Drawing us in with a descending bass riff and syncopated percussion, expanding into a dimensional soft-neo-soul energy with intricacy, Ava Valianti opens acupuncture with a captivating timbre as she sings, “My hands hover over yours, like I don’t want to disturb the peace, they linger in your embrace for just a little too long, it keeps me alive enough to dream…”
As for the story, Ava is basically in love with someone who’s giving her just enough affection to keep her delusional little heart alive. Meanwhile, she’s out here turning a two-second hand touch into a five-season romance. Ava knows the feelings of her muse might not run as deep as hers, but she keeps wondering if their kindness means something more or if they’re just emotionally on airplane mode. It’s about loving someone with your whole chest whilst pretending you’re totally chill with the possibility that you’re just a side character.
In this context, acupuncture is a metaphor for all the tiny moments of affection that pierce Ava’s emotional defences… even when the other person probably doesn’t realise how much they affect her. Like little pinpricks of hope, every touch, smile, or gesture gives her just enough feeling to keep holding on, even if it hurts.
Ava confesses, “acupuncture is about falling for someone you probably shouldn’t and convincing yourself that every mixed signal might mean something. It lives in that blurry space between friendship and something more, where a lingering touch can keep you hopeful for way too long. It’s unrequited love, but with more flirting than heartbreak, and a little self-awareness about how ridiculous you’re being.”
It’s really intelligent songwriting from Ava, and reminds us of early Zero 7 with Tina Dico and Sia. The production development for this new era is sublime and taps into notions of uniqueness with the neo-soul sonic palette. The cerebral details are a nice touch and the maturity in her timbre combined with the subtle key changes add dynamism to the piece.
We could imagine the track being featured in coming-of-age films such as 10 Things I Hate About You, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Before Sunrise, The Half of It, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Worst Person in the World. On television, it could suit sync placements in Adults, Carrie, Normal People, Heartstopper, Sex Education, The Summer I Turned Pretty and Tell Me Lies.
At just 17, Ava is already building a super impressive independent career. This follows her introspective debut EP, petunias, and the guitar-driven pop-rock of Sophomore Slump. As always, we are in awe of the rising star, and have added the brilliantly written acupuncture to our New Music Spotlight playlist and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we anticipate the entirety of kismet.