“Distant” by Ava Valianti

There’s something profoundly nostalgic about Ava Valianti’s new single Distant. Maybe it’s the way she captures the ache of growing apart from someone you never imagined life without, or maybe it’s the sharp, vivid way she paints the past, like flipping through sun-faded photographs that still somehow sting.

From the first few notes, Distant wraps you in a swirl of indie pop warmth, with a bright, summery production that feels almost deceptive given the subject matter. But that’s what makes the track so affecting, the contrast between its upbeat rhythm and the quiet devastation in its lyrics. It’s the kind of song you’d dance to at a backyard party, only to realize mid-chorus that your chest feels tight because it’s your story she’s singing.

Lyrically, Ava doesn’t just skim the surface of loss; she plunges deep into the emotional gray area of fading friendships. Lines like “I knew you'd look at the back of my left hand, my right hand, man / The only person on this world that I could stand” hit with an almost cinematic intimacy. You don’t just hear the words, you remember someone. And when she follows that with “Not a single one in this goddamn town would understand”, the isolation feels all too familiar, especially for those who’ve watched their circle shrink without knowing exactly when or why.

One of the most gut-punching moments comes midway through the track: “Drinking at Michelle's at the beach / Even as we told our moms that we were from the sea.” It’s such a specific image, but that’s where Ava shines, in the small, oddly-shaped details that hold enormous emotional weight. These are the kinds of memories that haunt you, even years later, not because they were dramatic, but because they weren’t. They just quietly were, until they weren’t.

At just 15 years old, Massachusetts-born Ava Valianti is proving herself to be one of the most emotionally articulate voices in the indie pop scene. Since her 2023 debut with bubble wrap, she’s released a string of compelling singles including Middle Ground, January, Wishing Well, and Laugh Track, each marked by vivid storytelling and a deep sense of emotional intelligence. Her work has already earned her two New England Music Award nominations, national radio airplay, and runner-up honors at the International Acoustic Music Awards.

In Distant, Ava doesn’t just sing about growing up, she shows us what it feels like. It’s bittersweet, beautiful, and devastating in the gentlest way. Ava isn’t just smiling through the sadness, she’s making us feel it too. And that kind of honesty is what keeps her music lingering long after the final note fades.

To keep up with Ava Valianti’s latest releases and behind-the-scenes moments, follow her on Facebook and Instagram. You can also stream Distant and her growing catalog of indie pop gems on Spotify and YouTube