1. Who are you? What were you like as a child?

My name is Ava August. I’m a 12 year old singer/songwriter from California. As a child I was always singing or creating. I was also very athletic and into sports.  My parents said that I would spend hours upstairs in my room either making up imaginary characters, singing, or putting together imovies with my friends or neighbors. That love of singing , and creative energy ultimately got channeled into songwriting and playing instruments.

2. When did music first come into your life and where is it taking you now?

My parents say that from the moment I could talk I was singing. To this day I am always singing around the house, in the shower, in the car, in my room. You name it! Neither of my parents sing or play an instrument but they have always exposed me to all genres of music. Music is always playing in our house. They have always been very supportive of my music.

I first started performing the National Anthem at different sporting events at the age of 8. The feeling I got the first time I was on stage was incredible. I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. At the age of 10 I was introduced to the ukulele. On a family vacation to Kauai I told a local store owner that I was a singer. After, they watched my singing videos on youtube they decided to gift me my first ukulele for free. I have been in love ever since! This moment will always be a special memory for me. That same year I started playing the piano and just this past winter I have added the guitar into the mix. I love having a variety of sounds to song-write and sing to… It keeps it fresh.

In the last year some exciting opportunities have come my way!  A Hollywood producer named Kool Kojak who has worked with an impressive list including but not limited to Ariana Grande, Ke$ha, One

Direction, Brittany Spears, and Nicki Minaj, along with photographer Joe Hill spotted one of my singing videos that I posted on my instagram page. It was a mash up of Nicki Minaj and Super Bass. After, watching more of my videos they reached out to me. We later agreed to meet and record a few times in the studio. This led to me signing to the new independent record label Kojak started with Jenna Adler called Trizm. Over the past year we have been meeting off and on to record my originals for my first EP that will be released soon!

3. You are a competitive soccer player too, how do you juggle music, soccer and school?

Besides being a singer / songwriter,  I also play soccer for a tier 1 club soccer team called the SoCal Blues. I have always been an athlete and love playing soccer. I am so fortunate to get to be on such an amazing team. It is a major juggling act to try and do everything, but I try my best… Sometimes I have to miss events like birthday parties, practices, or very rarely a game. Fortunately, school has always come easily for me and hopefully, will stay that way in the future.

4. Who are your role models ?

In the music world it’s hard to limit my answer to one person. I love Ed Sheeran. I think he is an incredibly talented musician and songwriter. I love Rihanna for her versatility, she isn’t afraid to try different things. The Beatles are amazing too. I think their music is timeless and appeals to all ages. My role models in everyday life are my parents. They continue to show me that hard work pays off and they encourage me to follow my passion. They have always made me feel like I can do whatever I want to do in life.

5. You have Type 1 Diabetes, what does this mean and how does it affect you on a daily basis?

At the age of 4 my world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. T1D is a relentless disease that requires constant management. It is also greatly misunderstood. Unlike Type 2 Diabetes, which can often  be reversed with diet and exercise. Type 1 Diabetes is the result of a pancreas that just doesn’t work. It is an autoimmune disease that has nothing to do with lifestyle choices. There is no cure. I must prick my finger a minimum of 8 times a day to check my blood sugar. At one point I was giving myself up to 10 shots of insulin a day just to eat… every time you eat anything even a small handful of crackers it needs to be covered with insulin. I am now on an insulin pump and it has made managing T1D a little better .

Living with T1D has provided me challenges and amazing opportunities. One challenge has been keeping my  blood sugar in a healthy range. Diet, stress, illness, heat, and exercise can all affect blood sugars. I may have to sit out for part of a soccer game or take a break from a singing  performance and that can be a real bummer and very frustrating. Sometimes, I just don’t want to think about it or deal with it. I want to just run away from it… even just for a day, but I can’t. I have to be a warrior and go to battle each day .

Despite how much I want a cure I think that living with a chronic condition has made me stronger and more compassionate to others. People call me an old soul and I think that could be because from an early age I have had to be more mature and to manage more. I have also done some amazing things. I was flown to Florida to speak and perform at a Women’s Conference in Orlando for Dancing 4 Diabetes, I was featured in a big story for Beyond Type 1 a nonprofit started by four amazing people one of them being Nick Jonas, and participated in many JDRF walks raising a lot of money for a cure. I’m happy to give back and let others living with this disease know that they can follow their dreams.

6. Do you write your own songs ? Where do you get your inspiration?

I wrote my first real song on the piano at the age of 8. It was a magical experience. Since then I have written many more songs. For me the process of writing a song isn’t always the same. Sometimes I come up with a melody first. Other times I get cool lyric ideas in my head. Whenever, I get a idea I record it immediately on my phone so I don’t forget it. I have written all of my own songs with the exception of co-writing on a couple. This past year I got to write with two amazing songwriters in LA. Julie Frost, who has written for Ed Sheeran, Beyonce, Charlie Puth, and Madonna to name a few and canadian singer/songwriter Jocelyn Alice. Both of these experiences were great. It is interesting to see how each person approaches the songwriting process. I can’t wait to work with more people throughout  my musical journey. Each time I learn things about myself. Most of my inspiration for songwriting comes from characters that I envision, movies, or my current environment.

7. Tell us about the process of developing your first EP?

Developing an EP requires a lot of creativity and work. More time then I think most people realize. Which makes me happy because I enjoy the process so much. It can take many hours in the studio to get a song the way you want it, or it can happen fairly fast. Each song is different. Sometimes you will work on a song for hours only to decide in the end that you just aren’t feeling it. Other times you know right away that it’s a keeper.

8. Name a song that best describes you?

This is a tough question! Probably, Imagine by John Lennon. I fell in love with the song when I first heard it. The lyrics were so meaningful. I also, love Twenty One Pilots song Ride because I feel like I’m on a crazy good ride right now with my new music about to come out. Plus, I love the dynamics of the song… Try blaring it through your speakers!

9. If you travel anywhere where would it be?

I would love to explore Paris. I have heard from my parents and friends how incredible the city is. I also have a fascination with the Maldives off the coast of India. It looks like a tropical dream world. A great place to write a song!

10. What are my hopes and dreams for 2018?

I hope for our world to have less conflict and more peace and love. I hope for people to have more compassion and acceptance of one another. Of course, I also hope to have my original songs out and for my music to touch others , to make them feel something. I hope for more people to get to know me and follow me on my musical journey because I have a lot more songs in me!