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Hi Ava, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Hi! I’ve been great. Thank you so much for having me!!
“Sweetless Surrender” is your first collaboration, and you’ve described it as a full-circle moment after being a fan of Young Rising Sons for years. What was the moment when you realized this song could become a collaboration, and what made them the right artists to bring into it?
Young Rising Sons have a sound that has evolved over the years. Throughout that evolution, their music has always maintained its uplifting quality. Even when Andy is singing about a toxic relationship in “Take Me Out,” or about being chronically upset in “SAD (Clap Your Hands),” there’s an underlying tone of look on the bright side. I admire the band’s ability to consistently convey positivity, and felt like “Sweetless Surrender” was the perfect opportunity for that kind of energy to shine. When I found out the band said yes to the collaboration, I literally couldn’t have been more excited. Aside from loving their music, I have so much respect for them as professionals in the industry.
The song does a great job capturing that intoxicating feeling of falling in love, when everything feels exciting and a little overwhelming. Was there a particular experience or emotion that sparked “Sweetless Surrender,” or did the song develop more organically in the studio?
The song developed organically! We started writing based on a guitar riff Aaron had brought in. There was a bittersweet chorus we sketched over the riff, and that “bittersweet” feeling became the north star of our writing process. Conflicting truths coexist; two people can love each other and know their separation is inevitable, even necessary. We wanted to capture that type of story in “Sweetless Surrender.”
You specifically wanted to channel the 90s indie-alt energy associated with Lilith Fair. What is it about that era and its singer-songwriter tradition that continues to speak to you, and were there particular artists or records you had in mind while making this song?
That era of music is uniquely inspirational. So many people underestimated the impact Lilith Fair would have. The music festival’s success is a testament to the power of female voices, especially when they band together. I’m a fan of the confessional, raw, organic-yet-poppy sound that many top songs by female singer-songwriters had in the late 1990s. Paula Cole, Lisa Loeb and Jewel are some artists who come to mind.
Young Rising Sons join the song on the second verse. What did you hear in Andy Tongren’s voice and the band’s sound that made their contribution fit so naturally with what you had already created?
Young Rising Sons’ music is amazing because it spans a wide array of topics, yet always lands on a hopeful note. Some songs are existential anthems, like “Flesh And Bone” or “High.” Others are about toxic love, like “Cloud Nine.” No matter the subject, a message about life’s silver linings remains. That vibe was perfect for this song. Andy’s voice has a unique, unmistakable tone, and I was beyond stoked that he wanted to sing the song. I think he couldn’t sound any better on it, and the band’s presence on the track ties the whole thing together.
You’ve been releasing music since 2021 and writing about falling in love, growing up, and figuring out your early twenties. How has your songwriting changed as you’ve moved through these different stages of your life?
I’m still figuring that out! The more I write the more I catch myself in habits I wouldn’t have noticed before, like using a chord progression too often or falling into the same lyrical clichés. I just want to make songs I’m proud of and, as time goes by, I’ve been able to do that a little more than when I first started songwriting.
Young Rising Sons have talked about finding their best creative moments just outside their comfort zone. As someone still developing your own artistic identity, where do you feel most creatively challenged or excited right now?
I often feel creatively challenged when I overthink my writing process, rather than letting go and choosing to have fun with it. I feel inspired when I listen to a song that moves me, or see an artist making a positive impact, like Olivia Rodrigo. When I watch a song make someone else feel understood, I think: I wanna do that!
There’s a real sense of joy and spontaneity surrounding “Sweetless Surrender,” from the folk-rock instrumentation to the infectious indie-pop hooks. How important was it to capture that feeling of fun rather than overthink the song?
It was important to us! I’ve written many piano ballads that haven’t seen the light of day, and never will! It’s harder to tell a bittersweet story on an upbeat track, but that challenge is fun. I love the way we found a balance, in terms of dynamics, with this song. It does have a folk-rock vibe in the beginning, but launches into this sparkly, poppy chorus, the energy of which carries into the rest of the song.
Young Rising Sons have experienced both major-label success and the freedom of working independently, while you’re building your own catalog as an independent artist. Did collaborating with a band with such a different career journey give you any new perspective on where you want your own musical path to go?
Young Rising Sons has made incredible art throughout their entire career. What I take away from their journey thus far is that dedication to the fans, who look forward to hearing new music, is the most important part of an artist’s story. If that means taking time away to work on an album, or to hone a new sonic identity, every sacrifice towards that end is unquestionably warranted. I respect the way Young Rising Sons have consistently released projects big and small in every phase. The freedom to work independently really propelled them. I want to emulate that dedication and consistency in my own career! I’m inspired by them in so many ways and feel very lucky that a band I look up to is now a collaborator. It feels unreal!
If “Sweetless Surrender” is a snapshot of where Ava Franks is right now—falling in love, growing up, and figuring things out one song at a time—what part of your story are you most excited to explore in the next chapter?
I don’t know what the next chapter holds, but I know I’ll always use writing as a way to make sense of my everyday life. I’m excited to create and release more music! This collaboration just made me appreciate the connective power of music even more. I couldn’t be happier that Young Rising Sons is a part of this song!!
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