Q&A: Writing Into the Whirlwind of Adolescence, AVIV Talks EP ‘DROWNING IN THE CULTURE,’ Tour & More
AT JUST 16 YEARS OLD — AVIV has already scored a tour opening for Imagine Dragons. She experiences the same emotional rollercoasters, interpersonal drama, and confusion that any other adolescents go through, but in her bedroom she writes them down in candy-sweet melodies and tangy lyrics.
Released April 15, AVIV’s debut EP, DROWNING IN THE CULTURE, provides details of the swirlwind that is her life at the moment. “Failed English” cheekily describes post-breakup pettiness through the uncommon subject of judging someone’s character for failing English. The title track, “Drowning in the Culture,” recalls a time when AVIV was mistaken as a 25-year-old on a cross-country flight. Even the interlude, “get to bed dawson (interlude),” highlights a specific memory, recalling a time when AVIV almost prioritized someone else’s well-being over her own troubles.
Dazzlingly smart with her lyricism, AVIV employs just the right balance of details and universal relatability. What makes her unique is that AVIV recognizes the similarities among her own stories and how they echo the shared experience of a generation. Thus, she coins the project with its name. Her debut project never glamorizes the melodrama, but not a second goes by where she does not comfort and validate the growing pain.
We speak with AVIV in an email conversation while she embarks on her national run with Imagine Dragons. Read below to learn more about DROWNING IN THE CULTURE and AVIV herself.
LUNA: How's the tour? Have you tried to develop a daily routine? What's it like supporting Imagine Dragons?
AVIV: The tour has been awesome! I’m still a student, so my routine consists of schoolwork in the morning, heading to the venue late afternoon, then the performance. Supporting Imagine Dragons has been a dream. Their crowds are always filled with diverse and warm and good individuals. Not to mention, their performance always impresses me the more and more I watch.
LUNA: What's the work/life balance — if there's any, given that you're so young and very much have a life beyond making music back home? What has been the biggest challenge, and do you talk about it in this EP?
AVIV: The balance never felt tough due to lockdown and being at home. This year I’ve faced more challenges, but I’ve surrounded myself with good people that just want to help. I’m still learning how to “master” the balance, if that's even possible. But the biggest challenge has been maintaining relationships with those around me while emitting so much energy into a project. But as previously stated, it’s about those around you and their understanding.
LUNA: What is “get to bed dawson (interlude)” about?
AVIV: “dawson” is actually about Dawson Leery from Dawson’s Creek — my dream boy growing up. Dawson reminds me a lot of the first person I ever liked, and this song is about him. More specifically, when my music and life picked up again, I had to learn to deal with being away and not there when things were happening in his life. This can be scary to not be around. Sometimes I would wait very late until I got the “I’m home, goodnight” text because it meant a lot to me.
LUNA: Favorite track on the EP and why?
AVIV: My favorite track on the EP… That’s so hard! I’ll say “Disposable Friends,” because that is the most universally relatable song. Knowing your worth is very hard, and letting others choose your validation ruins your self-perception. I also love how fun and angsty the production is. The producer, Rian Lewis, killed it on this.
LUNA: When you say “drowning in the culture,” what "culture" are we referring to?
AVIV: The culture is our world and society’s, and drowning in our expectations.
LUNA: Which serial killer shows have you been binging? Any recommendations?
AVIV: My current favorite is Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix. It tackles very different cases in each episode and is so well done, as well as extremely respectful to those involved. The cases they touch on aren't solved, so I enjoy playing detective and dissecting different theories. From experience, I don't recommend watching it at night... lol
LUNA: In the final track on the EP, you talked about being mistaken as a 25-year-old on flights — how does that feel? Are you happy with your growth as an artist, or do you feel like slowing down just a bit would be helpful?
AVIV: Growing up, I always loved being mistaken to be older. I was always pretty mature for my age, or at least pretended to be. Now that I am growing up, part of me regrets trying to neglect my age and youth.
LUNA: Do you see yourself experimenting with different genres soon? What are some long-term goals you've got in mind in terms of developing your sound?
AVIV: Absolutely! I’m still learning what I want to be putting out into the world. I love experimenting and trying a bunch of new things. I believe that my music in two years will sound completely different from now. It’s a part of growing — who knows what an older me will be into.
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