Ava Joe

Don’t miss Ava Joe live at The Waiting Room this May – tickets on sale now!

In a world overrun with unrealistic projections of perfection, Ava Joe is providing some much-needed balance. Charting the emotional disarray of life in one’s early 20s, her songwriting is timely yet timeless, setting tales of toxic love affairs and youthful hedonism to alluring soul-pop so sweetly nostalgic it’s utterly transportive. “What a big beautiful mess!” she exclaims on the breezy title track from her second EP, and you can only concur.

At 23, the London-based artist has weathered more than many. Facing familial estrangements and controlling romances, she has worked to reclaim her confidence: “I got conditioned to believe that my voice wasn’t important… so it’s interesting that I’ve chosen singing as a career.” In truth, there was never really a plan B.

Born in Devon and raised in Surrey, Ava’s childhood was steeped in music thanks to her dad’s touring career. She recalls Radiohead and Nirvana at home, but it was Adele that sparked her first epiphany. “I saw myself being that kind of singer… but your voice changes depending on what traumas you go through.”

Determined to attend BRIT School, she performed in countless concerts before earning a place at 14, later studying at ACM Guildford. These years were personally challenging, inspiring her debut EP, Try Me, which explored toxic relationships and self-discovery.

For her follow-up, she leans into freedom and lightness. “I don’t want to play it safe.” Big Beautiful Mess reflects a bolder, more confident songwriter, pairing nostalgia with growth. “From every bad situation comes good… communicating through music is the deepest connection you can make.”