Rising superstar Ava Valianti has been making massive waves with her artistry! We have been following her journey towards the mainstream, so naturally, we wanted to include her latest release, Hot Mess, in our coverage!
Hot Mess opens with a dimensional synthscape, almost cerebral, emotive and detailed with static, industrial textures. It expands with a fierce electric guitar, and the situational, observational lyrics, “She has her hair done in a bow, my makeup′s smudged from yesterday, she gets up early, puts down her phone, I’m logging hours like I′m getting paid…” We love the production, which taps into a bit of 80s nostalgia, which feels fresh for Ava!
Essentially, the song is about notions of self-awareness and contrast. Ava compares herself to someone who seems put together and perfect. It’s relatable, almost cinematic – like a scene from a Netflix coming-of-age film. Whilst that person appears disciplined and polished, Ava embraces her own chaos and imperfection. This empowerment energy is a common thread within her music. She notices the differences but doesn’t envy her muse, instead the observations invite her to accept her own messy nature.
It’s also about being stuck in a cycle. Ava acknowledges missing chances and feeling like she can’t get it all right. She admits that she doesn’t always put in effort, yet finds pride in her flaws. Stress and imperfection give her energy, and she frames this messiness as part of her identity. It’s an important message, at a time when we, as a collective, need it the most.
Overall, the song celebrates individuality and defiance. Ava shows us that she is confident in her choices, even if others might judge them. She enjoys attention whilst remaining true to herself. This “hot mess” persona becomes a statement where life is better when we embrace our chaos instead of pretending to be flawless! Genius.
Sixteen-year-old Ava Valianti has made a striking debut with her record petunias, which serves as a seven-track collection designed to capture the fragility, hope and defiance of youth. Since releasing her first single bubble wrap in 2023, Ava has manifested an international following, which has earned her over 250 radio spins nationwide, two New England Music Award nominations, and recognition from the International Acoustic Music Awards and Unsigned Music Awards.
Ava has shared stages with artists like Jessica Baio, Lucy Kaplansky, Andrew Duhon, and The Strumbellas, while also selling out her own headline shows and performing at festivals such as Prescott Park Arts Festival, River Ruckus, and the Topsfield Fair.
We continue to be in awe, and have added Hot Mess to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Ava’s exquisite, growing discography, including the entirety of petunias!