There are artists who arrive with noise. There are others who arrive with truth. Ava Rivello, 18 years old, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, seems firmly committed to the second option — and she’s building a music career where every lyric sounds like a page torn from a diary.
Her most recent release, the single (it was) never love, arrived in April 2026 with a direct mission: to talk about abusive relationships and what it takes to leave them. It’s not an easy subject, but Ava didn’t come to make things easy. “You’re not alone and it’s brave to take that step,” she says when describing the inspiration behind the songs. The project follows her debut single, “no good” (2023), which already revolved around an equally heavy theme — realizing that toxic people make you doubt yourself, when the problem was never you.
Together, the two works point to what should be the backbone of Ava’s career: music as a mental health platform. “I’ve been through a lot of mental health struggles and there’s nothing worse than feeling alone — like what you feel is wrong or abnormal,” she shared in a recent interview. “I want my music to help people feel seen, heard, and supported.“
A sound built on real influences
Ava’s style didn’t come from nowhere. Growing up as an only child in the Philadelphia area, she found in music a way to express herself that nothing else could replace. Singing since age 5, learning piano, guitar, bass, and drums from age 8 onward — not out of obligation, but driven by genuine need.
Her influences shaped what she calls an “honest, emotional, and real” sound: Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, and Hayley Williams were her biggest references. It’s no coincidence that alternative-leaning pop-rock with visceral lyrics is exactly the territory Ava inhabits. Hayley Williams herself is her declared idol, admired precisely for writing her own songs and never giving herself up to the market.
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For recording, Ava collaborates with NI Music Group out of Los Angeles. On the single “no good,” she was joined by Aben Eubanks — a Grammy-nominated musician — who layered bass and guitar into the track. The partnership was born from a genuine connection, and Ava describes the studio experience as transformative: “It gave me a boost of hope for my future as an artist.“
Her creative process always starts with words. She writes first in a poetic format, as if organizing her thoughts — then builds the melody and production around it. “I’ve become more honest and intentional with what I write. I focus more on the real emotion and less on trying to make something perfect.”
Beyond music: runways and digital influence
Outside the studio, Ava also moves through another creative world: fashion. She has been walking in New York Fashion Week shows for some years and has worked alongside names like supermodel Coco Rocha. On TikTok, she has amassed over 217,000 followers — an audience built mainly around her style and personality.
What she sees in the runway is a tool, not a destination: a way to expand her platform, gain confidence for live performances, and reach future fans.
he difference between the two worlds, in her own words, is simple: “On the runway, I’m a model and my job is to present the fashion the way the designer wants. When I perform musically, I can be 100% myself.”
What’s ahead
For 2026, Ava promises new releases and a deeper connection with those who already follow her. Her goal isn’t fame — it’s community. “My main goal isn’t to gain fame or popularity. It’s to build a community of people who connect with my music and can feel seen and comfortable.“
If the single (it was) never love is a preview of what’s to come, the path ahead promises to be built on a foundation rarely seen in today’s pop music: real vulnerability, unfiltered and unapologetic.
Worth keeping an eye on.
Ava Rivello is available on:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/5VNfxF6r2aKzxGhTOJENPZ
Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/ava-rivello/1676319454
YouTube: youtube.com/@AvaRivello
Instagram: @ava_rivello_official
TikTok: @ava_rivello_official
