Ava Della Pietra returns with her new single “rearview mirror,” and it’s a barnburner. The New York-born singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist is a step apart from many of her contemporaries in several ways. However, one of the most crucial distinctions is that Ava assumes responsibility for writing her own material. It reflects her passions and personality in ways that many of her peers can’t claim. “rearview mirror” deals with a side of politics of the heart that few other tracks do, I cannot recall the last time that I’ve heard this sort of subject matter broached, but she isn’t remaking the songwriting wheel. We aren’t in alien territory.
However, she does have a distinctively individual touch. It comes through most strongly in the marriage of the song and accompanying video. The promo clip makes it clear that Ava is a natural actress, her comfort in front of a camera is clear, and she commands our attention at every point. Her facial expressions and body language are crucial to the clip’s success. Surrounding her with effective actors and extras is less essential to the video than her performance, but nonetheless important. The setting and cinematography of the clip are other key strengths of the music video.
The song’s construction is wonderful. I’m quite taken by how much she accomplishes with such a bare-bones musical arrangement. The driving forces of the single’s musical identity are unusual percussion touches and resonant bass that will shake any stereo speakers. The transitions from one passage to the next, and especially the refrain, are more than highlights of this song; they are highlights of Ava’s songwriting output thus far.
I won’t claim that you’ll hear any instances of high-flown poetry in Ava’s lyrics, but instead, she focuses on a conversational style that listeners will connect with rather than struggle to interpret. It’s a pointed and well-written lyric. The same economical principles driving the musical composition of the piece are present in the words as well; listeners won’t hear even a single extraneous syllable in Ava’s writing.
There’s no wasted motion at all. “rearview mirror” is a model of top-flight pop songwriting. Ava elevates her skills with each new release.
Claire Uebelacker