Ava Lily

After uploading a cover of "I Can't Make You Love Me" to YouTube,{{Cite journal|url=https://www.newwavemagazine.com/introducing-bristol-s-rising-songstress-ava-lily-generating-a-distinct-luscious-sound-of-rnb|title=Introducing Bristol's Rising Songstress, Ava Lily, Generating A Distinct & Luscious Sound Of RnB|journal=New Wave Magazine|first=Elle|last=Evans|date=2020|accessdate=1 August 2023}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Stokes was discovered by Naughty Boy and signed to Virgin EMI Records. Stokes released her debut single "Painkiller" in 2016.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.unitedbypop.com/music/ava-lily/|title=Ava Lily Isn't The Only Star To Be Discovered On YouTube|journal=United by Pop|first=Eleanor|last=Crowley|date=11 September 2016|accessdate=1 August 2023}} She attended songwriting sessions with Emeli Sandé and James Arthur, and co-wrote Zayn Malik's song "Common" for his second album Icarus Falls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.capitalfm.com/news/zayn-malik-songwriter-common/|title=Zayn Malik's Songwriter Reveals What It Was Like Working With Him And Brands His Voice 'Delicious'|website=Capital FM|date=26 June 2020|accessdate=1 August 2023}} She met Malik through the production duo MYKL.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.euphoriazine.com/blog/2020/07/introducing-ava-lily/|title=Introducing Ava Lily|journal=Euphoria|first=Danielle|last=Taylor|date=22 July 2020|accessdate=1 August 2023}} She also collaborated with Professor Green and Laura Mvula.

For the Six Chair Challenge on the 2018 season of The X Factor, Stokes performed a cover the One Direction song "Perfect". However, she did not continue on with the competition, which Louis Tomlinson called a "shame".{{Cite journal|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/x-factor-2018-the-best-of-the-six-chair-challenge-episode-one-as-simon-cowell-and-ayda-field-put-their-acts-to-the-test-a3948746.html|title=X Factor 2018: The best of the Six Chair Challenge episode one as Simon Cowell and Ayda Field put their acts to the test|journal=Evening Standard|first=Safeeyah|last=Kazi|date=29 September 2018|accessdate=1 August 2023}}

Stokes later left her label to go independent. In 2020, she released the singles "Blameless" and "Closure",{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiependent.co.uk/track-review-closure-ava-lily/|title=Track Review: Closure // Ava Lily|work=The Indiependent|first=Rosh|last=Ilyas|date=30 September 2024|accessdate=24 October 2024}} along with her debut EP Higher Love.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mixtapemadness.com/blog/music/review-rising-british-songstress-ava-lily-shares-debut-ep-higher-love|title=Review: Rising British Songstress Ava Lily Shares Debut EP 'Higher Love'|work=Mixtape Madness|first=Elle|last=Evans|date=4 December 2020|accessdate=24 October 2024}} Her second EP Sunday Music Club,{{Cite web|url=https://puremzine.com/ava-lily-releases-new-ep-sunday-music-club/|title=Ava Lily releases new EP 'Sunday Music Club'|work=Pure M|first=Chris|last=Thompson|date=5 April 2023|accessdate=24 October 2024}} released in 2023, was written while Stokes was in the process of going sober, a topic touched on in "Sad Party" and "Happy Switch".{{Cite web|url=https://whynow.co.uk/read/ava-lily-interview|title=whynow is the time to listen to… Ava Lily|website=WhyNow|first=Teddy|last=Coward|date=5 April 2023|accessdate=1 August 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/ava-lilys-happy-switch-embraces-sobriety/|title=Ava Lily's 'Happy Switch' Embraces Sobriety|work=Clash|first=Robin|last=Murray|date=20 February 2023|accessdate=24 October 2024}} She also released the single "Nobody Breaks My Heart Like I Do".{{Cite web|url=https://puremzine.com/ava-lily-releases-haunting-new-single-nobody-breaks-my-heart-like-i-do/|title=Ava Lily releases haunting new single 'Nobody Breaks My Heart Like I Do'|work=Pure M|first=Chris|last=Thompson|date=20 January 2023|accessdate=24 October 2024}} After playing number of Sofar Sounds gigs, later in 2023, Stokes reunited with Louis Tomlinson as one of the openers on the Europe leg of his Faith in the Future World Tour.{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzz.ie/music/louis-tomlinson-3arena-dublin-information-31389950|title=Louis Tomlinson at 3Arena Dublin: Tickets, set list, support acts, stage times and more|work=Buzz.ie|first=Aoife|last=Moriarty|date=8 November 2023|accessdate=24 October 2024}}

Stokes grew up listening to Tracy Chapman, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears,{{Cite journal|url=https://raydarmagazine.com/ava-lily-is-more-authentic-than-ever/|title=Ava Lily Is More Authentic Than Ever|journal=Raydar|first=Malcolm|last=Trapp|date=4 August 2022|accessdate=1 August 2023}} and was inspired to start writing music by Amy Winehouse. She described songwriting as an "outlet for all my emotions".{{Cite web|url=https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/new-music/get-to-know-ava-lily|title=Get to know… Ava Lily|website=PRS for Music|first=Maya|last=Radcliffe|date=3 December 2020|accessdate=1 August 2023}}

When asked in 2020, Stokes named H.E.R, Sabrina Claudio, Summer Walker, Giveon, Sonder, and Masego as her influences. She said she would like to collaborate with James Bay, Julia Michaels, Jhené Aiko, Snoh Aalegra, The 1975, and John Mayer. She later called Miley Cyrus her "favourite voice in pop".{{Cite journal|url=https://reflectormagazine.co.uk/ava-lily-finding-her-happy-switch/|title=Ava Lily – Finding her Happy Switch|journal=Reflector|first=Lorna|last=Edwards|date=5 April 2023|accessdate=1 August 2023}}

• Higher Love (2020)
• Sunday Music Club (2023)

• "Painkiller" (2016)
• "Blameless" (2020)
• "Closure" (2020)
• "Tight Fit" (2022)
• "Sad Party" (2022)
• "Nobody Breaks My Heart Like I Do" (2023)
• "Happy Switch" (2023)
• "Trapdoor" (2024)

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Category:Living people

Category:1993 births

Category:21st-century English women singers

Category:British indie pop musicians

Category:English rhythm and blues singers

Category:English women singer-songwriters

Category:Lo-fi musicians

Category:Musicians from Bristol