I’m pleased to note that Ava Della Pietra’s upward trajectory as a major musical talent continues unaltered with her new single. Valentine’s Day 2024 brings us her new track “sick”, an intelligent and bouncy paean to the physical sensations of being swept up in the full throes of love, and rarely do you hear modern pop performers so inspired. This may signal a breakthrough moment for Della Pietra, in my mind, as “sick” builds on the success of her previous singles like “ego” and “talk it out” with such a romping flash that it surges forward more like a debut than a successor to those aforementioned songs. She sounds reborn.
It’s part of the magic that love holds over her. I hear a singer intent on proving herself, as well, and fiercely alive with the joy of creation. In a sense, “sick” is about much more than another person she’s enthralled with, but rather a song about being in love with love. One of the deepest sources for Della Pietra to express that love is through the medium of song. She sings “sick” as if her life depends on communicating how she feels, and despite the litany of physical “complaints”, it’s clear that she feels outstanding.
She measures her performance for maximum effect. Della Pietra delivers the verses with the right amount of energy, but she’s careful to match it as close as possible to the music’s movement rather than leaving her accompaniment in the dust. She continues exercising the same care when the chorus hits, and each remaining passage shows her pacing herself accordingly against the track’s arrangement. Brio isn’t in short supply, but she always stops short of wild-eyed hysteria, and the song benefits from that caution.
The percussion and bass accompaniment are well-suited for her performance. I’d rather her have “live” instruments playing off her voice, I think it would catapult her to an even higher place, and I hope the future holds that for her. She’s well at home, however, with a pre-programmed electronic arrangement. The lyrics have a hard-hitting quality in the hands of her phrasing, and it doubles the insistent percussion powering this performance.
The bass thud at the song’s musical center is its foundation. It’s dazzling to hear her play off its danceable timekeeping, and I enjoy the ease with which it connects to listeners. You want to move when you hear this song, and I defy you not to. It’s arguably the most boisterous entry yet in her growing discography without ever sounding like it’s pandering to the lowest common denominator. This is high-end pop music riffing on a timeless theme and guided by one of the best purveyors of the style working today.
I am happy to hear it. I also note how Della Pietra’s confidence and talents are growing with each new release. This is a committed artist in it for the long haul rather than a shooting star destined to burn up and fade away. “sick” is sick in the best possible way and impossible to forget.
Mindy McCall
