Her rich vocals — soft but powerful — seep through the brownstone walls. For many students college is a time to find one’s voice, but for country pop singer-songwriter Ava Malamut, it’s a chance to spread hers.
Malamut, 19, began her musical journey in middle school, crafting what she describes as “very crude lyrics” for open-mic night at summer camp — her first taste of the spotlight, however small. Later, she developed a love for the theater arts, starring in several high school productions, where she combined her talent for singing with improvisation.
The sophomore journalism student at Boston University is now taking her passion for performing and writing to the next level by pursuing a singing career. Last year, Malmut celebrated the release of her first single with cupcakes and an intimate dorm room party. This year, she’s aiming higher. With her second single, “Trope,” nearing release, Malamut has her sights set on a debut album. She sat down to discuss balancing school and music, her creative process, and her future ambitions.
Q: Why pursue both a college degree and singing career?
One of my many aunts once said to me to make your passion your side hustle until it can become your main hustle, and to keep working at it, even when it may not be what pays the bills. That said, my mother — and both my parents — have always said that knowledge is power. They have both emphasized education to me and my brother our entire lives. So, while I’m very passionate about music and singing and songwriting, I’m also very passionate about academics and learning as much as I can, not just within my field of study, but about the world around me.
What was the process of recording and releasing your first single, ‘Ghost Town?’
I was super lucky to find a studio [Cybersound] [that was] great for my goals [and] the collaborative process. My fabulous producer, Mike Midura, is an absolute wizard with the production software. When I went in, initially, I was newer to the process. I had my lyrics, my original chords on guitar, my capo, [and] everything written out and copyrighted. When we actually recorded it, Mike would listen to the demo and make marks and cuts where need be. He put together a lot of the instrumentals for the track and then we’d go into the vocal booth and I would cut some vocals. It was a one day process, and [then] I figured out cover and promoting.
Tell me about your upcoming single, ‘Trope.’
My upcoming single, ‘Trope,’ will be released soon. I’m still finalizing the cover art and some promotional bits and bobs, if you will, but I’m really excited about this song because I started writing these lyrics shortly after I started songwriting, so [they] have been in the works for almost five years now and have grown and adjusted over time. This song is really a labor of love, and I’m really excited, because I think it might even be better than my first one [“Ghost Town”].
What will your debut album feel like, thematically?
I think a lot of my music, while influenced by pop culture and books and movies, is rooted in personal experience. I would say that a lot of my work overall, and what I am working on now, is very nostalgic to some and a coming of age for others. It very much revolves around the roller coaster that is adolescence and young adulthood. Romantically, friendship-wise, career-wise, the “What the hell am I doing with my life?” There are so many internal and external conflicts — big and small — that we go through as young adults, so there’s a real roller coaster of emotions to cover.
Where do you hope to be in five years?
M: In five years, I will have graduated from college, so I’d hope to be opening for other artists, if not on tour myself. I’d hope to have — at the very least — an EP, if not an album by that point. I’d hope to be fortunate enough to continue to produce and write and grow my social media platforms to a point where I can really get my music out there and continue to share with people wherever I can. I’d just want to enjoy those emotions – the experience of live music – together.
Holly is an aspiring corporate communications professional with a passion for storytelling. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and looks forward to building a strong foundation in media relations and marketing communications.
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