Exclusive Interview: Ava Della Pietra Talks About Her Upcoming EP

Ava Della Pietra is a rising triple threat who has captivated audiences on the stage, screen, and in the studio. This spring, she embarks on an exciting new chapter in her musical career with her highly-anticipated debut EP. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Ava about the upcoming release.

PC: You’re a multifaceted talent. How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Ava: I came from a musical family. When I was three years old, I was constantly singing around the house and improvising songs about everyday life, so my mom signed me up for my first community theater production!

At four, I started playing violin and began piano lessons. I performed in various theater productions after which people would come up to my parents and encourage them to find me an agent and allow me to audition for Broadway.

When I was six, I recorded my first EP of songs, which I co-wrote with my piano teacher! My passion for music combined with my love for theater finally motivated my mom to reach out to a Broadway agent, and within a few weeks of meeting her, I had booked my first professional production as little Cosette in the 25th anniversary national tour of Les Misérables. I auditioned more and was cast in the national tour of White Christmas.

Finally, at age ten, I was cast in the original cast of School of Rock on Broadway! For that show, I learned the electric bass and began playing the guitar and ukulele. While I was in NYC, I had access to many recording studios, so I decided to record my first original song. My passion for songwriting has only grown over the past few years, and by now I must have written over 130 songs!

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Ava: I have learned so much during every recording session I’ve done so far. The whole process of recording and releasing a song has been so educational for me; not only have I learned about songwriting, but I’ve also become very involved in the production of my songs, harmonies, mixing, etc. The biggest influence on my career has been simply traveling to various wonderfully talented producers in London, LA, Nashville, and other places and learning about different producers’ styles and methods.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. Is there a moment that stands out to you?
Ava: I will always remember the first moment that I truly felt like a singer-songwriter. It was when I performed my original music at the Sundance Film Festival. I was thirteen years old, and I was scheduled to perform at five different locations over three days! My first performance took place at a cafe, and I was dressed in a big fluffy coat and sang a 45-minute set of my original music, which had been my longest set yet at that point. I remember one particular woman in the front of the audience who was really enjoying my songs; she kept screaming out in excitement and even yelled for an encore at the end. During and after that performance, I felt a huge rush of happiness that made me realize how much I love music and performing in front of a live audience.

PC: You’re getting ready to drop your debut EP this spring. What can fans expect from the release?
Ava: My EP will feature four of my original songs that have been recorded with an amazing producer named Steven Martinez from Nashville with whom I began working with this past summer. I had so much fun recording them, and I think it’s a very different style from my previous songs.

PC: With this being your debut EP, did anything surprise you about the experience of putting it together? What was the biggest takeaway?
Ava: The experience couldn’t have been smoother! We recorded the EP in about a week, and each second of it was just so fun! Every song is very authentic, and I think that my biggest takeaway is that writing truthful songs that many people can relate to is the most valuable thing a songwriter can do.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Ava: Jim Croce.

PC: First album you bought?
Ava: I’ve actually never bought an album, but the first song I ever heard was probably some Broadway song. The first song I remember singing was “Castle on a Cloud” (which I later performed in Les Mis!).

PC: First concert you attended?
Ava: Taylor Swift in England, and then the next day, Ed Sheeran in Wales!

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Ava: Alec Benjamin, Narrated For You. I can’t get enough of his music. I love him!

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Ava: I performed the national anthem at Madison Square Garden a few years ago, but if we’re really being crazy, performing a set of my original music there would be insane.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Ava: My ukulele and my keyboard.

To keep up with Ava, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music.