SINGER Ava Mannings has left the Downend dog grooming parlour where she worked behind to record an album after winning national TV talent contest The Voice UK.
Ava, aged 21, won a record deal with Universal Music UK’s Island EMI label, £50,000 and an all-expenses-paid holiday when the ITV1 show’s studio audience picked her as the winner in the final, screened at the end of October.
Since then Ava says her life has been “crazy”, with TV appearances, radio play and chart placings for her songs, and a wave of support on social media.
She is now working with a team of musicians to share her passion for music and “talk to the world”, telling Downend Voice: “I’m starting to realise my dream.”
Ava had the celebrity coaches reaching for superlatives every time she sang on the Saturday night primetime show.
All four – will.i.am, LeAnn Rimes, Sir Tom Jones and the joint team of Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones – wanted her on their team in the opening blind auditions stage.
After she picked McFly’s Tom and Danny, Ava got through the show’s callbacks episode with her own interpretation of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit, before winning her semi-final with God Only Knows by the Beach Boys.
In the final, contestants had to sing a solo, then perform with their coaches.
Tom and Danny asked Ava to sing The Long and Winding Road, by The Beatles, giving her 48 hours to prepare it.
She then joined with Tom and Danny for a stripped-back version of Hoobastank’s The Reason.
When the audience vote was revealed, Ava jumped into Tom and Danny’s arms, with mum April Dickie coming on to the stage to join in the celebrations.
Ava’s brother Rex was one of her guests at the final, and she also invited fellow contestant Kyra Smith and her mum, after making friends with them.
Ava said one of the songs Kyra had performed, The Impossible Dream, had been a favourite of one of her mentors, Hambrook Primary School teaching assistant and choir leader Sue Cessford, who passed away in 2019.
Ava said: “I was crying my eyes out behind the stage when Kyra sang it. It was a connection between me and Sue, so it’s a massive connection with Kyra.”
Since the show was broadcast Ava said: “My life is changing – it’s mad!”
She has been in the studio working with Danny Jones and Dougie Poynter of McFly, and another musician, Steven Batelle from LostAlone, who together write and produce music as SideQuest.
Ava said: “They’re absolutely amazing, figuring out musically where we want to go.
“It’s been incredible – every step is a massive learning lesson.
“I’ve got so much creative energy flowing out of me and I’m trying to put that into my music.”
Ava has been bringing her own material, from lyrics she has previously written to ideas she’s had on the train on the way to the studio, and working with the team to record some original songs.
She said: “We’re hoping to get an album together within the next few months, and get a few singles out.
“I have lots of material I’ve never recorded that I want to get out.
“I’m feeling so super lucky and thankful.”
Two of Ava’s performances from The Voice UK have been released.
The Long and Winding Road was made available as a download straight after the show and made it to number 3 in the Official Big Top 40 from Global, a chart that combines Apple iTunes sales and streams with radio play.
On November 5 The Reason was released as a single, entering the Official Singles Download chart at number 10.
Ava wants to perform live in the New Year. She says a date at a Bristol venue will be top of her list, and would love to play one of the city’s well known music venues like the O2, SWX or The Fleece.
She said: “I just want to sing to everyone who’s been behind me.
“Any kind of venue would be mental – I’ve only got up with a microphone in a pub before!”
Ava said it was hard to keep the result of the pre-recorded show a secret until the final was broadcast.
Since then, she said she has had messages from people who have been part of her journey as a singer, including Bristol Amateur Operatic Society (BAOS) Youth, Staple Hill-based St Mary’s Players, Winterbourne Academy and the animal care team at SGS College.
BAOS Youth chair Frankie Duddridge said: “We always knew she had the talent to go far and from her first audition in The Voice UK, she had the backing of everyone who knew her in BAOS, as well as current youth members who hope to follow in her shoes one day.
“To see Ava’s dreams coming true and her hard work paying off is incredible to see.”
Winterbourne Academy head of arts Rachel Gittoes said: “We have very fond memories of Ava as an incredibly talented actor, dancer and of course, singer.
“We have followed Ava’s journey on the voice with great excitement and are immensely proud of her incredible achievement.”
Hambrook Primary School head teacher Jennifer Rubel said: “She has always been a fantastic singer and showcased her incredible talent from a young age in our school choir and performances led by Sue Cessford. It’s heart-warming to see Ava fulfilling her dreams and honouring the musical foundation that Sue helped build.
“Ava’s journey is a true inspiration to all our students, reminding us of the power of dedication, hard work, and following one’s dreams.”
Ava said she had also received countless messages from people she had never met, on social media.
She said: “I just feel such a connection with the whole world right now.
“Everything is falling into place, how I always dreamed it would be.
“I take every step as if I’m on a massive ladder – I’m not sure where the end is going to be but I’m looking up.”