Ava Maria Interview
Q: So you have a very early history with music. Apparently, you started learning piano before you were one? Can you talk about your musical history?
A: This is true! I got my start in music thanks to my parents, both of whom are classical-based musicians. My dad got me interested in the piano before I could walk (there's a video of it on my Instagram page: @avamariasafai). Shortly after, I began violin and voice lessons. I've been doing examinations with the Royal Conservatory of Music ever since, and have learnt the basics of the guitar, the drums and other instruments in my spare time.
Q: We've Got Issues contains songs you wrote between twelve and nineteen. Those years are a chasm of difference on many levels for people. I would love to get your thoughts on how this played itself out on the album?
A: The length of time that it took me to write We've Got Issues definitely played a role in how the final product turned out. The first song I wrote for the album was "The Road Less Travelled," which I started when I was twelve years old. It was a lot of fun to go back to that song many years later and see which lines were still relevant, as well as which ones no longer fit in or made sense. I cut out an entire bridge simply because the language was that of a twelve-year-old's, rather than that of the singer/songwriter I am now. The last song I wrote on the album was "Addicted to You," which revolves entirely around addiction and contains more complex rhymes than I would have tried creating at age twelve. But while my use of poetics in my songs changed as I grew up, the themes I wrote about did not. I've always tried to consistently write about things that meant something to me, whether they were topics that were close to my heart or issues that plague those around me. I don't remember ever censoring myself or rejecting problems I could tackle in my songs, even from an early age, and I think that's the thing I'm most proud about when it comes to this album.
Q: In general what are some of the themes that you go into on We've Got Issues?
A: I look at a lot of different themes in this album. They range from coping with physical or mental illness to dealing with addiction, war and mass tragedy. I also touch on love, as most artists do, but I always try to look at aspects of relationships that are not commonly "talked about" in music. "Black & Blues," for instance, is a tribute to survivors of abuse, while "Broken Melody" is dedicated to anyone who is still going through a toxic relationship.
Q: So you have a very early history with music. Apparently, you started learning piano before you were one? Can you talk about your musical history?
A: This is true! I got my start in music thanks to my parents, both of whom are classical-based musicians. My dad got me interested in the piano before I could walk (there's a video of it on my Instagram page: @avamariasafai). Shortly after, I began violin and voice lessons. I've been doing examinations with the Royal Conservatory of Music ever since, and have learnt the basics of the guitar, the drums and other instruments in my spare time.
Q: We've Got Issues contains songs you wrote between twelve and nineteen. Those years are a chasm of difference on many levels for people. I would love to get your thoughts on how this played itself out on the album?
A: The length of time that it took me to write We've Got Issues definitely played a role in how the final product turned out. The first song I wrote for the album was "The Road Less Travelled," which I started when I was twelve years old. It was a lot of fun to go back to that song many years later and see which lines were still relevant, as well as which ones no longer fit in or made sense. I cut out an entire bridge simply because the language was that of a twelve-year-old's, rather than that of the singer/songwriter I am now. The last song I wrote on the album was "Addicted to You," which revolves entirely around addiction and contains more complex rhymes than I would have tried creating at age twelve. But while my use of poetics in my songs changed as I grew up, the themes I wrote about did not. I've always tried to consistently write about things that meant something to me, whether they were topics that were close to my heart or issues that plague those around me. I don't remember ever censoring myself or rejecting problems I could tackle in my songs, even from an early age, and I think that's the thing I'm most proud about when it comes to this album.
Q: In general what are some of the themes that you go into on We've Got Issues?
A: I look at a lot of different themes in this album. They range from coping with physical or mental illness to dealing with addiction, war and mass tragedy. I also touch on love, as most artists do, but I always try to look at aspects of relationships that are not commonly "talked about" in music. "Black & Blues," for instance, is a tribute to survivors of abuse, while "Broken Melody" is dedicated to anyone who is still going through a toxic relationship.
Q: Can you talk about your creative process when it comes to songwriting?
A: I usually start off with a set of random chords. I almost always have an instrument on me (usually the piano, but sometimes a guitar), although there's been nights where I'm just about to sleep and a melody will hit me and I have to wake myself up to record myself singing a bit of it. The lyrics tend to come to me right after I've set up a bit of instrumentation, and then the topic I'm writing about will commonly become clear after a few lines. It doesn't take me long to create a song once I'm in the right state for it. When it's a "magic" song, it tends to only take about 15 minutes or so. Any longer and it won't often have that special or memorable quality to it.
Q: Are you currently touring to promote the album? And where can fans catch you playing?
A: I am not touring at the moment, as I am at university completing my acting degree! However, I do perform locally quite often in Vancouver and post updates on my social media on where you can find me. Also, when I travel for fun, I'll perform wherever I go -- I recently sang at Kulak's Woodshed in Los Angeles over the summer! You'll be sure to see me in more areas in either summer 2019 or summer 2020 though, as I plan to release my second album and have a pretty solid idea of where I will be performing as part of a more "official" tour.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: When I write these songs, I do it with the intention that it will make a difference in someone's day. That being said, I just really hope you love what you hear and that something on the album resonates with you. If you ever want to reach out to me and ask more questions, you can find me everywhere under the handle @avamariasafai
A: I usually start off with a set of random chords. I almost always have an instrument on me (usually the piano, but sometimes a guitar), although there's been nights where I'm just about to sleep and a melody will hit me and I have to wake myself up to record myself singing a bit of it. The lyrics tend to come to me right after I've set up a bit of instrumentation, and then the topic I'm writing about will commonly become clear after a few lines. It doesn't take me long to create a song once I'm in the right state for it. When it's a "magic" song, it tends to only take about 15 minutes or so. Any longer and it won't often have that special or memorable quality to it.
Q: Are you currently touring to promote the album? And where can fans catch you playing?
A: I am not touring at the moment, as I am at university completing my acting degree! However, I do perform locally quite often in Vancouver and post updates on my social media on where you can find me. Also, when I travel for fun, I'll perform wherever I go -- I recently sang at Kulak's Woodshed in Los Angeles over the summer! You'll be sure to see me in more areas in either summer 2019 or summer 2020 though, as I plan to release my second album and have a pretty solid idea of where I will be performing as part of a more "official" tour.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: When I write these songs, I do it with the intention that it will make a difference in someone's day. That being said, I just really hope you love what you hear and that something on the album resonates with you. If you ever want to reach out to me and ask more questions, you can find me everywhere under the handle @avamariasafai