Newbury’s Ava Valianti released “Hot Mess” as part of her debut EP, petunias, back in October. The 16-year-old singer-songwriter has been building momentum since her 2023 debut single “bubble wrap”, racking up over 250 radio spins, two New England Music Award nominations, and opening slots for Jessica Baio, Lucy Kaplansky, and The Strumbellas. She’s also sold out her own headlining shows, which is worth noting for someone still in high school. “Hot Mess” arrived with fan favorites like “Laugh Track” and “Buttercups” on an EP named after a flower Valianti describes as ordinary until you actually look at it. The song’s premise is simple: being a disaster is fine, actually.
Musically, “Hot Mess” is not a hot mess at all. It’s a polished piece of anthemic pop music, featuring perfect pacing, ear candy, and top-notch production. It’s got everything you’d expect: acoustic guitar power chords, punchy drum sounds, and a catchy bassline that works in tandem with the vocals to create memorable hooks. However, the song truly shines due to its lyrical themes. It emphasizes that being a “hot mess” is okay, we’re all flawed human beings, and it’s easy to be stuck trying to follow societal guidelines of what is normal, but “everything is better when you’re messier” drives home the notion of living life as an experience we learn we make mistakes, it’s messy and it’s beautiful.
Valianti wrote this for anyone who’s felt like they’re too much and not enough at the same time, which is most people at some point. The tongue-in-cheek delivery keeps it from getting too heavy-handed, and the production backs up the confidence the lyrics are pushing. At 16, she’s already figured out how to make introspective writing feel anthemic instead of just confessional, which is harder than it looks. Based on the trajectory so far, she’s got more to say.
