The story of how Ava Mae joined One Direction for the On the Road Again Tour... and then became so much more than an opening act.
disclaimer: wrote this when I was 16, it has some cringe moments. also, at the beginning of the story Ava is a minor b...
MissAvaMae: when its three in the morning and album two reaches it's final version #happycamper
Although it's only been like half a year since I released my first album, my second was done and to be released in just a few months. The list was complete. Every song had been listened to and worked on for hours and hours. Every song showed a piece of me, and a piece of what I've experienced and what I've learned. What I've felt, what I still feel.
Walking out of the studio at three in the morning, I felt much more proud of this album than the last. I love them both, of course. But I couldn't help but feel like this album is more me. The first album looking back feels rushed to me, because of how much pressure was on me with the tour and everything. Album two still happened in a rush but the pressure wasn't there. Other than my record label stripping some of the songs from my original draft of the album, claiming they "didn't follow my style" and so I had to write and record like three new songs. There was pressure there. Also a bit of thought about searching for a new record deal.
I went to bed as soon as I got home, slept until about ten, and then headed back to the studio. This time I was meeting with people from my label to set everything in stone and decide which songs should be singles. Right as I pulled up to the studio, my mom was getting out of her car.
"Hey mama," I smile as I go over to her. I give her a hug then swing my arm around her as we head inside. "You're about to make a lot of calls."
"I know, honey," she laughs. "But that's what I'm here for."
When we walk in, we're greeted by three of the producers and writers that helped me out, two people from my record label, and for some reason, a man handing me a bouquet of flowers. My mom signs off on them as I take the small card from them.
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"Congrats on finishing album two. I'm proud of you and I love you lots. Can't wait to hear all the songs, especially the ones that say how in love with me you are ;) H xx"
I shake my head and smile at the card. I set the flowers aside and pull out my phone while the producers line up everything. I open my texts and message my absolutely incredible boyfriend.
'always making me feel like a princess. thank you. i love you H💘 also p.s. you're a dork'
He replies fairly quick, so I'm assuming he'd scheduled a time for the flowers and was waiting on my text.
'because you're my princess. I love you, have fun today. I miss you & wish I could be there with you. and I know, but I'm your dork. xx'
'that you are xx'
I slip my phone back into my pocket and turn my attention to my mom, who's discussing with my record label that we need to decide singles first and then figure out imagery for the album. She has to call everybody we need for the music videos.
Single picking is done fairly quickly. We choose two, and immediately start planning the first music video so we can start filming within the next few days. Once we have a solid idea, my mom steps out of the room. I follow her out really quickly and pull her aside before she's pulled into phone calls.
"Before you jump into phone calls, I have an idea for we own the night," my mom nods, cueing me to continue. "I have all of this footage from tour still of the the boys and I, mainly Harry and I but I still have a bit with the rest. I was thinking that I could just work with a producer to fit it all together and we'd just make that the video. Having fun with the guys was part of the inspiration so it'd be perfect."
"I'll call their manager just to check that it's okay, but I don't see a problem with that," she smiles. "That's actually a wonderful idea."
"Okay, sweet," I smile. "I'm gonna head back in to get the track list finished."
"I shouldn't be long," she nods.
It really doesn't take long for the track list to be put into order. My mom and I are back at my place within an hour.
We sit down at the kitchen table, notebooks and pictures completely covering the whole thing. It seemed like planning a tour was not only taking up most of my time, but most of my house too. My mom is chatting away on her phone so I hop up to get some juice and granola. By the time I return, she's hanging up the phone.
"Okay, so I just got off the phone with the wardrobe stylist. She and her team will be by later with all the tour outfits plus more for final fittings, as well as some outfits that might work for A Year Without Rain. Once she's done, she'll give you an outfit or two for your shoot that's at nine tomorrow."
I nod. "Have you talked with the producer that Harry referred you to? I was thinking we could work on my intro with him too, since it's a montage of my YouTube videos and tour videos. It shouldn't take long but I want to have a professional help me out."
"I did. He'll call me tomorrow while you're at your shoot to schedule when he can come over. Also, Grace called. I scheduled you in during her next time slot of podcast recordings, shouldn't be until next year though."
"Sweet. I'll have to go do something with her before I leave for tour."
"Speaking of tour, I finalized the rest of the shows with all the arenas and theaters today. As of right now, everything is set in place for your tour. You'll announce it when your album comes out, I'm thinking. Maybe on James Corden. He was the first to reach out to you, and he's friends with the boys. I think it'd be fitting."
"Only if you can arrange a carpool karaoke."
My mom laughs. "I definitely think that can be arranged."
"Sweet," I smile. "This is all so crazy. I'm headlining my own tour."
My mom comes over and wraps her arms around me tightly. "I'm such a proud mama."
