Ava Della Pietra feels her heartstrings being pulled in her new single and ambitiously artsy black-and-white video Marionette — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The Broadway-trained artist has long displayed an affinity for storytelling, but here, she elevates it to a stunningly cinematic level. With its eerie, classically inspired instrumentation and lyrical depth, Marionette operates on multiple levels, serving as both a sonic and visual exploration of control, agency, and the struggle for self-determination.
The track unfolds in a slow-burning, hypnotic cadence, reminiscent of the brooding theatricality of early Fiona Apple or the dreamlike surrealism of Björk’s Vespertine. Yet, Ava carves out her own identity, infusing the song with a contemporary polish that makes it undeniably her own.
The accompanying video solidifies this new artistic direction. Filmed in evocative black-and-white and featuring haunting vaudeville imagery, the video draws upon gothic expressionism, evoking the visual language of silent film-era storytelling. As Ava wrestles with invisible puppet strings, we are drawn into a narrative that extends far beyond the personal — it speaks to a universal struggle against external control.
Following her recent success with Reindeer Rebellion, a subversive take on the holiday genre, Marionette marks an exciting new phase in Ava’s artistic journey. With an upcoming album on the horizon and live shows scheduled in the coming months, she stands poised to redefine contemporary pop’s relationship with theatrical storytelling.
Watch the video for Marionette above, hear more from Ava Della Pietra below, and pay a visit to her website, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
