At just sixteen years old, Newbury, Massachusetts indie-pop artist Ava Valianti brings an exciting and sharp mix of honesty, energy, and youthful chaos that feels both incredibly refreshing and deeply relatable!
The track brilliantly captures the wild tension between trying to be perfect and fully accepting the messy, unpolished parts of yourself. With its edgy guitars, bright infectious melodies, and Ava’s warm, expressive vocals, Hot Mess finds genuine power in imperfection and fearlessly turns self-awareness into something bold and empowering!
Inspired by her desire to stop hiding her flaws and embrace authenticity, Ava wrote the song as a jubilant celebration of being real, even when life feels completely out of control. It marks an exciting new chapter in her artistic growth, showcasing a confident, lively side of her talent that’s absolutely captivating! Fans have already connected strongly with its infectious energy, making it one of her most thrilling releases yet!
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“Hot Mess” is such a vibrant, empowering anthem! What was the spark behind writing this track?
I really loved writing “Hot Mess” because the inspiration came from feeling ashamed of being such a mess, but the end result was something way more positive. I always felt like I had to be more put-together when presenting myself to the world, but once I embraced my imperfections, that’s when I started to feel more free!
How does “Hot Mess” celebrate all those wild, messy, and beautiful parts of ourselves that we often try to hide?
It doesn’t shy away from the parts of ourselves that are messy and abnormal, and leans into being authentically who you are. That’s what so special about this song to me – embracing being unique! Flaws exist in every person, so why not accept your imperfection?
The mix of hard-edged guitars and your captivating vocals creates such a bold sound—how did you craft this sonic energy?
I really wanted to have a 2000s/2010s sound, and listened to a lot of Paramore for inspiration! I wrote this song on my electric guitar so from the moment I created it my producers and I knew it had a pulse driving it musically. It really just grew from there, and I love the end result so much!
How does this single fit into the larger story of your debut EP petunias and your artistic journey?
I think that this song is very much a time capsule of my life at the time in which I wrote it. It was a super turbulent time in my life, where I was at a crossroads of self-consciousness and self-acceptance. That shines through in the song, and fits into my artistic and lyrical style of internal exploration. I really love what this song represents for me, and think it fits well into my musical catalog!
You’ve been evolving fast as an artist in 2025—how does “Hot Mess” show a new side of your musical personality?
It’s quickly become one of my favorite songs to sing live because I’ve always written pretty sad songs, either just lyrically or with both the music and lyrics, so it was so fun to get to sing a happy song that has so much energy in it! I’ve really gotten to let loose and express more than ever, which has been great.
What emotions or messages do you want fans to feel when they listen to “Hot Mess” loud and proud?
Just feeling proud and accepted no matter what. The message I want people to receive is that their limitations don’t need to define them, and that they can always feel free to express themselves exactly as they are.
What kind of reactions have you gotten from fans so far? Any favorite moments or surprises?
I’ve been so thrilled and grateful to receive such positive feedback from people, and I really appreciate all the support I’ve gotten from everyone! I love singing this song and having the words sung back to me, it’s surreal and always a huge highlight for me!
What’s next after “Hot Mess”? Should we expect more anthems to add to your collection soon?
Definitely! New songs are in the works and on the way, including one set up to be released this January! Make sure to check for more information coming out about that soon!
