Quiet Fire: Ava Valianti Finds Grace in the Glow of “Running on Empty”

Sixteen-year-old singer-songwriter Ava Valianti steps into the indie pop spotlight with a calm assurance that feels older than her years. “Running on Empty”, one of the standout tracks from her debut EP petunias, hums with late-night vulnerability — the kind that lingers long after the final note fades. It’s not a song that begs for attention; it earns it quietly, through a blend of tender vocals, shimmering production, and emotional honesty that sneaks up on you.

Ava’s voice carries a kind of youthful exhaustion that’s strangely comforting — like watching the sunrise after a long night of overthinking. The track unfolds slowly, layering soft synth textures with subtle percussion, letting space and silence do the emotional heavy lifting. There’s a pulse beneath it all, a sense of motion even in weariness, that mirrors the ache of growing up while trying to stay true to yourself.

What makes “Running on Empty” special is its restraint. It doesn’t chase the drama of heartbreak; it simply breathes through it. Valianti turns fatigue into something luminous, her voice both fragile and fearless. For a debut, it’s remarkably self-assured — the sound of an artist learning that even emptiness can bloom into something beautiful.

“Running on Empty” doesn’t just mark Ava Valianti’s arrival — it marks her promise.