ANCHORAGE, AK - The phrase, “Ava, you are a lot,” has been a familiar refrain in the life of Alaska singer-songwriter Ava Earl. Uttered with loving amusement by her parents, mild frustration by more than one teacher, and joyful admiration by a few key mentors, this notion of “being a lot” is at the heart of her forthcoming studio album, fittingly titled, Too Much.
Today, Ava Earl shares the first single from the album “Jealous of Her,” a song about coping with unrequited feelings. “In many of my songs, I like to take real life inspiration, and elevate it to a place somewhat outside of reality, and that’s what I did with this song,” explains Ava.
The verses are pretty grounded, and consider the downfalls of this relationship, but the chorus is more fictional,
“I fantasize about being with someone only to make the object of my affection jealous. The fabrication of truth heightens this contrast, turning it into a contest: It’s a competition like it’s always been / I wish that I could make you jealous of him.”
Having opened for the likes of Maggie Rogers while still in high school and releasing four albums by the time she was 18, Earl has already solidified herself in the Americana scene as an emerging artist. She made a big step up in 2021 with her album The Roses, produced by GRAMMY-nominated JT Nero. Well received by Americana UK, Holler, and American Songwriter, several songs were featured on Spotify editorial playlists, with “Mountain Song” amassing more than 100,000 streams.
Too Much continues on this path. Produced by JUNO-winner Zachariah Hickman and recorded at Great North Sound Society in Maine, the album champions a new sound––one that breaks away from previous recordings while staying close to Earl’s unique writing style. Rooted in lyrical rock, there are tracks that evoke the pop sounds of Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and Gracie Abrams, while others hint at Americana artists Phoebe Bridgers, Elliott Smith, and Laura Marling. Thematically, the album takes us through Earl’s journey of early adulthood, including the concept of being “too much.”
Too Much will be available on September 15th, 2023.
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