WRITTEN BY DEL HENDRICK
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Covered by the New York Times, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar and Rolling Stone, Dolly Ave is described as “one of the Asian women pop stars taking center stage.” This NYTimes description couldn’t be more accurate, as Dolly Ave’s musical career is taking off incredibly right before our eyes. A beautifully versatile artist, Ave’s music combines rock, indie and pop into her own unique blend. While her music has drawn comparisons to Hayley Williams, Mitski and Japanese Breakfast, Ave’s music is inarguably completely her own. Shaped by her worldview, each song is lyrically sharp with melodies reminiscent of the 90s that hoist up what she has to say. At some points, Dolly Ave’s sound is abundantly cinematic.
Her album Bad Brain dropped this year with a striking balance of unforgettable beats, emotionally resonant words and clever guitar riffs that enrich her sound. She leads with an upbeat, pop sound you can dance to, and backs it up with enticing, heavier instrumentals. Her approach to music is incredibly creative and addicting. I found this album gorgeous, jam-packed with qualities that make it relatable while maintaining the parts of Ave that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
A stand-out song, “Your Stain,” ventures into the grief of harboring complicated feelings wrapped up in a former relationship. With a steady forwardness to her voice and smooth, healthy-sounding syllables that keep you listening, Ave describes the ways in which somebody’s absence becomes a presence in itself.
“Watch me,” another favorite of mine, is imbued with determination and gritty vocals, demonstrating Ave’s impressive vocal range and control. Even better, it functions as an anthem of sorts for her audience with powerful lyrics such as “They ain’t gonna stop me, watch them watch me.” A song like this cements Ave as a voice that must be listened to — an inspiration for those who, like her in her other song “Misfit,” may not fit in or have any desire to conform. Among the themes of past relationships, self-doubt, being in and out of love, and overall growing up, in Bad Brain, Ave above all encourages her listeners to be themselves with her own honesty.
Authenticity is instrumental in Bad Brain’s success. It’s also what makes Dolly Ave one of the prime artists to follow. She sat down with Life on Jupiter to get real on all things Bad Brain, getting sponsored by Converse and her show coming up for Emo Nite in LA on Oct. 30.
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LIFE ON JUPITER: I had such a lovely time not only listening to Bad Brain on repeat but also reading your feature in Harper’s Bazaar. Your determination in pursuing your dream even in the face of COVID and loss is an inspiration to so many. Did you approach this album differently than your first? How has life changed for you now compared to then — do you feel like your relationship to your music has changed at all?
AVE: My first album, I was still very green. It was a great intro to learning what I like and dislike, how to sing, how to write, and how to work with people. My life is completely different compared to then. I was still a photographer then, but now I pursue this full-time alongside some acting and modeling. My younger self would be surprised by where my career has gone. I'm very proud of my growth as an artist. My relationship to music continues to fluctuate daily. It's a lifelong journey when you commit your life to the arts. Some days you're frustrated, uninspired or hard on yourself. Most days are full of adventure, new experiences and pinch-me moments.
How was your experience with Converse All-Stars?
AVE: My chapter with Converse is one that I'll never forget. I was able to fully experiment with the projects we collaborated on. When brands allow you the opportunity to be yourself without too much red tape, the result is naturally authentic and memorable. I also have way too many shoes now to count. Thankfully, I really wear my clothes until they fall apart, so I'm ready to break them in.
With it being the title of the album and its own song, it’s clear that Bad Brain carries a deep significance to you. What was the thought behind making this title and first track, overall the first impression of the entire album? Do you think Bad Brain sets up listeners for the other songs? In general, I would love to hear about what this phrase and mental health mean to you and how you came to choose it.
AVE: Sonically, this song combines elements of 90s music that I love: key changes, nostalgia, driving guitars, and angst. This felt like the perfect track to ease listeners into this world. As we move through the tracklist, the songs get heavier and more energetic. For a long time, I never really felt like I had much to comment on my romantic endeavors in my music. It comes naturally to me to write about themes of mental health and self. It's a part of my story advocating for us to be more vulnerable and having discussions about taking care of ourselves.
I’ve seen you speak about how your Vietnamese roots relate to your music. While your relationship to this and your mother surrounds your debut album, This is Our Time, did you also find this coming through in Bad Brain?
AVE: There are a few songs that touched upon my relationship with my family and the loss of my mother that didn't make it onto the album. It's still possible people will get a chance to hear them on a deluxe album or a future project, but yes! You don't really escape chapters in your life and those themes can come up sometimes even if you're in a completely different space.
While all of the songs had gorgeous writing, “Oh Ruby” really stuck out to me. You capture infatuation and then, further on in the album, yearning and loss (“Your Stain,” “Hush Hush Hush”) so vividly. How have the experiences you write about in your music gone on to shape your view of love and relationships?
AVE: Thank you so much. I'm very proud of that song. I've learned through songwriting that the overall feelings I have regarding love and relationships aren't one specific emotion which is a very human experience. I'm in love and I'm confused and afraid and I'm sad.
There are moments in this album that strike me as perfect for a coming-of-age movie soundtrack. You capture the beats of your life with so much intention and dedication it’s impossible not to be pulled in as a listener. Do you have a specific method or ritual when it comes to writing and/or thinking through building a song or an album?
AVE: I honestly write songs that I'd personally like to listen to. I love a big hook, instrumental breakdowns, sad lyrics and harmonies—so my method is to write songs I'd love to press repeat on.
Where are you at regarding Emo Nite coming up so soon? That sounds like such an incredibly fun show. Is the excitement building for you?
AVE: We rehearse soon! It's a fun one because it happens to also be Halloween weekend, which I'm a big fan of. Yes, I am so excited. I've been to many Vans Warped Tour shows and it was a bucket list item to have my name next to that "Vans Warped Tour" presents logo. Manifesting some more opportunities, but as always, I'm just happy to be here.
Thank you so, so much Dolly. I am so hyped to see whatever comes next for you and it was an absolute pleasure immersing myself in your music.
