“CELEBRITY” By Ava Valianti

There is something fascinating about the way Ava Valianti approaches emotion. At just 17, the Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter has already developed an ability to look at ordinary human experiences from unusual angles and turn them into thoughtful, imaginative songs. Her latest single, “Celebrity,” is a beautiful example of that ability. Released September 11, 2026, the song serves as the first glimpse into her forthcoming third EP, "kismet," while introducing a warmer musical direction influenced by jazz and R&B. Ava describes “Celebrity” as an exploration of idolization, the experience of seeing someone through a rose-colored lens until their smallest gestures begin to feel enormous and they somehow become the center of your world.

What immediately makes “Celebrity” interesting is the perspective behind its central idea. Ava is an artist herself, someone who spends much of her life performing, writing, and pursuing opportunities that can bring her into the public eye. Yet instead of placing herself at the center of the song, she turns the spotlight around and examines what happens when another person becomes the “Celebrity” in her own eyes. That reversal gives the song a layer of emotional intelligence. It isn’t simply about having a crush or admiring someone; it is about how fascination can change our perception until an ordinary person begins to feel almost larger than life. Ava captures that intoxicating feeling while leaving enough room for the listener to recognize their own experiences within it.

“Celebrity” also demonstrates how confidently Ava is allowing her sound to evolve. Her earlier work has moved through intimate indie-pop and more guitar-driven pop-rock territory, particularly across "petunias" and "Sophomore Slump." Here, she begins opening another door, bringing jazz and R&B influences into the picture without abandoning the introspective songwriting that has become such an important part of her identity. That evolution feels natural rather than forced. There is a warmth and softness surrounding the song that complements its romantic subject matter, creating an atmosphere where the listener can almost understand why the person being admired appears so extraordinary. The musical shift gives us a glimpse of what “kismet“ may bring while showing that Ava isn’t afraid to experiment with the colors of her artistry.

And this is where I have to give a special Music Mingle shout-out to Ava Valianti. We have been following Ava’s journey through multiple stages of her musical development, and what continues to stand out is not simply how young she is, but how deliberately she approaches songwriting. She began writing songs and composing music at nine, and her journey since debuting in 2023 has already included more than 650,000 streams, airplay on 300+ radio stations, recognition from organizations including American Songwriter, the Boston Music Awards and New England Music Awards, and a performance at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. She has also shared stages with artists including Jamie Fine, Morgan St. Jean, The Strumbellas, Jessica Baio, Lucy Kaplansky and Andrew Duhon.

But statistics only tell part of Ava’s story. What makes “Celebrity” particularly exciting is the emotional connection underneath those numbers. Ava has a gift for taking feelings that can be difficult to explain and giving them a musical language. The idea of someone becoming the center of your universe because you have placed them on an almost impossible pedestal is something many listeners will recognize, whether through romance, admiration, friendship, or even the way we sometimes construct an idealized version of another person in our minds. Ava doesn’t simply tell us what that feeling is, she invites us inside it. That is the quality that makes her songwriting resonate beyond her age.

“Celebrity” is more than the introduction to another EP, it feels like an introduction to another dimension of Ava Valianti’s artistry. With “kismet” on the horizon, she is showing that growth doesn’t require abandoning what already works; sometimes it means taking the emotional honesty you have built your identity around and placing it inside a completely new musical world. From “petunias” to “Sophomore Slump” and now toward “kismet,” Ava continues to demonstrate curiosity, courage, and an unmistakable love for storytelling. “Celebrity” leaves us with the feeling that this young songwriter is only beginning to discover the full range of what she can create. And as Music Mingle, we are genuinely proud to keep witnessing that journey. Keep going, Ava, there is so much more music waiting to be written, and so many listeners waiting to hear it.

• 

• 

• 

Written by Manuel