A Newbury teenager is headed to Nashville later this month as one of three finalists for American Songwriter’s Road Ready Talent Contest, where she will perform on March 31.
Ava Valianti, 16, has been writing songs since she was child. An accomplished musician — she plays guitar, piano, has been learning the ukulele and loves the tambourine — her first single, “Bubble Wrap,” debuted in 2023. She has also released an EP, “Petunias.”
“Being a finalist for the Road Ready contest and going to Nashville feels like a door has been opened for me, and the opportunity has given me the chance to start a new chapter in my journey as an artist,” Valianti told Wicked Local in a phone interview. “I’m so grateful and excited for the chance to perform all these songs live.”
The Road Ready Talent Contest is a global search for musical talent. Artists can enter with original songs or covers, performing through vocals, instruments or both. The top three, which this year includes Valianti, perform live at The Basement East in Nashville, with a grand prize winner to be announced to a VIP audience.
The winner receives $20,000 in cash, a publishing opportunity with Savage Music, a two-page feature in American Songwriter Magazine, a premier studio recording package and more.
The public is invited to pick the winner by visiting americansongwriter.com/the-publics-pick and clicking on an artist. Followers can listen to a preview of Valianti’s song, “Distant,” on the page as well.
Valianti is the only one of the three finalists from outside Nashville — and she’s also the only teenager.
Reaching people through music
Described by American Songwriter as a “fast-rising indie pop-rock singer-songwriter,” Valianti is no stranger to the local music scene. Her work has already amassed close to half a million streams and has earned airplay on more than 300 radio stations, including WXRV The River; 92.5’s Homegrown Music Showcase; and WATD 95.9’s Almost Famous Showcase.
In addition, she has performed in Boston, New York City and throughout New England.
Raised on classic rock, pop and folk music of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s — she’s a big fan of Carole King — Valianti has said indie pop artists such as Billie Eilish and Lana Del Rey have influenced her music.
A junior at the Brooks School in North Andover, Valianti is balancing school life while preparing new music for release this spring.
“I love to make music, and if other people enjoy it or connect to it, then the job’s been done well and that excites me,” she previously told Wicked Local.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.wickedlocal.com ’
