Ava Lily

Lily Ava Stokes (born 12 August 1993), also known as Ava Lily, is an English singer-songwriter.

Ava Lily
Birth nameLily Ava Stokes
Born (1993-08-12) 12 August 1993
Bristol, England[1]
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active2016–present

Career

After uploading a cover of "I Can't Make You Love Me" to YouTube,[2] Stokes was discovered by Naughty Boy and signed to Virgin EMI Records. Stokes released her debut single "Painkiller" in 2016.[3] She attended songwriting sessions with Emeli Sandé and James Arthur, and co-wrote Zayn Malik's song "Common" for his second album Icarus Falls.[4] She met Malik through the production duo MYKL.[5] She also collaborated with Professor Green and Laura Mvula.

For the Six Chair Challenge on the 2018 season of The X Factor, Stokes performed a cover the One Direction song "Perfect". However, she did not continue on with the competition, which Louis Tomlinson called a "shame".[6]

Stokes later left her label to go independent. In 2020, she released the singles "Blameless" and "Closure", along with her debut EP Higher Love. Her second EP Sunday Music Club, released in 2023, was written while Stokes was in the process of going sober, a topic touched on in "Sad Party" and "Happy Switch".[7] After playing number of Sofar Sounds gigs, later in 2023, Stokes reunited with Louis Tomlinson as one of the openers on the Europe leg of his Faith in the Future World Tour.

Artistry

Stokes grew up listening to Tracy Chapman, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears,[8] and was inspired to start writing music by Amy Winehouse.[2] She described songwriting as an "outlet for all my emotions".[9]

When asked in 2020, Stokes named H.E.R, Sabrina Claudio, Summer Walker, Giveon, Sonder, and Masego as her influences. She said she would like to collaborate with James Bay, Julia Michaels, Jhené Aiko, Snoh Aalegra, The 1975, and John Mayer.[5] She later called Miley Cyrus her "favourite voice in pop".[10]

Discography

EPs
  • Higher Love (2020)
  • Sunday Music Club (2023)

Singles
  • "Painkiller" (2016)
  • "Blameless" (2020)
  • "Closure" (2020)
  • "Tight Fit" (2022)
  • "Sad Party" (2022)
  • "Nobody Breaks My Heart Like I Do" (2023)
  • "Happy Switch" (2023)

References
  1. "Rising Stars: Ava Lily". The Media Eye. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  2. Evans, Elle (2020). "Introducing Bristol's Rising Songstress, Ava Lily, Generating A Distinct & Luscious Sound Of RnB". New Wave Magazine. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. Crowley, Eleanor (11 September 2016). "Ava Lily Isn't The Only Star To Be Discovered On YouTube". United by Pop. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. "Zayn Malik's Songwriter Reveals What It Was Like Working With Him And Brands His Voice 'Delicious'". Capital FM. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  5. Taylor, Danielle (22 July 2020). "Introducing Ava Lily". Euphoria. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  6. Kazi, Safeeyah (29 September 2018). "X Factor 2018: The best of the Six Chair Challenge episode one as Simon Cowell and Ayda Field put their acts to the test". Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  7. Coward, Teddy (5 April 2023). "whynow is the time to listen to… Ava Lily". WhyNow. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  8. Trapp, Malcolm (4 August 2022). "Ava Lily Is More Authentic Than Ever". Raydar. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  9. Radcliffe, Maya (3 December 2020). "Get to know… Ava Lily". PRS for Music. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  10. Edwards, Lorna (5 April 2023). "Ava Lily – Finding her Happy Switch". Reflector. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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