The Art of Falling Apart and How Issadora Ava’s “Slow Burn” Made Me Feel
Written by Daphne Bryant
All images courtesy of Emma McAllister
Sometimes, even the most precious relationships go up in flames. A gnawing sense of familiarity overcame me as I watched the music video for“ Slow Burn”: an honest and heartfelt depiction of queer complexity, love, and loss.
Indie artist Issadora Ava began song-writing in her bedroom at just thirteen years old. Years later, her craft has matured into that of a layered musician whose storytelling deserves a much wider audience than bedroom walls. Written during a midnight subway-ride in Manhattan, Ava’s latest release“ Slow Burn” blends indie-pop rock with a nostalgic and emotionally charged production, combining shimmering indie guitar textures with 80s-inspired post-punk and ambient pop production. The accompanying MV is a must-watch, starring Ava alongside actress Tiffany Martinez, and capturing the ups and downs of a rollercoaster relationship, as well as Ava’s own mental state.
Everything begins blissfully. The on-screen couple is deeply in love and bathed in warm colors. They dance with one another and gaze into each other’s eyes, sharing special and damn near cinematic moments. I especially loved the“ undercut” scene, when Martinez shaves the nape of Ava’s head into what most would consider a quintessential queer hairstyle. It’s such a simple but universal moment that immediately resonates.
Before long, however, cracks in the fairytale begin to form. The following scene shows Ava and Martinez on their bed, talking through what appears to be a tense conversation or argument. In an instant, the tone shifts and I go from blushing over the pair’s tender kisses to fretting over what looks like mutual distress. Lyrics from the beginning come back to haunt and taunt me:“ Don’t know what’s worse but I thought we could work.” If that isn’t foreshadowing for doomed yuri, I’m not sure what it is!
At the video’s 1:28 mark, the song fades to the background to center a vulnerable exchange between Ava and Martinez, intended to represent a real conversation and give us a glimpse into Ava’s mental health journey and how sometimes, a heartbreak can allow you to find yourself. In their dialogue, Martinez is direct, telling Ava things like“ I want you to get better”,“ You have to pour into yourself the way you pour into me” and finally:“ We can’t stay in a burning house.” Sometimes the end of a relationship can feel like a slow burn, the most excruciating kind. This entire scene hit particularly hard. By the time the music returns, the listener can feel the full weight of the conversation and everything that led to it. Presumably after this cursed chat, Ava is seen rushing to rescue Martinez from their literally burning house. She picks her up and fireman-carries her away from the flames, a direct callback that is so, so clever.
The bridge ushers in the latter half of the song, which takes on a more upbeat instrumentation with heightened vocals and a driving guitar. Its coinciding montage features snapshots of Ava and Martinez’s relationship, one that has had good times and bad times and everything in between. From beginning to end, the viewer is on the same highs and lows as the couple, pulled by a desire to stay and a need to leave. As gut-wrenching as it all is,“ Slow Burn” is one of the most honest and beautiful portrayals of sapphic love and self-discovery that I’ve seen on screen. The relationship is handled with immense care and candor, so much so that I couldn’t look away. It is not until the end, when Ava walks out of their formerly shared home alone, that I realize most of the music video is (symbolically) spent inside that house. Now, Ava is back outside, sitting on the steps in a classic bookend structure. The audience is right where we started the MV, except this time, we have context. We know what’s transpired, and we know that the relationship is over, and while it’s sad, it isn’t the end of the world. All this means is Ava is turning the page and stepping into a new chapter of her life, one that will hopefully bring way less heartache and much more sunshine.
