When she finally managed to take a break between shows and recording, I had the pleasure of chatting with Ava Connell, the 19-year-old from Marietta who is taking the country music industry by storm.
Despite not having first taken the stage at Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta until she was fourteen, it was nine years prior when her dreams first formed, and she knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. Having grown up watching Victorious and similar shows, videos still reside on her mom’s camcorder of a five-year-old Ava dressed to the nines and singing her heart out. It was then and there that her ambition was realized. While she’s still singing her heart out, she now steps on stage after stage, playing over 100 shows a year at venues across the South, including the Coca-Cola Roxy and Whiskey Jam, performing her own songs.
Drawing inspiration from many, including queen Avril Lavigne (whose song “I’m With You” is her go-to serenade for her shower head), Ava specializes in writing lyrics with a type of beauty, grace, and wisdom only a teenager can possess. That’s why she chose country music. “One of my friends told me, ‘The definition of country music is telling a story,’” Ava said. “I got into music because I love to write, and country music is a more freeform way of writing.”
“That’s my thing—writing lyrics,” Ava added. While her exact writing process differs every time, she is what they call a true artist in that she draws inspiration from everything. “Sometimes it’ll be a title first, or I’ll be listening to a song and have an idea.” She even draws inspiration from random things her ex-boyfriend says, such as the title of her debut song “One for the Road,” or a line during a rant from her friend, which inspired the title of her newest song, “It’ll Buff.”
Although, her writing process changes when collaborating with others, such as Aaron McBee. Walking into the session and immediately asking what they were going to write about, Aaron humbled her quickly, saying to let the music flow. Which is exactly what it did. “I started saying ‘I don’t feel well’ because my allergies were bad, and we wrote a whole song about how I don’t feel well, and it actually turned out really good.” Collaborations with McBee are only the beginning, though. With aspirations to work with talents like Zach Bryan, Jessie Murph, and Post Malone, it’s only a matter of time before her name is listed as a co-writer for many hits.
An Apple Music girl—though we won’t hold it against her—Ava’s everyday playlist is called “Super Country,” composed of nearly every country song she’s ever liked. With that said, her new song will definitely be added to my own Spotify playlist.
Following the release of her debut single, “One for the Road,” Ava’s newest single, “It’ll Buff,” isn’t just meant for your country playlist; it’s the song you play at full volume with windows down and wind in your hair. It’s the song you belt out at the top of your lungs as you dwell in the kind of frustration only men can cause. It’s the song to which every scorned and heartbroken young woman can relate.
Ava, the kind of girl who only wears gold jewelry, was shocked to find a silver diamond earring in the backseat of her then-boyfriend's car. While we’re all stunned by the audacity of men at times, we are also, silently, grateful for this particular heartbreak of Ava’s, as it led to the iconic line, “I wouldn’t be the first blonde to put a fist through his dash.” (Apparently, his previous ex had beaten his car—not the smartest guy.) “I really just want it to be that song where girls are like, ‘Screw this guy,’” Ava said. “It’s one of those songs that puts it into perspective that this sucks, but it’ll get better.”
For her release party that was on November 2nd, since it coincided with the Georgia vs. Florida football game, in Athens, Ava and her team wore UGA jerseys bearing “Cherry Creek.
Ava will be releasing her next single "Ashtray" on February 21st and will perform her release show that night in Austin TX at 'Under The Rocks'. She recently performed at Madlife (Patio with band) on January 4th in Woodstock, and has other tour dates. Ava is currently finishing up the writing of her debut EP (expected 6 songs) and was recorded in Stephenville TX the week of Jan 20th, with some very exciting names involved in the project. Her new single "It'll Buff" was featured on IHeart Radio's Backyard Country on The Bull two weeks in a row. Local listeners can support Ava by calling in to the station to request her music. Looking forward to summer, she will be releasing her single "Get You Back" (co-written by Lainey Wilson) and the song will be released on the same day Ava is opening for Lainey Wilson live in concert at Hoofbeat country fest in Wisconsin (Fri, June 27th).
Ava Connell, a rising 19-year-old country singer from Marietta, shares her journey from performing at 14 to playing over 100 shows annually. Inspired by heartbreak and everyday life, her songs, including her newest single "It'll Buff," resonate with young women. Ava credits her success to a strong support system.