Alternative Rock/Pop Artist AViVA Discusses Her New Single “Ritual”
Australian alt-pop/rock artist AViVA is back with a bang, unveiling her latest single “Ritual,” which was released on Feb. 21, 2025, and produced by dark pop electronic Polish producer Mblue.
This addictive electro anthem celebrates individuality and self-empowerment, showcasing AViVA's venture into an exhilarating new sonic landscape.
AViVA is best known for her 2017 single "GRRRLS," an ARIA & RIAA double GOLD / Platinum award-winning track, and her most highly streamed song to date. Since then, she has built an empire of sound and sealed her place as a rising star in the music industry. Her music has amassed over 20 billion combined streams and over 60 million streams a month.
Aside from music, she has also authored two novels, SELF/LESS and RELENTLESS, which dive into her themes of control, identity, and belonging, resonating deeply with her dedicated fanbase, called the “Outsiders.”
The Beat Asia spoke to AViVA about the inspiration behind her new single and what fans can expect from her upcoming tour in Asia.
Hi AViVA! Congratulations on your new single “Ritual!” What inspired you to write this song?
I wanted the attitude of the song to be untouchable, and a bit different, but I couldn't think of an exact word, and “Ritual” fit. Anytime I can have a word that's really strong and resonates with people listening to it, that's always good. Once I had the word, I had the music, and it all kind of fell into place.
I'm quite a spiritual person and I think that the word “ritual” is really evocative – it brings to mind candles or sacred spaces, so the idea of someone being ritual was a fun concept. The song itself is about self-esteem and self-empowerment, and this idea of not being like other people and being okay with that. We all have parts of ourselves that are unique, and we need to find the inner confidence to embrace it.
The line "Their girls they be vapid, plastic" is like this idea of empty [people] in my first single "GRRRLS." In GRRRLS, I talk about fake faces, and that idea of vapid, plastic people has come back in the bridge [of “Ritual”], because there are a lot of fake faces everywhere in the music industry and entertainment generally. I think it's important as an artist to be real. This idea of ritual was a homage to the fact that there's something spiritual about being true to yourself.
What can you tell us about your songwriting process for "Ritual"?
I worked it out with a producer called Mblue. He created the production and had a rough melody that he was playing with which he sent to me, and I listened to it and liked it. Once I'd done the chorus (the hook), the verses just sort of fell into place.
I personally tend to write verses first, but in this case, I wrote the hook first. I find that if you write the hook first, it makes it easier overall, because you already know what the song’s about when you’re writing the verses.
Most of my songwriting is a very organic process, I tend to just go with the flow and not think about it too much. Once it’s finished, that's when I have a better idea of what it was about.
How do you know when a song is finished?
It’s a running joke to anyone on my team that within half an hour, I’ll know if the song is good or not. After an hour and a half, the top line, the melody, and the lyrics should be finished.
If it takes me more than an hour and a half to write that part of it, then I'm usually not sold on it. Once I finish that, it goes into more production, like adding extra instrumentation or remixing things. That’s something I like about Mblue, his songs are so full, but they don't feel overstuffed. The more limitations you have on time, the more creative you become.
The feel of “Ritual” is very different from your earlier works, with its complex electro-percussive effects. How did you develop this unique sound?
This is due to Mblue and his unique style. He has a really creative perspective on production, and every song I've worked on with him is so fun, because they're so alive, so effervescent, like fizzy water.
You never get bored and there's always another moment to grab, which is really exciting. I'm working on more songs with him now. It's fun when you find a collaborator that you know you work well with, and you can bounce off each other.
Are you continuing with this sound in the future?
I have a lot of songs in the bank. This album that's coming out this year is a bit different, and next year's album is a whole different sound. There's so many different sonic directions I’m taking, and I’m also experimenting with my voice and its style. The last six months or so have been very exciting.
You've previously mentioned that albums don't have the same impact they used to in today’s music industry. In your words, can you share what the concept of a single means to you?
I still believe in the album, I just don't believe in dropping all your songs in an album in one go, because people consume music digitally more than through physical or analog ways like CDs or vinyl. For me, the single is simply the fairest way to treat your music.
If you’re not writing singles, you shouldn’t be releasing them. If you need to fill out an album and you’re just using beat tracks or filler tracks, work harder.
You should be proud to release every song as a single, and it should stand alone for however long you need. For me it’s usually about a month, because I've got so many songs and I just want to keep putting music out.
Which artists have influenced your recent music?
I listen very widely to all kinds of music, mostly older stuff. The main genre I listen to is classical music. But my favorite band of all time is The Smiths – I'm still greatly influenced thematically by them. The way Morrissey paints a picture with his words is something that I always really loved.
I would say that the influence that I draw from them is usually emotional. It's not so much that there's one sound, or lyric, it tends to be more about how the song made me feel.
At the moment, I'm predominantly listening to CDs, I have quite a big CD collection now. I had kind of fallen out of love with listening to music because it felt like a chore, but listening to CDs has allowed me to be really selective with what I listen to.
I think that subconsciously inspired the idea behind "Ritual," because the ritual of listening to music and enjoying it is part of who I am as a person. Finding that passion again has been really therapeutic.
We're very excited to hear you're coming to Hong Kong later this year. Is this your first time in Asia?
It will be my first time touring in Asia! I’m pretty excited. I don't know all the places I'm going to yet, but hopefully it's awesome, and everyone who gets to go to a show really enjoys it!
What are you most looking forward to for your upcoming Asian Tour?
Just seeing and meeting fans from different regions. That's also why I tour, to see people's reaction to the music, and which songs they like. That's my favorite bit, just getting that feedback and real-life interaction. A language barrier can pose complications when it comes to connecting with fans, because I only speak English, but I'm excited to go. Music doesn't need language to be enjoyed.
What can fans expect from your upcoming performance in Hong Kong?
I would say my live stuff is heavier. People often think I'm more of a pop act, and then they see it live, and they're like, oh it's so much more. It’s Matais [Coulter] on drums and myself on vocals, and we try to bring lot of energy, and our sound is quite dynamic. I think that's the biggest thing to expect. It's not like metal heavy, but definitely more rock-pop.
Where else will you be playing in 2025 and are there any additional surprises coming up for your fans?
I will be touring Asia, Europe, Australia, and America this year, those are the main regions, so that’s very exciting!
I may have another written work come out this year as well. My first two albums both had books that came out with them, “Self/Less” and “Relentless.” This year, there may also be something else to look forward to!
Listen to “Ritual” on Spotify or on Youtube, and stay connected to AViVA on her official website and Instagram.
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