AViVA shouts from the mountaintops – interview

Travelling between LA & Sydney, Australian artist AViVA recently released her latest single ‘BRN’. We have a chat with her:

Hello there AViVA. How are you? What’s going on in your world today?

I’m great thanks! Just got home from being on tour with Tonight Alive around Australia.

Well, that’s good to know, because, from what I’ve heard through listening to your music, you sound angry. Is that your intention? What’s the feeling that you’re trying to communicate? And who, or what, are you trying to communicate it to?

Hahaha I’m sorry you feel that way! Maybe you miscommunicated my passion as anger. My songs are about self-efficacy, not anger. Sometimes you have to shout from mountaintops to be heard though…

Do you feel the same way about your compulsion to express yourself through your music as you did when you were starting out? What was the ‘fuck it!’ moment when you realised that music was your way out, your medium of expression?

There was no ‘defining moment’ I’ve always been writing songs as a way to communicate my feelings. It’s been my coping mechanism for as long as I can remember. Music is my medicine.

Has that feeling of compulsion changed form somewhat now you’ve been enjoying your rise to, what arguably is, success? Or does it make you want to scream louder? Or changed what you want to scream about, or who you want to scream to?

I don’t do much screaming. I think that everything I do is about the same thing. Being accepted for who we are. People don’t like accepting others. They like boxing. I guess I’d scream at someone who tries to put me in a box.

What’s been one of the unexpected joys that have come out of being able to reach so many people with your music?

I think having people reach out and share with me what they love about my music or how it makes them feel. That is really special to me. I really appreciate all the comments and messages, that’s why I endeavour to reply to them all.

Your music has been cited as having its roots in the riot grrl movement – a movement pioneered by frontwomen and their bands who were active when you must have been rocking and rolling away in the womb. What led you to find riot grrl, how did it change and influence you, and do you feel it’s still alive? Who are your other influences, musically and stylistically?

When I was a teenager I got really into zines and Kathleen Hanna is a zine pioneer! I’ve said it was ‘nod’ to the movement- my song GRRRLS is about having to champion yourself and to me, there was a lot of that in the Riot Grrl movement, it was people fighting to be heard and respected.

What’s the new single all about? What should we all sit up and notice? You have to answer this answer in capitals, like you’re shouting it at all of us.

LET PEOPLE BE WHO THEY ARE AND STOP TRYING TO PUT PEOPLE INTO YOUR FUCKING BOXES!

What’s your live show like, what’s it been like on your current tour? Are you going all Kathleen Hanna meets Iggy Pop crazy at everyone?

It’s high energy, weird and a bit freaky. If you like eye contact that makes you uncomfortable, kick-ass musicians and really strong vocals you should probably come and watch AViVA live.

What in this world makes you happy?

Cats.

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‘BRN’ is available now on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play and most of your other favourite download services.

Keep up to date with Aviva on Facebook.

Interview by Cherry Anna Brearley.