Posts tagged with "Conan Gray"

“Ava Della Pietra is a pop powerhouse sure to inspire her listeners with her passionate lyricism and beautiful delivery.”  –360 Magazine

“Ava Della Pietra Follows Breakthrough Year With “Home,” her “Inspiring, Empowering…pop ray of hope” –Parade Magazine

“With pure pop sensibility, catchy hooks and heartfelt lyrics…this young Broadway veteran aims at inspiring young listeners to feel proactive and empowered. Her spot-on vocals and sweet delivery will have you singing along and cheering for the power of open-minded activism.”  –Parade

Proceeds will be donated to charities dedicated to reuniting and rehoming children at the southern border.

Listen to “Home” by Ava Della Pietra here.

15-year-old singer/songwriter Ava Della Pietra has just released her most poignant single to-date with “Home,” inspired by the devastating stories of families torn apart on the southern border. Parade Magazine called the song “inspiring,” “empowering,” and a “pop ray of hope,” with “pure pop sensibility, catchy hooks and heartfelt lyrics…inspiring young listeners to feel proactive and empowered.” With lyrics that touch on fear, loneliness, and hope, “Home” is universal anthem for any young person struggling with life’s challenges, as relevant to those on the southern border as to the everyday teen. Parade adds, “Her spot-on vocals and sweet delivery will have you singing along and cheering for the power of open-minded activism.” Proceeds from the single and merchandise will be donated to charities dedicated to reuniting and rehoming children at the southern border.

Over the past few years, Ava has emerged as one of the most promising young artists on the pop scene today. Having established herself on the Broadway stage in the original cast of School of Rock, Ava’s debut single “Christmas Tonight” was named one of the “Best Holiday Songs” of the year by Tiger Beat Magazine, alongside artists like the Jonas Brothers and Liam Payne, and her follow-up single “Optimist” reached #50 on the Top 40 Radio chart, earning praise from American Songwriter, Just Jared Jr., and Newsday, who called Ava a “rising star.”

Produced by Will Hicks (Ed Sheeran, Jamie Lawson), “Home” is one of fifty songs that Ava has written, and the first of ten already produced, to be released in the coming months. Ava collaborated with some of the world’s top producers on her upcoming album, including Hicks, Justin Gray (Avril Lavigne, Mariah Carey), and Adrian Gurvitz (Andra Day, Jesse McCartney, Cheetah Girls). Alongside “Home” and “Optimist,” the album will also feature songs like “Forgotten,” dedicated to the people of Puerto Rico suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, as well as Ava’s upcoming single “Isolation,” slated for release this spring.

“Over the past few years, I have been shocked to learn about the terrible conditions that children have had to endure at the border–being separated from their families and left alone,” Ava said. “I also know that there are kids around the world struggling in other ways, including emotional challenges, pressures at school, problems at home, and so much more. I hope this song can encourage people to lend a helping hand and be there for one another.”

A multi-instrumentalist who plays piano, bass, guitar, violin, and ukulele, Ava began performing at age four and writing songs at age five. She performed on the national tours of “Les Misérables” and “White Christmas” before joining the original cast of “Broadway’s School of Rock”, and has been featured on “Good Morning America”, “Sesame Street”, the Tony Awards, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”, and more. Ava has performed at the Sundance Film Festival, the Great South Bay Music Festival, the New York Tennis Open, and at Madison Square Garden in front of 20,000 Knicks fans, as well as at My Father’s Place in Roslyn, New York, and in front of a sold-out crowd at NYC’s Rockwood Music Hall. Most recently Ava launched “Talking Tunes with Ava Della Pietra,” a new music column with Teen Kid News, where she is reviewing popular hits. Ava was also featured on the soundtrack for “Secondhand Lions: A New Musical.”

A supporter of both local and national charitable organizations, Ava is dedicated to advocating for young people, inspiring others to believe in themselves and follow their dreams. For more information on Ava Della Pietra, please visit her website.

Here at 360 Magazine, we sat down with Ava to discuss the release of “Home,” her rise to fame, and how she finds inspiration for her soulful songwriting.

1. Are there any specific charities you’d like to shout out of which to proceeds of “Home” are going toward? Yes, I am giving proceeds from “Home” to non-profit agencies helping unaccompanied minors to reunite with their families and find homes.

   2. You’ve written over 50 songs! That’s very impressive. Where do you find inspiration for writing all of these tracks?  

   Most of my inspiration comes from real life. I really enjoy expressing my emotions through my songwriting because I think it helps me discover more about myself. Sometimes, I will just be walking around my house and a thought will pop into my head. Unconsciously, I come up with a melody to that phrase, and occasionally I’ll create a song. Other times, I’ll simply sit down and think, “I want to write a song today!”

   3. Of the songs you’ve written that haven’t yet been produced, what other themes do you discuss within your music that you think are most important to bring awareness to?

   A few themes I explore in my songs are love, empowerment, mental health, confidence, and friendship. For example, I’ve recently written a few songs about overcoming insecurities. Something I like about my music is that even though a couple of my songs may focus on sad topics, almost all of them have a positive or hopeful spin to them by the end.

   4. Even though other young people’s situations may not be as severe as those at the southern border, how do you see “Home” as a relatable anthem for all listeners?

   “Home” is about lending a helping hand to those in need. This idea can apply to a wide range of situations, from daily encouragement to serious national issues, such as the southern border.

   5. What is the most standout performance of your career, in your opinion?

   In terms of acting and performing arts, “School of Rock” on Broadway was definitely a dream come true. In regard to my singer-songwriter career, Sundance Film Festival was one of my favorite experiences. I also really enjoyed singing the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden for a Knicks game, singing at My Father’s Place, and traveling out to Las Vegas to perform.

   6. You recently launched “Talking Tunes with Ava Della Pietra.” What artists do you particularly enjoy and inspire your own performance?

   Some of my favorite artists are Lauv, Conan Gray, Halsey, Lewis Capaldi, and Camila Cabello. I also like Ed Sheeran and his performance style. He uses a loop pedal which allows him to add the different layers of a song live. I’ve recently started to use a looper, and I find it really fun to incorporate all 5 of my instruments into my performance.

   7. Do you have a “dream musical” you’d love to be involved with in the future?

   I’m a huge fan of “Dear Evan Hansen”, so being a part of that musical would be absolutely incredible!

   8. You began performing at such a young age. When did you, or your parents, first recognize your natural ability to perform?

   I’ve been singing more or less my whole life! I was in my first community theater production when I was four, and people began to approach my parents and encourage them to find me an agent. When I was six, I booked my first role in the National Tour of “Les Misérables.” Everything kind of skyrocketed from there.

   9. What are you most excited about regarding the upcoming release of your debut album?

   I’m just so excited for people to listen to my music. Over the past year, my style has changed a lot, and I can’t wait for people to hear what I’ve been working on!