Distant by Ava Valianti: Review

by admin June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Ava Valianti’s latest single, “Distant”, is a warm, wistful, and quietly devastating track that shows how growing apart from someone you never expected to lose. Released on May 23rd, this marks the sixth single from the 15-year-old indie-pop prodigy, who is hitting a new stride, marked by emotional complexity, subtle production, and striking vocal presence.

The song opens with delicate guitar strums that set a soft, nostalgic tone. Valianti’s rich and husky voice lands with an intimate, grounded sincerity. The dreamlike tenderness to her delivery gets soothing but never distant, as if she’s gently walking you through the story. Layers of ambient sound float above her vocals and cast a weighty, suspended atmosphere over the track. Then, as the drums kick in and the energy swells, the song blooms. A higher, airy vocal layer drifts in behind her like a ghost of past memories, with texture and emotional depth. It’s not flashy, but it’s immersive, and the vibrant guitar riffs toward the end give it a pulse.

What makes “Distant” particularly compelling is its contradiction. The lyrics mourn the quiet unraveling of childhood friendships, but the instrumentation radiates soft optimism. It’s that “smile through the sadness” energy Ava herself describes, and it hits hard in the best way.

Valianti wraps real emotional weight in shimmering pop melodies is impressive. “Distant” isn’t just a stepping stone to her debut EP—it’s a fully realized moment, a bittersweet anthem that lingers long after the final note. Stay tuned for the big release.