(Photo Credit - Saraphina Redalieu)
We had the opportunity to interview up-and-coming alt artist Ava Heatley! Her fantastic new single "Party" just dropped last month and you can check it out here. She is able to achieve some great soundscapes in her tracks and is definitely worth your time. She reminds us a bit of Phoebe Bridgers. Check out her single and check out our interview
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"I started singing in church and doing community theater when I was about 7 and wrote my first song at 13. I've been writing songs ever since."
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"It's different every time but it normally starts with one melodic or lyrical idea and then I like to build it out from there. It’s almost like doing a puzzle and as you fill more pieces in you start to see the picture more clearly."
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"Listening to Ben Folds for the first time was what made me want to write music. Elton John really helped me realize the piano can be a rock instrument and I’ve been continued to be inspired by artists like Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, Carole King, and Phoebe Bridgers."
4. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
"Right now it's just me and my Cassio keyboard but if I could choose what to play for a show, there's nothing like a Steinway baby grand. My grandma had one and it’s what I learned to play piano on. The sound of a real piano will always be my favorite."
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"I want my live show to feel like a fun rock show. I want people to be dancing and singing along to songs that are sad and introspective. The thing I enjoy most about a venue is when the monitor mix is perfect. And when the audience can come right up to the stage to dance and sing along."
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
"I don’t think there’s any one thing I want the public to know about my music, I just want them to listen to it and take out of it what they do. It’s very personal to me and through that it can hopefully feel and become personal to someone else."