An ever-evolving sound is just the beginning for Ava August.

The first-year music industry student released her latest single, “The End,” on Thursday with a video to follow Friday. Inspired by the pop-punk sound of Avril Lavigne and Olivia Rodrigo, August said her latest song is unlike anything she has released in the past. The breakup-themed single marks a new era for her and her music – one that reclaims her confidence unabashedly, she added.

“I’ve never been more confident in an era of my music and in my releases, and this whole era – the visuals, the video, the aesthetics – I’m really taking it back,” August said. “It’s really that type of song where it’s all about embracing your confidence.”

August said her musical experience began with singing as soon as she could talk. She said her mother nurtured her love of singing by finding various opportunities for her to perform, such as opening ceremonies at local sports events. She said her interest then blossomed into passion at 11 years old when she was gifted a ukulele from a Kauai ukulele shop after singing for the shop owners.

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Soon after she received her ukulele, August said she began to write songs and upload videos of herself singing on different social media platforms. She said she then became inspired to build on her instrumentation and writing from the inflow of public support from her videos. She soon learned to play the ukulele, piano and guitar to pair with her singing, she added.

“Being able to play those instruments has honestly been the most beautiful thing,” August said. “It’s been a vessel for me to be able to song-write, be able to transpose songs into different keys that I want to, and most importantly, it’s been able to allow me to have that independence and that freedom to be able to perform out and not be reliant on a band or a karaoke track.”

August said her music falls under the umbrella of pop, with the acoustic pop subgenre being her sound staple. She said she enjoys the blending of genres within pop and being able to merge different sounds on a track. Looking to her musical inspirations of the Beatles, Freddie Mercury and Adele, August said their work has shaped her storytelling approach.

August’s career soon took a turn from the ambient lighting of malls and open mics to the national spotlight on television competition shows “The Voice” and “American Idol.” After failing to turn a chair on “The Voice,” August said she was adamant on not returning to a television competition. Despite her reluctance, she said an Instagram message from a casting director encouraged her to audition for the 19th season of “American Idol” in 2021. August said the experience was the most transformative and expansive one of her career.

“I’ll forever be changed by ‘American Idol,’ and how many doors that opened for me and the fan base that it did bring me,” August said. “People who still comment to this day on my social media, ‘I still remember when you sang that song,’ or, ‘Oh, you still got to put out that song – you played that original on the show.’ And it’s really been the biggest, biggest platform for me.”

August’s youth on “American Idol” was not the only thing that stood out to audiences. Jordyn Mandelbaum, August’s manager, said she watched videos of August’s experience on “American Idol” and was amazed at the singer-songwriter’s ripe voice. Now just a few months into her partnership with the musician, Mandelbaum said she sees August’s talent flourishing through her melodic crafting and relatable lyrics.

“She’s so young, and (for) so many people, it takes years and years and years to perfect this craft,” Mandelbaum said. “She’s already done that.”

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Amy Hoffman, August’s mother, said her daughter’s rising career is not without its challenges, and there are obstacles her daughter faces as an independent artist. Hoffman said August experiences pressure to compete against other artists on platforms such as TikTok and get a viral video to secure more views. Within this novel aspect of the music industry, Hoffman added that August struggles against artists with label backing and larger budgets to promote their music.

The hurdles of being an independent artist did not curb August’s drive for a successful career. With her latest single underway, August said she hopes to continue releasing as much music as she can into the next year. Touring and performing at UCLA are also among August’s future aspirations, she added, as she aims to expand her audience and return to her favorite part about music.

August said she wants listeners to feel uplifted and heard through her music. As her career grows, she said she wants to continue fostering a community for fans to feel less alone in their experiences of loss and love. August said she encourages other aspiring artists to remember their passion and the beauty of their craft.

“It changed everything for me, going on ‘American Idol,’” August said. “It also made me realize, too, that no matter what age you are, if you know what you want to do, you literally are the only person stopping yourself from doing what you want to do and following your dreams.”