by martina rexrode
photo by serena dong
With the holiday season in full swing, electro-pop artist Ava King is here to offer a different perspective. Her latest single “Worst In Me” is just one fiery, unapologetically honest taste of what’s to come from her debut album SEX MONEY GOD set to release next year. King is on track to becoming a breakout star in the ever-expanding world of badass women who not only perform their music but also write, produce, and hold incredible creative control.
Congratulations on the release of your new single! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind “Worst In Me”?
Ava: “At the time I wrote it, ‘Worst In Me’ was inspired by a friendship gone sour. I couldn’t honestly say the other person was a bad person, out in their lives they were even a great person, I can’t say I’m 100% a bad person either, it’s just that when we were together we would become quite awful people. It’s my meditation on a situation where two people hate each other, but it’s honestly no one’s fault.”
Since it’s described as an “anti-holiday single,” were there any specific aspects of holiday songs that you wanted to push against?
Ava: “Not specifically push against holiday songs in particular, I understand that for most people the holidays are filled with family and wonderful memories. I just don’t see any other reality around the holidays depicted though, it’s all just total happiness, but what about the reality in which family relationships are tense or dysfunctional? What about the reality in which the holidays are more draining and slightly traumatic than warm and fuzzy?”
What is your favorite lyric in “Worst In Me”?
Ava: “‘There ain’t nothing wrong with us, as long as we take separate planes.’”
This single was written and produced in your living room which is nothing short of impressive. How long have you been producing?
Ava: “Thank you for your kind words! I’ve been producing for about seven years. There’s still so much more to learn, it’s endless and also very exciting.”
Which part of the creative process do you enjoy the most when making a song?
Ava: “Ohhhhhh, I do actually love the initial phase of just writing a song, getting down the barebones skeleton really fast, that’s really exciting for me.”
What kind of themes can listeners expect from your upcoming debut album, SEX MONEY GOD, out early next year?
Ava: “What a great question, wow, so many themes, but I would say the main ones are about seeking validation outside of ourselves, trying to fit in unsuccessfully. There’s a song called ‘Let’s Make a Porn’ in which the character tries to imitate porn actresses in bed in order to win over the man she’s dating, but it just ends up making her feel alienated from herself and him. The album is about how we lose ourselves when we look for toxic forms of love.”
Is there anything else you’d like to share or hint at to our readers?
Ava: “Yes! I’m currently creating a comedy/musical around the album SEX MONEY GOD which further explores its topics, and I welcome everyone in LA to come see the show (current date is February 5th 2024!)”