Meet Alexia Avina

A self-portrait by, Alexia Avina

Would you rather…

shrink five times your actual size, or grow one hundred times your actual size? What would you do?

Definitely shrink because the world would become so much more magical! I would probably walk around with grass towering above me and ride on an ant or something.

Some questions with Alexia Avina

Hi there, nice to meet you. Can you tell us a little more about your musical project?

My solo project is an avenue of exploration and expression for me via different mediums. I have found that depending on which kind of instrument I write on, a pretty different sound comes out, however it all tends to exist within the same ambient infused realm. So my project varies from being ambient folk to ambient pop to more experimental.

Which do you prefer: scented candles, or room spray? Why?

Candles as long as they aren't made with toxic chemicals and aren't super intense. They add more of a feeling to a space than a room spray does in terms of the ambience of the flame.

From what I could find you’ve been releasing music since back in 2014. Have you noticed any changes in the way you approach songwriting and the creative process?

Yes actually, it's interesting to note that it is even cyclical at times. I used to only be able to write if I sat down and wrote the entire song in one sitting, otherwise I would never finish it. I've noticed that change over the years, to where sometimes it will take me a month to finish lyrics or a song structure, and yet most of the time there is that sense of completion that comes when I'm able to flow through an entire song in a day.

Do you drive? Are you a good driver?

I just got my license, so no, haha.

You recently did a collaboration with PerpetualDoom covering The O.C. theme song. Can you tell in your opinion is the greatest moment that show ever had over its entire run?

Wow.. I can't honestly remember the show that intimately.. The scene that comes to mind is when... Mischa Barton's character dies but that is super morbid of me to say. It's the only thing I'm remembering right now, haha.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Has this in any way shaped your music?

Both! I get energy from people and I really need that in my life but I also need a lot of down time to recharge. I think I've come to realize just how much of an introvert I am in finishing up a solo tour in the UK this July. I needed a lot of time to myself - which I got - and it was amazing!

What was the process like working with Isabella Katarina on the album artwork for ‘A Little Older’?

I looked at some existing pieces she had and we modified the one I chose for the artwork. Originally it had a stem, as it's a flower, but we took that out to create more of a spherical world than a bud.

Can you tell us a little more about your 2022 release ‘A Little Older’? What was the driving creative force behind the release?

It's a collection of songs written between 2017 to 2019, I believe. I generally like to catalogue my songs as albums based on the time during which they were written - this serves as the theme, the chapter in my life. So it was marked by lots of questions about intimacy and vulnerability, but also stylistically was marked by me discovering my voice as more of an instrument and manipulating it in ways that were new and more expressive to me. In releasing it I wanted to practice letting go, not holding it to be this precious thing that my validation and self worth were dependent on in terms of advancing my musical career. I actually have struggled a lot with this album in terms of not liking it.. So I just wanted to set it free and be freed of it to move onto the music that I am more excited about and in touch with e.g. I have an ambient pop EP coming out this October.

How do you feel about the reception to ‘A Little Older’ so far?

I feel like the small reception in terms of press and streaming is to be expected, however, I would say I've really felt the way in which this album has been connecting with people on a more one-to-one level than before.. Touring some of these songs in UK really revealed that to me.. This stuff isn't measurable in the way that social media and algorithms make it appear to be... You can't qualitatively measure the way in which a song impacts someone's life or day or even just a tiny moment of their human experience.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

Yes, I have my Crush EP coming out this October with two singles and music videos out in August and September. I'm really excited about this one, it's super fun and light and danceable in a chill way!

Alexia Avina