At a New York University event eight years ago, Pharrell Williams heard a song by then-undergrad Maggie Rogers and helped launch her extraordinary career. I felt the same thrill of discovery when I heard a song called “Groceries” by another NYU undergrad named Ava Lyons.
The song is haunting and stately – and beautifully produced by Alexander Tagliani. It’s one of the highlights of Lyons’ debut EP mixed emot:/ons. Lyons has been working tirelessly on her craft since, oh, kindergarten. She’s now focusing on both acting and music, and is well on her way to joining the EGOT club (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony).
We caught up with Ava to learn more about both her songcraft and acting:
Your new EP mixed emot:/ons has some fabulous songs like “Groceries”. What’s the backstory on that song? What prompted you to write it?
One of my best friends was devoted to someone she deeply cared for; however, it was rarely appreciated and never reciprocated. I have always been fascinated with grocery stores, which is probably from doing errands with my mom: We have always been a team when it comes to cooking and taking care of others. So I connected this idea of going to great lengths for a person to show you care for them, even if it means walking around desperately in aisles and aisles just to get the right thing for that person. It is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written because the lyrics are conversational and seemingly simple, yet are extremely deep and can relate to anyone who has given everything to someone.
Your song “Blaire” has gotten 40,000 streams in just a month. How did that song take shape?
I don’t have a single method of writing. It can sometimes come from a chord progression on the guitar or a melody I create in my head. The chord progression for “Blaire” was pretty stripped back, and as I started writing it, it was originally a very sad, slower song about jealousy I didn’t like because I felt bad having it. Then “Blaire” became a song that was never about romance or the relationship with this boy to me, but my relationship to “Blaire”.
We all have that one person in our life that is on top of everything and although we could try and let that inspire us, we sometimes come down on that person in a negative light to deflect any insecurity of ourselves. I see “Blaire” as this perfect being who doesn’t worry about how she looks or feels – she just IS. It’s okay to feel upset or jealous at times, but this song was a way for me to travel my frustration into realization. The realization being: you don’t have to be Blaire, you just have to be you.
You get my vote for Best NYU Songwriter Since Maggie Rogers. Who were your favorite artists growing up?
Wow! That means so much. Maggie Rogers is an incredible writer and performer. I would 100% say Lizzy McAlpine, SZA, Kacey Musgraves, and Jorja Smith are female writers that are extremely influential to me. All those artists have an aspect of conversation, making the lyrics seem like they are just speaking. However, there is an underlying poetic and metaphorical aspect of the writing that makes each lyric so meaningful and delicate. That’s why when you listen to a Lizzy or SZA song you hold every syllable so close to you because they are so relatable yet you could never have guessed how the songwriter read your heart/mind and wrote a song about it. Somehow so many people can relate to the song, yet it feels like the song was written for you, it’s extremely special. That’s how I’d love to make people feel.
How did you meet producer Alexander Tagliani?
The Tagliani’s are like a second family to me. Alex’s younger sister, Emilia (who is currently starring as Girlscout/Lydia in Beetlejuice on tour) and I met at Wheelock Family Theatre in Boston, where I grew up, while acting in the musical Willy Wonka. We became best friends. By this time, Alex had started producing and working with his band Architect’s Daughter. We decided to work together on songs I had written and we ended up becoming such a great team. A great team as in, we understood each other and bounced off one another’s ideas like crazy. Alex not only has an incredible, detailed ear for production, but also impeccable music talent and knowledge.
You’re studying acting at NYU, and you play the lead in a new short film called Viola. Does that have anything to do with the character from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night?
I don’t believe it does directly, but I think it’s an incredible perspective to have. Viola, directed by Demitra Papadinis, is based upon a young girl who struggles to hide her inner werewolf after her mom has passed (who was also a werewolf). Viola in Twelfth Night disguises herself as a man to get through obstacles and acquire new information. Both strong women if you ask me! I actually worked on this character this past semester. I feel super grateful to be in The New Studio on Broadway at NYU Tisch. Being able to do musical theater and act is a dream come true.
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