Seventeen-year-old local singer-songwriter Ava Sharp has been crowned the winner of the City of Gosnells 2024 Underground Sounds competition.
Formally known as Gozzy Rock, the iconic youth competition, now in its 37th year, featured five hours of entertainment and was held on Saturday, October 5, at The Underground Youth Centre, located within Amherst Village.
Performing three original songs with her acoustic guitar, Ava began with “I Got You,” followed by another original titled “Destiny.” She then captivated the audience with an abridged cover of Noah Kahn’s “Stick Season,” a personal favourite that added a touch of familiarity for the crowd, before concluding her set with her original song “1975.”
Ava said she has been performing ever since she can remember and was honoured to have been selected as the event’s winner, which featured many talented artists.
She attributes much of her success to her family, who have been her biggest supporters throughout her music journey so far.
“They come out to support me whenever they can and will always be the loudest in the crowd for me,” she said.
“I’m so lucky to have parents who are so supportive and want me to succeed at something I love.”
Describing her music style as powerful and authentic, Ava said her favourite genres to sing are pop, country, and R&B, and she draws inspiration from some of music’s most legendary performers.
“I have so many artists that I’ve been inspired by, but just to name a few of my influences, I would say I’ve always been super inspired by the greats such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury,” she said.
As the winner of the competition, Ava took home a $1,500 gift card, which she plans to invest back into her musical pursuits.
“I’m planning on getting some new music equipment with the prize money and getting my guitar serviced, as she’s been overdue for a long time,” she explained.
“It’s always been my dream and main goal to make singing, music, writing and performing my full-time career.”
City of Gosnells Mayor Terresa Lynes congratulated Ava on her outstanding performance, and said her stage presence and ability to engage with the crowd through her music impressed the judges.
“Young artists like Ava are a testament to the local talent we have here in the City of Gosnells,” Mayor Lynes said.
“She took audiences on a glorious journey with each song she performed, which goes to show how talented she really is.”
Claiming second place in the Underground competition was the pop-punk-rock band Cities, which earned a $750 gift card, while grunge rockers Cult of Humanity secured third place and a $500 gift card.
Other finalists included Navisha, Rosegreen, and The Ruby Keys, who showcased their musical talents and contributed to a memorable evening of entertainment.
