Words and photos Nancy Kiner
The bathroom stall dividers are barely eye level at the Bar Lubitsch in West Hollywood. My sister Alex and I are at the We Found New Music event on Thursday, July 18th. We’ve just watched a set from Pania, a captivating young artist from Australia, but my attention span is shrinking. As we’re discussing our plans for the rest of the night, an airy voice bounces off the white tile wall.
“Hey!”
We peek over the stall divider. Alex’s big blue eyes stare down to meet the brown eyes, brown hair, and flowy green blouse of Ava Camille, a 28 year old singer-songwriter from Washington D.C.
“Can you guys stay for a little bit longer? Because I’m next.”
Ava’s doing her makeup in the vanity mirror. The yellow tinge from the old-school, Hollywood type lights illuminates the one stall bathroom making it seem grander than it is. She explains that she just got off work and was in a rush but would really appreciate it if we showed support and stayed. Without question we agree and I offer to take pictures during the set. She bounces out of the bathroom with excitement. If this is what Dolly Parton meant with her description of workin’ 9 to 5, I understand.
Ava’s the second to last act of the night and the Bar’s low lighting and small basement setting are falling into place. People gravitate together, women dance in summer dresses, illuminated by the stage lights. Camille’s soft voice brings viewers in toward the stage and the red basement room is soon full of strangers dancing. Ava settles into the space, her space, and introduces her new single, “Lighter Fluid.”
Today, August 4, Ava sits in Amoeba Records on Hollywood and Vine. Her green blouse has been exchanged for a white one and her light sandals carry her down Hollywood Boulevard into the store. I’m meeting Ava to photograph and interview her for a new single releasing on August 30. The props I brought for the shoot fit a “heartbreak in pink lace” aesthetic. Overpriced photobooth four by fours are spread on the floor as Ava and I cram into the little booth and bounce around ideas. What would this single represent for Ava, how could we convey her elegant femininity in such a commercialized setting like Hollywood Boulevard? In between laughs, crumpled Rite-Aid flowers, and personal stories we’re able to create the art for her new single.
We finish the shoot and sit on the gray tile floor. I learn about Ava. Ava as an artist, a D.M.V native, a writer, and a human being. She interlaces sentiments of love for her East Coast family and all of her production thoughts on this new release.
From elementary school crushes to scarier adult heartbreaks, Ava has used writing as an outlet to process emotions throughout her life. She describes herself as a “big feeler” but she does more than daydream—she translates her emotions seamlessly into a universal language for young women to enjoy and relate to. Ava’s self-criticism and elevated consciousness for what her future will be can be seen within every creative woman in the twenty-first century. This interview is a transparent look into the ever-evolving idea of the female artist and answers the age old question: How does the city of Angels change an artist?
What inspired you to start writing music and creating?
I’ve always been a big feeler. So much so that when I was little, I would shut down a lot. As in, retreat to the corner or become quiet at the dinner table. I think I had so many feelings I couldn’t comprehend at times that it was easier to just energetically turn off. I say this because writing and singing—once I found them as a little girl—became a tool for processing my big feelings. So ultimately, having an outlet for these emotions was a large source of inspiration for me to create—along with having one or two elementary school crushes, of course.
What is your favorite song or is there a specific artist (in any genre of art) that you draw inspiration from?
Ok I have two answers for this question! Here’s the short answer: At 28, I’m finally embracing where my biggest inspiration is coming from. What speaks to my soul the most. And that will continue to evolve, but it’s currently shaping up around a blend of modern pop and r&b/soul/blues singer-songwriters, like Olivia Dean, Joy Crookes, Maggie Rogers, Lianne La-Havas, Norah Jones. I’d say most of this inspiration is in unreleased music at the moment, and I’m SO excited to unleash it.
Here’s the long answer that’s a bit convoluted, but stay with me: Growing up, my parents played so many different genres of music in the house from Tina Turner, to Emmylou Harris, to Prince, to Brazilian Bossa Nova. This allowed me to take inspiration from different genres and artists in a bunch of different ways—whether I was looking at performance, songwriting, groove, an artist’s conviction, etc. But I think it also confused me a little bit! Like, ok what or who do I want to sound like? Who is Ava Camille? As a little girl I would write a lot of Sara Bareilles-type songs at the piano. But then I’d start experimenting with country or blues because of Shania Twain, the Chicks, and Etta James. Taking time to “find your sound” is great. But for me, I really feel like it’s taken me so long to understand what and who speaks to my soul the most—partly because all of these different artists equally excited me and partly because accepting my authenticity took some time.
If one moment from your music career thus far has shaped you today, what would it be?
Moving to LA, for sure. I’m from the D.C. area, but after college I lived in Boston for 2 years. No shade to Boston, but it just wasn’t “it” for me. I knew that personally I needed to grow musically and the only way to do that was to seek community and guidance. I needed help! I don’t come from a family of musicians or songwriters, so I really needed to access a larger in-person community to help me learn the music industry and to help shape my artistry. LA has been hard, to say the least. It’s a physical and mental grind. But the access I have out here to artists of all capacities is game-changing for someone like myself. I’ve grown so much because of it.
Who are your musical muses and who would you like to emulate in terms of sound on this new record or are you creating an Ava Camille special?
Haha I love the phrase “Ava Camille Special.” This release, called “Good Side”, is more pop-leaning than the future projects I’m currently working on. We did reference Olivia Dean a lot for it (I simply love her). No matter what, I think I’ll always exist in the pop space to some extent, but moving forward I’m craving to showcase my love for neo-soul a bit more.
What has been your favorite performance so far?
Hmmm this question is surprisingly hard for me because I’m super self-critical when it comes to performance. It’s rare for me to walk away from a live show and be like, “I killed that.” I’m still working on not being hard on myself. But if I had to pick one so far, it would probably be the very first show I did in LA back in 2021 with Breaking Sound—a popular artist showcase. I hadn’t performed in awhile because of the pandemic, so maybe it was my sheer excitement, but I felt ecstatic afterwards. I remember walking away filled with pride because I thought I crushed it…period! I’m working to come back to that feeling after shows – the feeling of zero self-doubt and pure joy for what I just accomplished.
Do you feel like you carry the D.M.V / East Coast along in your music career? Is there anything in particular from home that has stayed with you in this new chapter of your career in Los Angeles?
I think if anything it’s my support system. Most of my family is back East, and while sometimes it’s hard being far away from them, I’m not sure I’d be able to chase this dream without their cheers from afar. My dad is an entrepreneur and my mom is a writer, so they very much understand the hustle of starting something from scratch. They can understand the ups and downs of pursuing an unconventional path, so having their support is paramount. They’re go-getters and risk takers, so they’ve absolutely been a source of inspiration for me in all chapters.
What is your favorite lyric or portion of “Good Side?”
The last chorus!! The song ends after two choruses and the way the second-to-last chorus bleeds into the final one… ooooh! The feeling I get from that is pure joy. To me, it’s ear candy.
Is there a specific age of time, as a teenage girl or a little girl running around in the backyard that you are referencing in “Good Side” when you discuss looking back on a younger version of you?
Honestly, this song was written thinking about all versions of myself, but specifically who I am today. I’ve come a really long way in how I choose to engage with the dialogue in my head. I do have a lot of self-love. I do believe that I can achieve my dreams. But of course, limiting beliefs are still present, and some days they’re hella loud! I think if you’re pursuing an art and trying to make it your day job, you have to have a lot of self-belief. And it’s only been in the last 3 years that I’ve heavily been pursuing music. With that comes new mental fires I’m working on putting out. I feel like we all have this good and bad side, if you will. And I still engage with the bad more than I’d like. It’s so easy to speak kindly to my friends and appropriately encourage them on their own journeys because to me they could move mountains. So “Good Side” is really about working towards embracing for myself that same level of compassion I show to loved ones.
Is there a project that you are working on or thinking of creating that you are particularly excited for?
Oh yes, I’m currently in the middle of working on my first EP! I appreciate the world of singles in music, but I’m definitely craving to show off a larger body of work. I’m going through a little heartbreak at the moment, which means I’m writing a lot. So I’ve decided to make an EP off of these songs. I’m unbelievably pumped because I really feel I’m tapping into my authentic musical self. More than other releases. So that feels liberating. Having this project has also deepened my appreciation for songwriting. I feel so lucky that music is my outlet because the feeling of pouring my sadness and anger and hope into singing and writing is truly a magical one. I can’t adequately express how much this new music has helped me through this heartbreak! Definitely stay tuned.
Please feel free to share anything else you feel is important to understand you as an artist, and “Good Side” 🙂
“Good Side,” which was co-written with Sara Mulford and Anna Schulze (also produced by Anna), is out August 30th. I love the messaging of the song because it doesn’t feel forceful to me. The song declares that one day, I’m hoping it’ll be easier to speak kinder to myself—in the ways I speak to a friend. I wanted to convey the feeling of what that freedom from self-doubt could sound like. I love the somewhat uncertain and open-ended lyrics being paired with a bright melody and sparkly guitar licks because listeners are still guided to a place of reassurance. Even though the song doesn’t present answers on how to necessarily be kind to yourself, it paints a positive feeling that one day it’s possible. It’s out wherever you listen to your music.
Insta: @ava_camille
Tiktok: @avacamillee
Spotify: Ava Camille (hit the follow button!)
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