throughout the pieces! I love getting to try different things with my voice and I’m so glad that this EP was a way for me to explore that!

tracks like laugh track, distant, and buttercups have already connected with listeners around the world. what was the moment you first realised your music was reaching far beyond your bedroom and into a wider community?

I’ve wanted to release music into the world for a long time, and when I released my first song back in 2023, it was a total dream come true. But I didn’t fully realize the scope of my audience until the “petunias” release earlier this year! So many people from all different places around the world supported me and were so kind, which totally invigorated me! I really couldn’t ask for better fans and friends!

if hot mess and running on empty were characters in a coming-of-age film about you, what roles would they play in the plot?

I think they would be my two best friends, because while they are extremely different from each other, they both teach me different things about life and I love the songs unapologetically! They’re both super special to me and I feel like they’ve helped me recognize parts of myself I didn’t fully understand before I wrote the songs.

your ep opens with childhood audio of you talking about spring. how does younger you show up in the rest of the record?

I think that little Ava was with me in the entire record, because she and her passion for music and storytelling have never really left me as I’ve grown up. I’m glad to be telling stories that connect to every part of me and remind me not just of who I was but also who I’m becoming!

finally, what’s next for you next year? and what part of your artistic growth are you most excited to lean into next?

I’m so excited to lean into live performance as well as more music and brand creation moving forward!

I’m doing as many gigs as I can, with a push towards festivals and tours hopefully sometime soon! And I’m going back in the studio soon as well, with more new songs on the way! Just really can’t wait for what’s up next!

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huge thanks to ava for letting us into the world of petunias, and for continuing to bloom right alongside this little corner of the internet.