Avery Lynch on Crafting Somber Pop Hits

INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW ✦

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, singer-songwriter Avery Lynch first began her whimsical, reflective musical journey at a very young age, which included her passion for composing piano pieces as a child before naturally transitioning to songwriting soon after. Her haunting, yet ethereal sound that she determined as a young artist, often characterized by rich piano arrangements and delicate, expressive vocals, has since become a key aspect of her signature style – leading to more than 100M streams to date. 

Throughout her discography, Lynch's music is often labeled as extremely personal and celebrated for its rawness, repeatedly pulling inspiration from her own life experiences and the deep, impactful emotions associated with them. Her latest single, "Rain," which just hit streaming platforms this month, only continues to pursue that exact trend by stripping away any built-in defenses to offer listeners a transparent depiction of heartache and longing that can really connect with those seeking a classic, somber-pop fix.

Now, Lynch is offering us her thoughts on “Rain” and the track’s detail-oriented creative process.

Credit: Avery Lynch and Jordan Van Hecke

Congratulations on the release of your new single "Rain.” Can you tell us more about the conception of this track and how it came to be?

Avery Lynch: Thank you! “Rain” is a song I really took my time writing. The experience that inspired this song actually happened over four years ago when my boyfriend and I broke up during COVID. We were only together for a few months before being sent home to opposite sides of the country indefinitely and after some time of doing long distance, not knowing when we’d see each other next, we broke up. I was asked on a date by someone and I didn’t really want to go–I actually had kind of a whole existential crisis about it. I ended up getting back together with my boyfriend a few months later because he had been feeling the same way! Fast forward three years, I found a note on my phone that said ‘how to make it rain’ and I knew the idea was there for this song, I just didn’t know how I was going to execute it yet. Then, a few months ago I was pet-sitting at a friend’s house who has a real piano and I wrote the chorus and then went home and wrote the rest of the song with my friend and favorite songwriter, Neisha Grace.

Your music is often described as deeply personal and comparable to a diary. When it comes to your creative process, do you typically incorporate these feelings as they happen in real-time – or do you wait and reflect on the experience through your music after time has passed? 

Avery Lynch: I normally write the core phrase when I’m in the moment and then expand on it after time has passed. I have a note on my phone that is filled with concepts and ideas and whenever I’m feeling something and I put it into words – and it’s normally words I cling to and repeat in my head about something or someone – I write it down there. For example, my song “somebody new” started out as a bullet point in my notes app that said, ‘I don’t want to love somebody new/someone else.’ Then, usually after some time, I’ll feel inspired to dive in deeper and write something with it. 

"Rain" features a hauntingly beautiful backdrop with strings and piano. How did you approach the production for this track to achieve that emotive sound?

Avery Lynch: I worked with an incredible producer, Ariza, who incorporated all of those beautiful elements into the song. We came in and tracked the piano and he did such an incredible job bringing the song to life and making it feel exactly how I imagined.

Credit: Avery Lynch and Jordan Van Hecke

You’ve mentioned that "Rain" is about a time when you and your boyfriend were broken up. How did you initially intend to channel those layered emotions into the lyrics and melody of the song?

Avery Lynch: I just wanted to really capture that feeling of dread and almost desperation. I feel like the chorus melody has that sort of sway to it where it feels like how you would actually say it. In terms of the lyrics, I always write in that sort of internal monologue perspective and I think for this song that was really perfect.

Your previous project, As Written, Vol. 2, showcased reimagined fan favorites and new tracks in their stripped-back form. How does "Rain" compare or contrast to the style and production of that era?

Avery Lynch: “Rain” shares those acoustic elements that the As Written project has while also incorporating added production. It does feel much bigger and bolder–as fully produced songs normally are–and it’s really fun and exciting.

With over 100 million streams and a loyal fanbase, how, if at all, do you feel your evolving relationship with your fans influences your music?

Avery Lynch: I feel like the evolving fan relationship hasn’t exactly influenced the music as much as how it's influenced what I share about the music, how I promote it, and how excited I am for everyone to hear it. 

You've also been described as a "happy girl filled with sad songs." How do you tend to balance those feelings or emotions in your music?

Avery Lynch: I think it’s more of the romantic storyteller in me that takes over when I write songs. I’m a huge movie and book lover and it feels like I’m telling this beautiful heartbreaking or inspiring story and it doesn’t feel sad to me at all. But I’ve heard my music, I know it’s devastating, [laughs].