In 2018, SCENEzine did a Interview on her song Drown.
SCENEzine
Firstly huge congrats on your new song “Drown” you must be stoked with the response so far?
AViVA
Thankyou! I am, it’s been so great- I have a really strong community of fans on YouTube in particular and everyone’s really resonated with DROWN, and told me they can really relate- which means the world to me!
SCENEzine
Can you tell us a little about how the song came about?
AViVA
MataisC and I wrote the song together-and I wanted to keep the same lyrical concept throughout all of my songs
SCENEzine
How was it working with Ken Andrews knowing that he’s produced some other incredible artists?
AViVA
Amazing! As a long time lover of Paramore, just having someone who’d work with them hearing my stuff was so exciting. His feedback and encouragement was so good- just made me realise I’m on the right path, I’ve actually finished 3 songs with Ken that will be released this year!
SCENEzine
Looking back how was 2017 for you? Any highlights?
AViVA
I think playing for KROQ in Los Angeles would be a massive highlight! As would be getting 10 MILLION plays on GRRRLS… I had never expected a response like that, but I’m so happy I did!!!
SCENEzine
We were absolutely captivated by you when you supported Don Broco in Sydney late last year. How was that show for you?
AViVA
It was so amazing- It was the first time we’d played in Sydney… well in Australia for 2 years! Getting outside before the show and seeing the line down the street was such a rush! I love performing so there was such a perfect vibe to get back into it all, it was amazing seeing Jenna from Tonight Alive there too she is such a goddess
SCENEzine
Are there any artists or bands who are currently inspiring you?
AViVA
I’m a longtime lover of the band The Smiths their songs and lyrics fed my soul when I was a teenager! I’m also a big fan of Twenty-One Pilots, I love their genre crushing sound and again the lyrics, so real and visceral! I go for lyrics first in any music really- after that I’m able to make a call on the rest of the production!
SCENEzine
Your song “Grrrls” is super addictive. Did that one come about fairly quickly in the writing process?
AViVA
Aw thanks! Yeah, MataisC and I wrote the song originally in a day, we then shot it across to JP who worked on it back and forth with us for about a week… so a week, not that long really! JP gets our direction and he’s a super talented producer with great creativity
SCENEzine
How was the experience of making the video for “Grrrls”?
AViVA
It was great, we did it down in an abandoned warehouse in the Mittagong area! Just the 2 boys myself, our Camera-man/ Co-director Jefferton James and a mate! We smashed it out in a few hours. The vibe there can get pretty creepy so I didn’t want to hang around too much in the dark, the same team is working on the DROWN clip!
SCENEzine
Can you tell us what you have planned for 2018?
AViVA
Well I’ve just released DROWN, and I’ll have the film clip coming out soon as well. I’m also planning on spending a lot of time in the States writing and touring (hopefully!) basically more songs and more shows! We’ve got another song coming out in a few months, so there’ll be a lot of prep in the lead up to that! We really want to hit the road in AUS too
SCENEzine
Lastly with valentines day around the corner do you have any valentines day advice?
AViVA
Haha, oh I’m not really into Valentine’s Day or any other consumerist constructs… am I allowed to say that? Maybe it’s just because I have a black heart.
~interview by chris ross~