There is something wonderfully intoxicating about “celebrity.” Ava Valianti takes the familiar idea of fame and turns it inward, exploring what happens when admiration becomes so intense that another person starts to feel like the most important person in the world.
At the heart of the song is idolization. Valianti describes the experience of seeing someone through a rose-colored lens, where the smallest gesture suddenly feels significant and ordinary moments take on a much greater meaning. It is a feeling many people will recognise: when you are so captivated by someone that your attention begins to revolve around them.
What makes the concept especially interesting is the perspective behind it. Valianti is already pursuing a life in which she herself could become a public figure, yet “celebrity” places her on the other side of that dynamic. She becomes the person doing the admiring. That shift gives the song a sense of self-awareness because it is not simply about having a crush. It is about recognising how easily fascination can change the way we see another person.
The song also marks a noticeable step forward in Valianti’s musical journey. After the introspective indie-pop of petunias and the guitar-driven pop-rock of Sophomore Slump, “celebrity” introduces the sound of her forthcoming third EP, kismet. This time, jazz and R&B influences move closer to the centre, while her imaginative and introspective songwriting remains intact.
That combination suits the subject. There is something naturally soulful about writing about infatuation, especially when the emotions are caught between excitement and the possibility of losing perspective. “celebrity” does not simply celebrate the rush of putting someone on a pedestal; it also acknowledges the danger of allowing one person to occupy too much of your emotional world.
What stands out most is the honesty behind the idea. Valianti does not present herself as someone observing idolization from a safe distance. She admits to experiencing it herself, which makes the song feel personal rather than theoretical.
At just 17, Valianti is already developing a clear sense of what she wants her songwriting to do. More than 625,000 streams, airplay across more than 300 radio stations, recognition from several songwriting organisations, and performances including the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles have helped establish her growing presence, but “celebrity” is more interesting for what it says about where she is going next.
It is a song about seeing someone as larger than life, while quietly reminding us that the version of a person we fall for can sometimes be created as much by our own imagination as by who they really are.
With kismet on the horizon, “celebrity” feels like an intriguing beginning to a new chapter—warmer, more soulful, and still unmistakably centred on Valianti’s gift for turning complicated feelings into thoughtful pop songwriting.
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