At fifteen, most teenagers are still figuring out their voice—literally and figuratively. Ava Valianti, however, has already found hers, and it resonates with remarkable clarity on her latest single, “Distant.”
The Newbury, Massachusetts native has been building momentum since her 2023 debut with “Bubble Wrap.” Her blend of indie and pop sensibilities, combined with an emotional authenticity that feels well beyond her years, has earned her two New England Music Award nominations and airplay across more than 150 radio stations. Tracks like “Middle Ground,” “January,” and “Laugh Track” established her as an artist worth watching, but “Distant” represents a significant step forward in her artistic development.
The song opens with an immediately striking line: “I knew you like the back of my left hand, my right hand…” It’s a clever twist on a familiar phrase that signals this won’t be another generic breakup song. Instead, Valianti explores something more nuanced—the gradual dissolution of a childhood friendship.
Built around a gentle acoustic guitar foundation, “Distant” unfolds like a conversation with someone who’s no longer there to listen. Valianti’s vocals carry the weight of the narrative with impressive control, shifting subtly between nostalgia and acceptance. She paints vivid scenes of parties you’re no longer invited to and inside jokes that have lost their meaning, capturing those small moments that define the end of a relationship.
The song’s emotional core lies in its specificity. Rather than relying on broad statements about loss, Valianti asks intimate questions: “Do you still bicker with your siblings?” These details attempt to bridge a gap that has already grown too wide, making the eventual acceptance—”I smile to you, you wave goodbye”—feel both inevitable and poignant.
What sets “Distant” apart is its musical approach to heavy subject matter. The production maintains an almost buoyant quality that contrasts beautifully with the melancholy lyrics. This juxtaposition creates what Valianti herself describes as “smiling through the sadness”—a sophisticated artistic choice that makes the song accessible while preserving its emotional impact.
The arrangement gives Valianti’s voice room to breathe and showcase her growing technical abilities. Her vocal runs feel natural rather than showy, and even small details like deliberate breaths and a subtle inhale at the song’s end add layers of meaning. These choices demonstrate an artist who understands that sometimes the most powerful moments happen in the spaces between words.
“Distant” succeeds because it addresses a universal experience without losing its personal touch. Everyone has felt the slow drift of a once-close relationship, but few artists capture that feeling with such precision and grace. Valianti transforms what could be a purely sad story into something beautiful and cathartic.
With her debut EP scheduled for this fall, “Distant” serves as both a standout single and a promising preview of what’s to come. It confirms that Ava Valianti isn’t just a talented young artist—she’s a songwriter with something meaningful to say and the skill to say it well.
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