AVA CLAIRE – AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT & INTERVIEW
By Ralph Beauchamp
Ava Claire is a Nashville singer-songwriter whose music falls between intimacy and exquisite storytelling. She just released a new intoxicating EP entitled Honestly which showcases Ava Claire‘s strong writing skills. Her imagery embraces paths that are both personal and polished. Ava Claire uses thoughtful lyrics, enticing grooves and relatable themes in order to embrace a special ambiance that her listeners have come to adore. Claire lets the emotional core of each song take center stage delivering music that feels truthful and distinctly her own.
Honestly is a perfect illustration of Eva Claire‘s cinematic approach to music. The tracks emit a certain vulnerability that fosters an openness and inner reflection. Throughout the album, Ava Claire explores the tension inherent in the human connection. The end result is a body of work that feels cohesive and unified, Honestly is something special and singular.
Honestly starts with the effervescent “The Sound”. Eva Claire‘s voice is light and full of bounce. The subject matter deals with the insecurities of growing up and she expresses herself with verve. “New York” is more introspective. The song feels totally heartfelt and real.
“Salt Mine” is slower with emotive vocals. The track vibrates with lush textures. “The Cliff” has a sublime cadence and once again Claire‘s voice carries dramatic accents. “Honestly” is the true cornerstone of the release. Totally inner directed and reflective, she ponders decisions that may have been mistakes. All in all, Honestly is a beautiful piece of art. Eva Claire should be proud.
Ava Claire was kind enough to sit with AMP for this interview.
AMP: You described your music as Nashville/Americana roots with an indie-pop flair. How would you describe the sound you’re chasing right now and how has that definition changed as you’ve grown as an artist?
AVA: I would describe my current vibe as Americana Pop. Growing up here, Nashville is part of my soul-it will always be present in any music I create.
AMP: Your songs can feel very intimate while still having a strong melodic or pop sensibility. How do you balance vulnerability with creating music that people want to keep coming back to?
AVA: I write what I feel, experience, or witness; if people connect with it, they will come back.
AMP: You play several instruments including guitar, violin, piano and ukulele. Does the instrument you write on change the kind of song that comes out?
AVA: It depends. I have been writing with an omnichord a lot recently, so it lends itself to a more atmospheric vibe. I believe every instrument has songs that are meant to be born from it.
AMP: Your debut EP is entitled Honestly. Was there a particular moment when you realized that honesty needed to be the central theme of the project
AVA: Honesty is central to my songwriting. Part of my writing is just me telling stories, and those come from my honest observations, so it was a good fit, and the title track was sort of born from that.
AMP: The EP moves through love, guilt, uncertainty and growing up? Did you envision those five songs as a connected story or did the connection become apparent after you had written them?
AVA: I actually wrote all the songs at different seasons of my life. So it is sort of amazing that they all intertwine into a cohesive project. I think it was just meant to be.
AMP: “Honestly” as a song seems quite confessional. Was there anything about putting out that track into the world that made you nervous?
AVA: I was genuinely surprised the reaction people had with that song when I posted it online. I completely made myself the villain in my own song and people related. So I was not nervous at all-but definitely surprised by the overwhelming reception.
AMP: You started writing poems as a child and eventually turned them into songs. What came first for you: the words, the melody or the emotion you want to capture?
AVA: Words come first for me. I started writing poems at 8, and as I grew up, the melody and the words combined as I wrote. As I have grown older and as a writer, they’ve become a trilogy in the process.
AMP: You’ve played venues such as the Bluebird Cafe and other major Nashville songwriter rooms. What have those stages taught you about songwriting and performing?
AVA: I have been beyond blessed to play iconic places like the Bluebird Cafe and I think what it has taught me is it never gets easier. The history and reverence you feel there are hard to describe, even for a songwriter. You are on a stage that has seen every major artist/songwriter in my lifetime at one time or another. It reminds you that this is a privilege to do this job and privilege to do this job here in Nashville.
AMP: What is one musical risk you haven’t taken yet but really want to?
AVA: I would not describe as a risk, but I think the idea of a collaboration is exciting to me and definitely something I am looking for!
AMP: If you could sit in the studio with any songwriter or producer for one day, who would it be and what would you like to learn from them?
AVA: Most definitely Jason Isbell. He is a songwriter first but has never let that craft interfere with his ability to self edit for production. He crafts a melody and forms a lyric in a way that his production amplifies. I would have a million questions to ask and a lot of music I would want to play.
AMP: If your current sound was a place, a book or movie, what would it be?
AVA: Twilight
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