In her latest single ‘Laugh Track’, Ava Valianti strips back the stage lights and invites us to sit front row for the existential sitcom that is her internal monologue. It’s sardonic, self-aware, and steeped in the kind of truth that makes you smirk before it punches you in the gut.
Framed around the idea of life as a scripted show, one where the audience might be laughing at you, not with you, ‘Laugh Track’ finds its power in confronting that nagging suspicion most of us keep buried. Over a moody indie-pop backdrop, Ava’s voice oscillates between deadpan wit and aching vulnerability, walking a fine line between detached and devastating. It’s the kind of performance that sounds effortless but lands heavy.
There’s a sharp lyrical cleverness at work here too. With subtle nods to pop culture figures like Truman Burbank and Ted Mosby, Ava’s songwriting captures that specific flavour of twenty-something existential dread. It’s less “woe is me” and more “Wait- who’s writing this episode, and can I speak to the editor?”
Production-wise, ‘Laugh Track’ leans into a minimalist arrangement that keeps the focus squarely on Ava’s songwriting. The instrumentation feels intentionally restrained with muted drums, melancholic keys, and space for her voice to breathe. Every line lands with clarity, allowing the emotional weight of her words to linger.
Ava Valianti may still be early in her career, but ‘Laugh Track’ proves she’s carving out her own script. If you’ve ever felt like you were stuck playing a character in your own life, or wondered if the people around you were quietly clapping for your downfall, this one’s going to hit hard and in the best way.
