Ava Della Pietra (Della Pietra is full last name)

Over the past few years, singer/songwriter and Broadway alumna Ava Della Pietra has emerged as one of the most promising young artists on the pop scene today, with over 3.2 million streams, 450K social media followers, and 3.1 million YouTube views. Known for playing piano, guitar, bass, violin, and ukulele, Ava recorded her first original song at the age of ten and has written more than 130 songs to date, with 32 written during her quarantine on Long Island. She has been recognized for her original music by more than a dozen songwriting competitions in the US and internationally; worked with renowned producers Will Hicks (Ed Sheeran, Jamie Lawson), Jon Levine (Alessia Cara, Dua Lipa), Steven Martinez, and Adrian Gurvitz (Andra Day, Ziggy Marley); seen several hit songs climb the Hot AC, Billboard AC and Mediabase charts; and received accolades from top media outlets like Parade, American Songwriter, Just Jared, and more. Have we mentioned that Ava is only 18?

Early in Ava’s songwriting journey, she connected with producer Will Hicks and had the amazing opportunity to work with him in the UK. The results were three songs Ava’s listeners have embraced: Optimist (which reached #50 on the Top 40 radio chart and was singled out by media outlets such as American Songwriter, Just Jared Jr., and Newsday), Christmas Tonight (named one of the best new Holiday singles of 2019 by Tiger Beat), and Home - a song about the border crisis which Parade Magazine called “a pop ray of hope.” My creativity was really flowing; all my emotions manifested themselves into new lyrics.”

Most recently, Ava collaborated with Martinez on “worst of times,” a deeply heartfelt anthem that emphasizes the significance of standing by someone’s side during their darkest moments. Showcasing Ava’s versatility and ability to craft music that deeply resonates with listeners, the song was met with rapturous reviews, with Top Buzz Magazine calling it “one of the more powerfully honest tracks of its kind” and The Hollywood Digest writing that it’s “certain to leave listeners intoxicated.” “I wrote ‘worst of times’ for one of my friends who was struggling with her mental health at the time,” Ava commented upon its release. “It's about being there for one another, no matter what.”

On her previous single “it started with u,” Ava reflects on the pain of a lost relationship, and the power each of us has to shape our own narrative, even when we’ve been hurt. Expertly produced by Hicks, the song was premiered by The Honey Pop who called it an “entrancing masterpiece” and gushed “Ava Della Pietra Takes Our Breath Away…this one is sure to start an obsession.” Raised By Cassettes added, “Della Pietra has grown now to transcend contemporaries such as Olivia Rodrigo.”

Ava’s single, the upbeat, propulsive “happy for you,” is about watching a love interest fall in love with another person. Featuring a sleek, electro-pop sound and an ear-worm of a chorus, "happy for you" is an instantly relatable, tongue-in-cheek love song about an experience that nearly everyone goes through at some point in their life. The song has reached #31 on the Hot AC Radio Charts so far. "I wrote ‘happy for you’ about an experience I had watching a past crush fall deeply in love with another girl,” Ava explained upon its release. “I hope this song will help others who are going through the same experience find comfort in knowing that they aren't alone."

“Songs tend to come to me when I am outside taking a walk or enjoying nature,” Ava comments. “I will sing a verse and a chorus into my phone, and then when I get back inside, I write it all down and put chords to it on either the ukulele, piano, or guitar.” Some of Ava’s songs are centered around her own experiences, while others focus on issues she sees around her. “I recently wrote i’ve been thinking, about childhood friendship, that recalls the carefree days and laughing out loud, and reflects on the importance of keeping in touch.” The song was featured in Music Connection Magazine and reached #43 on the Mediabase Hot AC radio chart.

On another recent new track, “power of you” (premiered by Hollywood Life, who said that Ava is “poised to be a songwriting powerhouse of her generation…”), Ava sings about overcoming other people’s expectations, living life free of outside influences, and making her own choices. “I realized that I am capable of making decisions that are right for me, without letting others’ hopes and fears affect me. Even being in the studio with a new producer can be intimidating, but I work on sharing my vision and what I believe in, so we can get creative and go for it.” The song reached #21 on the Billboard AC chart, and #19 on the Mediabase charts. Ava performed the song on NBC-Nashville’s “Today In Nashville” who called her “a triple threat,” as well as Voice of America, who called her “not only a star on Broadway, but also a musical star with a very positive message.”

More recently Ava released “my boyfriend” a dreamy song about new love, “the moment you realize that the boys you once ignored are suddenly much more interesting,” she reflects. “I wanted to capture that feeling - the daydreams and fantasies, the starry eyes and butterflies. I hope this song will bring listeners back to the experience of their very first crush, or to dream about the romance they want in their lives." The track was spotlighted by Sheen Magazine, who called Ava “a brilliant songwriter and a soon-to-be household name.”

Ava’s July 2022 single “Long Way Home” was featured by Just Jared Jr., alongside major stars like J-Hope and Harry Styles, as well as by Music-News.com, who called it “a gorgeous ballad.” Top Shelf Music premiered the track, calling Ava a “teen singer-songwriter sensation” and a “powerhouse of a performer,” leading On Stage Magazine to highlight her as “the next pop star you need to know” and Raised by Cassettes to gush, "Ava Della Pietra really shines.”

Ava’s debut EP, truth or truth, released in 2022, featuring depend on me,” an uplifting ballad about self-confidence and independence, led Wonderland Magazine to rave, “If you’re in need of a nugget of positivity...then Ava Della Pietra is your new best friend.” Music Crowns highlighted Ava’s “dreamy vocal stylings,” and Music On The Rox added, “her voice is absolutely stunning.”

While the topics of her songs range from self-identity to friendships to love to boys to world issues, when she’s writing, Ava spends a lot of time with her lyrics, knowing that they will always be a place in time that she has captured. Alec Benjamin is one of Ava’s main influences, along with Lauv, Billie Eilish, Lewis Capaldi, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, OneRepublic, Jonas Brothers, Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Maroon 5, and Ed Sheeran. “Music is such a powerful way to convey my thoughts and ideas; it’s like a journal, a true snapshot of my life. Looking at it retrospectively, it has helped me discover a lot about myself - I hope my songs do the same for others.”

As she continues down the road of her musical career, Ava is once again setting her sights high, collaborating with Levine on a bold slate of new material that she plans to release in 2023. She has been featuring her new material in a series of performances at Sofar Sounds in NYC over the past year, and this summer, fans will have the chance to see Ava in person as she embarks on a tour across New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, giving fans an up-close and personal experience with Ava's vibrant energy and raw talent.

One of Ava’s earliest memories of performing in public was singing Somewhere over the Rainbow at the tender age of four. By six, she had a theatrical agent, and at seven, she performed in 27 cities as Little Cosette with the 25th Anniversary National touring production of Les Misérables. Soon after, Ava toured for two months in White Christmas and by ten she began a two-year run on Broadway as a member of the original cast of School of Rock. During her time on Broadway, Ava performed at the Tony Awards, in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and in front of countless audience members (including the likes of Barbra Streisand and Andrew Lloyd Webber himself). Looking back, the ‘dreams that she dreamed of’ really have come true.