Ava Carmont is a Sydney-based indie-pop artist crafting emotionally cinematic songs that sit at the intersection of vulnerability and atmosphere. Her music explores grief, distance, self-perception, and the quiet moments that we don’t always know how to name. Turning deeply personal experiences into something expansive and relatable.
Known for her raw lyricism and understated intensity, Ava Carmont writes with honesty and restraint, letting emotion unfold rather than explode. With a sound that blends intimate storytelling and moody, immersive production, Ava Carmont creates music for late nights, long drives, and anyone learning how to sit with their feelings instead of outrunning them.

With “M.I.A (missing in action)” out now, we took some time to hear from Ava Carmont. Read below to learn more about Ava Carmont, the story behind “M.I.A (missing in action),” and what’s to come.

Hi Ava Carmont! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?

My birth certificate, as boring as that sounds.

What city are you from, and where are you based now?

I’m from Sydney, Australia and based in Sydney too.

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?

I don’t think there was ever a specific time when I realised I wanted to pursue music. I’ve always lived for music. I’ve been writing songs since I was 8. I remember the first song I wrote, it was called “lost.” It consisted of two piano chord and was written about the HEARTACHE from my first crush. It was utterly horrendous, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?

Indie pop/folk pop. Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint as all my songs are wildly different, but they are all just honest and genuine.

Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?

I am an actor and a large-scale charcoal artist. My parents always say I was born to be creative, and that I came out with “jazz hands,” which, I think says a lot enough about me.

Who are some of your main musical influences?

I’ve always been a huge fan of Missy Higgins. I find her lyricism completely unabashed and freeing. Her albums, The Sound of White and On a Clear Night, were fixtures of my childhood, echoing through the house on a Sunday morning. She was also the first female Australian artist I ever knew who was openly bi-sexual and would write about those relationships without fear, which to me at the time, a closeted queer girl at an all-girls high school, really gave me a lot of strength.

What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?

Releasing my first single, “cool 4 u.” The response I got from it was overwhelming. I don’t think I realized it at the time, but I was terrified to release it. It’s quite a personal song, but it was received with so much love and understanding. If you haven’t listened to it, give it a whirl. 😉

What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?

I don’t think I have a clean answer to that yet. I’m still in the middle of learning, still making mistakes, still unlearning things I thought I understood.

If there’s a lesson so far, it’s that growth doesn’t arrive fully formed. It shows up slowly, through missteps and moments of discomfort, and I’m allowing myself to stay open to that process.

Oh, and if you have a great producer, the hardest songs feel easy.

Now onto your release, “M.I.A (missing in action).” What inspired this song? What is “M.I.A (missing in action)” about?

“M.I.A” was born from grieving someone who is very much alive, but no longer reachable. Not gone, just absent in a way that leaves no ending to hold onto.

To me, the song drifts in that in-between space where constant questioning is the only comfort and way to deal with the absence of closure. I’m letting the song live the way the grief does, as unhinged as that may be.

What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for “M.I.A (missing in action)?”

The lemon head came from a very personal place, but I liked the idea of letting it stay symbolic rather than literal. Lemons are sharp, overwhelming, hard to ignore. They wake your whole body up.

For me, it represents endurance and imbalance. Being on the receiving end of something intense, sour, and relentless, and learning how to swallow it anyway. It’s playful on the surface, but there’s tension underneath.

I wanted the artwork to feel deceptively simple. Something bright enough to draw you in, but strange enough to let you linger. You don’t need the context to sense that there’s history there. There may also be a little personal meaning, but I’ll keep that one for myself…

What was the creative process like when making “M.I.A (missing in action)?”

It’s a cute process. I go into a session with my good friend and legendary producer Nick, I show him some new lyrics that I’ve been cooking up, we flesh it out and basically build up a sound bit by bit. It’s probably 50% music making, 50% shenanigans. I bloody love that dude.

How long did it take to complete “M.I.A (missing in action)?”

The initial writing process was very quick. I wrote it over the course of a day. However, when considering revisions, reflection, and letting the piece sit before returning to it, the entire process spanned roughly a month. I often find that my perception of time becomes distorted when I’m immersed in an artistic project like this.

What is your favorite lyric in “M.I.A (missing in action)” and why?

“My mum would kill you”… My mother is the kindest, most generous and selfless human being in the world. She cares about her people more than anyone could fathom. She is also fiercely loyal, protective and impenetrable. In other words, she can be absolutely terrifying. I love her so much.

“F*ck with my people and see what happens.” – Megan Carmont

What message or messages do you hope fans take away from “M.I.A (missing in action)” and your music in general?

I hope people take away that it’s okay to grieve relationships that never had the chance to heal. It’s okay not to be over things, even long after they’ve ended. Sometimes we don’t realise how intense our emotions are until we’re forced to sit with them, but that intensity can also be a reminder of how deeply we’re capable of feeling. For me, the song is about honouring that process, acknowledging the hurt without letting it define you, and finding strength in the fact that you cared in the first place.

What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?

I’m in the middle of a single rollout over the next few months, working my way toward an EP, but I’m especially excited for my next release, “To Be.” It’s probably the saddest song I’ve ever written, yet also the peppiest song that I’ve written. It kind of feels like you’re dancing to a eulogy… I’ve been counting down to sharing this one, and it feels like a really important step in what I’m building next.

Where can we follow you on social media?

https://www.instagram.com/ava_carmont
https://www.tiktok.com/@that_queer_cousin
https://www.facebook.com/ava.carmont
https://www.threads.com/@ava_carmont

Before you go, let’s ask you a couple of random questions:

What’s a comfort song that you’ll never get sick of?

“Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” – Del Water Gap. That song will have me in a choke hold till the DAY. I. DIE.

What’s a song that you accidentally know every lyric to?

“Tribute” by Tenacious D…don’t ask.

Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!