At just 18 years old, Philadelphia-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ava Rivello is crafting music with a level of emotional clarity far beyond her years. Whether navigating the complexities of mental health, modeling, or content creation, Rivello’s artistic north star remains absolute authenticity—a commitment vividly displayed in her vulnerable new single, “hold me til i fall asleep.” Releasing ahead of a deeply personal EP that charts the journey from heartbreak to self-discovery, the track captures the delicate, painful moment of holding onto a toxic relationship before finding the courage to let go. In this candid Q&A, Rivello opens up about the emotional evolution of her music, staying true to her sound amidst short-lived trends, and how embracing vulnerability became her greatest strength.
Hello Ava Rivello, welcome to WorldAuthors.Org! Your upcoming single, ‘hold me til i fall asleep,’ began as a love song but evolved into a story about letting go of a toxic relationship. How did that emotional transformation shape the final version of the song?
When I first wrote ‘hold me til i fall asleep,’ I presumed it to be a love song because I genuinely thought the relationship I was in was love. As it started to come to an end, I realized I actually couldn’t ignore the situation. I knew it had become toxic, and even though I wanted it to work, deep down I knew we both needed to grow separately. I wasn’t ready to let go, and I kept hoping one more night would somehow fix everything. It never did. Once I accepted that, the song completely changed. It became much more honest than I ever intended it to be, and I think that’s why people connect with it.
Your music often explores mental health, heartbreak, and resilience. What gives you the confidence to write so openly about experiences that many people struggle to talk about?
For me, music has always been the place where I can be completely honest. I’ve learned that the things people are often afraid to talk about are usually the things that connect us the most. If someone hears one of my songs and realizes they aren’t the only person who’s felt that way, then sharing those experiences are worth it. I don’t write to tell people what happened to me, I write so they can see a part of themselves in the music.
As someone who writes, performs, and plays multiple instruments, how do you know when a song feels complete? Is it driven more by lyrics, melody, or emotion?
It’s always emotion first. The lyrics and melody have to support what I’m feeling. A song feels finished when I believe every word I’m singing and the music matches that emotion. If I don’t feel it, I know listeners won’t either.
You balance careers in music, modeling, and digital content creation. How do these different creative worlds influence one another, and which one challenges you the most?
Each one has helped me become more creative in different ways. Modeling taught me how to express emotion visually, and creating content has helped me communicate with people more personally. Music is definitely the most challenging because there’s nowhere to hide. You’re sharing your thoughts, your experiences, and your emotions with people you’ve never met. That can be scary, but it’s also the most rewarding.
Your visual identity is as distinctive as your music. When you’re creating a new song, do you already imagine its visual world, or does the imagery develop after the music is finished?
Usually the visuals come naturally while I’m writing. I can almost picture the atmosphere, colors, lighting, and feeling before the song is even finished. The music creates the visual world for me rather than the other way around.
You once said, “Don’t let one bad moment ruin the rest of your moments.” That’s a powerful message. Was there a particular experience that inspired this perspective, and how has it shaped your life and songwriting?
I’ve had moments where I let one difficult situation consume everything else. Over time I realized that if I kept living in those moments, I’d miss all the good ones happening around me. That perspective has shaped both my life and my songwriting. Healing isn’t pretending something never happened, it’s accepting it, learning from it, and not allowing it to define the rest of your story.
Many young artists feel pressure to chase trends on social media. How do you stay authentic while building a career in an industry that changes so quickly?
I really don’t like to chase trends. I listen to music from every generation because I simply like what I like. The music I write comes from my own experiences, not from what’s popular at the moment. I’d rather make music that feels genuine than write something just because it’s trending. Trends fade, but honest music lasts.
With your upcoming EP featuring songs like ‘no good,’ ‘(it was) never love,’ ‘hold me til i fall asleep,’ and ‘closer to dead,’ is there an overarching story or emotional journey you hope listeners experience from beginning to end?
Absolutely. Every song represents a different chapter of growth. ‘No Good’ is about recognizing your own worth. ‘(it was) never love’ explores the pain of realizing something wasn’t what you believed it was. ‘Hold me til i fall asleep’ captures that moment when you’re holding on to a relationship you know you need to leave, hoping things will somehow change. Then, ‘Closer to Dead’ explores what comes after you’ve reached your breaking point. Together they tell a story of heartbreak, self-discovery, healing, and learning to move forward. I hope listeners find pieces of their own journey somewhere in those songs.
If a young songwriter reads this interview and dreams of building a career like yours, what is one lesson you’ve learned at just 18 that you wish someone had told you earlier?
I’d tell them not to compare themselves to anyone else. Social media can make it feel like everyone is moving faster than you, but every artist has their own path. Stay true to who you are and write the songs that feel honest to you. Your experiences are the one thing nobody else can recreate, and that’s what makes your music unique.
You can connect with Ava Rivello through Tiktok: @ava_rivello_official, Instagram @ava_rivello_official, and YouTube @avarivello