An Interview With The Australian Alternative-Rock Musician, AVIVA!

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Meet the Australian alternative rock artist, AViVA!

“BRN” comes off the back of the release of “GRRRLS” and “DROWN” over the past few months – solidifying AViVA’s artist rebirth. Since it’s October release “GRRRLS” has garnered over 24 million streams across all platforms and peaked the interest of tastemakers globally. On “DROWN”, AViVA delved deeper into the concept of isolation and the ‘outsider experience’.

AViVA will also be releasing a Young Adult Novel series titled SELF/LESS in the coming months to add another dimension to her music and story.

“BRN” is AViVA’s battle cry and it’s visceral hook “burn, burn, burn, in the fire” is a throwback to the image of witch burnings. As she puts it “This is my F*ck you to anyone who dares to put me in a box”. 

 Check out AViVA’s “BRN” Here:  https://soundcloud.com/thisisaviva/aviva-brn

Learn more about AViVA in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time, AViVA!

You’re welcome 🙂

Where does this interview find you now? What’s on tap for the rest of your day?

Just sitting in my studio! I’ve been working all morning on the treatment of my filmclip for my next single! I’ve been sketching it hahah ‘sketching’.

Overall, how do you think 2018 has been treating you and your music career? What has been one goal that you have had this year and how close are you to reaching it?

Excellent! I’ve been so happy with how my music has been received. The support and growth of my audience is so inspiring.  It reminds me that I’m on the right track and to keep doing what I’m doing.

Growing up, was music always a big part of your life? Can you recall your first ever musical experience?

Yes, I come from a very musical family.  My dads a musician and all my uncles.  I also started playing music from when I was tiny! I started violin when I was 4… I did it for 7 years!!

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? Has there been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

I think the biggest surprise is how many people like to stick their fingers in the pot! I’m always surprised with that hahah! I have a pretty strong idea of the artistic direction for this whole project and I find it challenging when people don’t see the big picture.

How do you think you and your music have been influenced by your hometown and where you live today? If you don’t think that it has affected you at all, why is that?

I don’t think that’s really had much impact (I’m sure it has on some subconscious level but nothing I’m aware of.)  I’ve grown up in Sydney which is a pretty international city so I’ve never had the ‘big city dreams’ mindset… well that’s what I think of when I hear ‘hometown’! Hahah!

I find it interesting that sometimes musicians choose to go by something other than their own name so why did you decide to go something other than your own name?

Aviva is my real name.

Let’s talk about the music that you have been releasing over the past few months. What was the inspiration for your tracks “GRRRLS,” “DROWN” and “BRN”? How would you say that these songs are an example of the kind of artist that you are today?

I think it would be too long for me to explain all the meanings but they’re all on my YouTube in vlogs!! Overall I’m inspired by the impact our ability to express ourselves has on our self worth and confidence.  I’m really passionate about people being able to be who they are- without judgement. Any judgement!  I think that sonically the music matches the lyrics. The strength/ conviction is something people should continue to expect!

When do you hope to release more new music and a full collection of new songs? Are you finding that you are in a period of creativity right now when it comes to writing new songs?

New song will be out at the end of July! That’s why I’m working on the music video treatment 😉 I’m literally always writing songs or my book. Creativity doesn’t come and go in waves that just something lazy people say!

I would love to hear more about the young adult novels that you wrote. Where did the idea for “Self/Less” come from? Is this something that you have wanted to do for awhile? What was it like writing them? How do you think your musical background played a part of writing them?

SELF/LESS came to me from my songs and an idea I thought of; ‘what if we lived in a world where self-expression was illegal?’.  I took the idea and ran with it. I’ve always been writing and I’ve always said these songs are set in ‘a world in my mind’.  I wanted to take this a step further so all the media that surrounds each song (artwork, filmclip etc) tie in to the book directly.  Even the costume I wear and my hair have direct links to the book.  I’ve always wanted to be a musician and an author. Now it’s actually a thing!!

I’m still editing the first book, and I’ve started drafting the second book. Just talking about it makes me excited! You can listen to the songs and you could read the book separately… but together… it’s going to add layers to the project that I’ve hidden so deeply you wouldn’t have even noticed!

What do you think makes for an ideal show for you? What has been a favorite performance of yours so far? Do you have any upcoming shows this summer?

People who are engaged and loving it.  I’m not phased by people moving or standing an watching. If I’m on stage and all eyes are glued up there I know I’m doing something right!! I just finished the National tour with Tonight Alive.  It was fantastic!! I have a few things in the works but nothing I can talk about out loud yet!

We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious to know how your own music is reflecting this time period? If you don’t think it is, why is that? Would you say that other musicians are making music that has been influenced by this climate?

I think we all experience the world around us in different ways.  I keep politics away from my art- and let people draw their own conclusions!

What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all?

It’s not too bad, I have a timetable of things I do throughout the day.  I make a point of replying to peoples comments and messages. All of them. It can be time consuming but while I can afford the time I want to do it! I want to be real in what I would say is the most anonymous our world has ever been.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely still love to work with in the future?

I love Twenty-One Pilots, NF, YungBlud, Tonight Alive, PVRIS, Lana Del Rey, Halsey, NothingNowhere and I would be happy to work with any of those guys and gals in the future!!

If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island forever, what musical item would you take with you?

Ummmmm a thermos of hot honey, lemon and ginger for my voice. So I could keep singing!!

If your music was going to be featured on any TV show that is currently on right now, which would you love it to be on? Or if you prefer, what is a movie that you love that you wish your music was featured in?

RIVERDALE!

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music?

That they are enough and anything is possible if you believe in yourself. No one will champion you as much as you will so if you believe it, others will follow!

Where can our readers connect with you?

Please come and say hi! You can find me on…

Instagram- Instagram.com/thisisaviva

Twitter- twitter.com/thisisaviva

YouTube- YouTube.com/avivamusic

Tumblr- thisisaviva.tumblr.com

All Photography Provided By ngagency