At a New York College occasion eight years in the past, Pharrell Williams heard a track by then-undergrad Maggie Rogers and helped launch her extraordinary profession. I felt the identical thrill of discovery after I heard a track referred to as “Groceries” by one other NYU undergrad named Ava Lyons.
The track is haunting and stately – and fantastically produced by Alexander Tagliani. It’s one of many highlights of Lyons’ debut EP blended emot:/ons. Lyons has been working tirelessly on her craft since, oh, kindergarten. She’s now specializing in each performing and music, and is nicely on her approach to becoming a member of the EGOT membership (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony).
We caught up with Ava to be taught extra about each her songcraft and performing:
Your new EP blended emot:/ons has some fabulous songs like “Groceries”. What’s the backstory on that track? What prompted you to put in writing it?
Certainly one of my finest pals was dedicated to somebody she deeply cared for; nonetheless, it was not often appreciated and by no means reciprocated. I’ve at all times been fascinated with grocery shops, which might be from doing errands with my mother: We have now at all times been a group relating to cooking and caring for others. So I related this concept of going to nice lengths for an individual to point out you take care of them, even when it means strolling round desperately in aisles and aisles simply to get the proper factor for that particular person. It’s certainly one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written as a result of the lyrics are conversational and seemingly easy, but are extraordinarily deep and may relate to anybody who has given all the things to somebody.
Your track “Blaire” has gotten 40,000 streams in only a month. How did that track take form?
I don’t have a single technique of writing. It will possibly typically come from a chord development on the guitar or a melody I create in my head. The chord development for “Blaire” was fairly stripped again, and as I began writing it, it was initially a really unhappy, slower track about jealousy I didn’t like as a result of I felt unhealthy having it. Then “Blaire” turned a track that was by no means about romance or the connection with this boy to me, however my relationship to “Blaire”.
All of us have that one particular person in our life that’s on prime of all the things and though we might attempt to let that encourage us, we typically come down on that particular person in a unfavorable mild to deflect any insecurity of ourselves. I see “Blaire” as this excellent being who doesn’t fear about how she appears to be like or feels – she simply IS. It’s okay to really feel upset or jealous at occasions, however this track was a approach for me to journey my frustration into realization. The conclusion being: you don’t must be Blaire, you simply must be you.
You get my vote for Greatest NYU Songwriter Since Maggie Rogers. Who have been your favourite artists rising up?
Wow! Meaning a lot. Maggie Rogers is an unbelievable author and performer. I’d 100% say Lizzy McAlpine, SZA, Kacey Musgraves, and Jorja Smith are feminine writers which can be extraordinarily influential to me. All these artists have a facet of dialog, making the lyrics appear to be they’re simply talking. Nonetheless, there’s an underlying poetic and metaphorical facet of the writing that makes every lyric so significant and delicate. That’s why while you hearken to a Lizzy or SZA track you maintain each syllable so near you as a result of they’re so relatable but you possibly can by no means have guessed how the songwriter learn your coronary heart/thoughts and wrote a track about it. Someway so many individuals can relate to the track, but it feels just like the track was written for you, it’s extraordinarily particular. That’s how I’d like to make individuals really feel.
How did you meet producer Alexander Tagliani?
The Tagliani’s are like a second household to me. Alex’s youthful sister, Emilia (who’s at the moment starring as Girlscout/Lydia in Beetlejuice on tour) and I met at Wheelock Household Theatre in Boston, the place I grew up, whereas performing within the musical Willy Wonka. We turned finest pals. By this time, Alex had began producing and dealing along with his band Architect’s Daughter. We determined to work collectively on songs I had written and we ended up changing into such an incredible group. An important group as in, we understood one another and bounced off each other’s concepts like loopy. Alex not solely has an unbelievable, detailed ear for manufacturing, but additionally impeccable music expertise and information.
You’re learning performing at NYU, and also you play the lead in a brand new quick movie referred to as Viola. Does which have something to do with the character from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night time?
I don’t consider it does instantly, however I feel it’s an unbelievable perspective to have. Viola, directed by Demitra Papadinis, is predicated upon a younger lady who struggles to cover her interior werewolf after her mother has handed (who was additionally a werewolf). Viola in Twelfth Night time disguises herself as a person to get by obstacles and purchase new data. Each robust girls when you ask me! I truly labored on this character this previous semester. I really feel tremendous grateful to be in The New Studio on Broadway at NYU Tisch. Having the ability to do musical theater and act is a dream come true.
