Ava Max had been trying to force a breakthrough in the music industry for ten years when she released her song Sweet but Psycho suddenly became a worldwide number 1 hit at the end of 2018. The American singer releases her debut album almost two years later Heaven & Hell and that feels somewhat like revenge, she says in conversation with NU.nl.
“I would be lying if I said that releasing a record doesn’t feel a little bit like revenge on the people who told me that I wouldn’t be able to break through anyway,” said 26-year-old Max, who became born as Amanda Ava Koci.
The singer focused on her own struggle on her debut album. “I think after this album it has become impossible for me to write songs that don’t have a motivational message,” she sighs with a laugh. “I think I wrote so many empowering themed songs because I went through difficult times myself. There were times when I thought the breakthrough would never come and it was hard for me and that’s why I want to make music that people do. gives hope and makes you happy, “she says of songs like Kings & Queens.
That’s how she wrote the single Who’s Laughing Now about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and feeling stronger from the battle. “In the video clip for this song, I play a girl in a mental institution whose music flows through her veins. That’s exactly how I felt when I pursued my musical dream despite negative comments.”
In addition to her love for music, it was also mainly her family who dragged her through it at the most difficult moments. “Seeing how they fought themselves, I knew I couldn’t give up,” she refers to her younger years when her parents, as Albanian immigrants who didn’t speak English, had to make ends meet in the United States.
‘They saw me as a little blonde girl who knew nothing’
In her early years as an artist, Max regularly had to deal with male producers who did not want the best for her. She got into trouble with a producer who only wanted to give her the demo of her song if the singer would go out with him. She hopes it helps to speak up about these kinds of experiences.
“It is slowly getting better, but we are still in a situation where it can easily go wrong if the man has power over the female artist. Especially when you are at the start of your career, they are more likely to try to take advantage of you. “They thought I was a little blond girl who didn’t know anything about anything. It was hard for me to fight for what I wanted until I met my producer Cirkut. He showed me how to do it.”
Max met Cirkut when friends took her to his birthday. At their insistence, Max sang Happy Birthday, after which the producer wanted to work with her. “It clicked right away and I quickly realized that he is a genius when it comes to producing pop music. He has been indispensable to me in my growth and in finding my sound.”
This sound was also influenced by other great pop singers such as Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry and Britney Spears. After Max’s breakthrough, many comparisons with Lady Gaga followed. The singer admits that she had to get used to this. “It makes sense that comparisons are made and I am a fan of all the female singers mentioned, but some trolls need to slow down a bit. No two performers are the same, and comparing and deliberately trying to create rivalry between female artists is exhausting. I can’t even take it seriously anymore. “
– .
