Aly Navarro On Navigating Heartbreak And Self-Confidence In Debut EP “Do Not Resuscitate”

An independent artist you need to know!

If you love to have a good cry, then Aly Navarro needs to be on your radar. Her vulnerable songs, with an obsessive balance of her delicate vocals and relatable songwriting, are filling a void in our sad girl playlist. And if you don’t know where to start on your Aly rabbit hole, her debut EP “Do Not Resuscitate” is non-skippable.

We had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Aly about her songwriting process, her educational background in music, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

A: “I honestly don’t remember a time in my life when I even considered pursuing anything other than music. I knew since I was little that music was the thing I felt most passionate about in my life. I never doubted myself, mostly because my parents never
doubted me. They have helped me every step of the way, and without them, I surely wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Congratulations on your new EP “Do Not Resuscitate”! How did this project come to be?

A: “I think this EP kind of came together on its own. I was writing each of these songs, either on my own or with co-writers, and it felt like all of these songs really captured the way I have been feeling for the last year. Every song feels really authentic to me, and
that is exactly what I wanted from my debut EP. The music that makes up this EP has made me learn about myself in so many ways.”

What is your best piece of advice to listeners of the EP who are dealing with heartbreak?

A: “Everyone says it, but sometimes it’s reassuring to hear: it gets better. I couldn’t have imagined just 6 months ago that I would have come as far as I have. Sometimes, even though it feels impossible in the moment, distancing yourself from the people who hurt you is the best way to heal. I talk about this in so many of the songs on my EP. I wrote these songs through tears and anxiety and discomfort, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. I believe that the heartbreak I have experienced in the last year has
taught me more about myself than any other chapter in my life. Loving and losing put things into perspective in a way that nothing else does. In the months after the ending of this “relationship,” I have learned that I am a much more resilient and confident
person than my counterpart made me feel. I am more than capable of overcoming heartbreak like this, even when it felt like the end of the world in the moment.”

We know this might be hard, but if you had to choose, what is your favorite track off of the EP and why?

A: “I think DNR has to be my favorite song on this EP. I wrote it right when it felt like my life was falling apart post “breakup,” and I think I knew I had to close off that chapter of my life. I think people usually feel like there is potential to go back to a partner after some time apart, especially when there is no closure, but writing this song gave me the closure I needed to let go. It talks about not reviving a relationship that is doing more harm than good. I love this song so much because it turned the most gut-wrenching, depressing, horrible feeling I was experiencing into a beautiful piece of music that can, hopefully, help other people process similar feelings.”

When it comes to your songwriting process, is there anything that you do to get inspired?

A: “I think inspiration to write comes to me, specifically, when I am going through a difficult time in my life. Then again, it’s important to write when I feel stable as well. I find that when I am lacking inspiration, I write my favorite songs alongside other cowriters. It is so special to be able to sit in a room with people who are there to listen and understand what you are feeling. Being able to work together to turn all of those feelings into songs makes the process more approachable and, in my opinion, a “deeper” experience. You get to think about things in a different way than you usually would, because you get to experience a little bit of the way your cowriters think about things. I love sitting down at the piano alone, with my thoughts and writing what comes to mind and what feels authentic to me, but sometimes, it is really refreshing to have someone look at what you’re writing about from an external point of view and give an impartial perspective.”

You have a degree in songwriting, which makes sense in your music! Would you recommend gaining an educational background in music for aspiring artists?

A: “I really think that my degree from Berklee has given me so many tools to be able to write songs to the best of my ability, but I don’t necessarily think an education in songwriting is a non-negotiable. I hope that any success I experience from my music is
due to my passion, hard work, and ability to connect with others, not from the technique in which I write my music. While having an education in songwriting is definitely helpful in many ways, I think the most important thing I gained from my time at Berklee was the connections I made. I met so many people who have the same drive and passion that I do, and I found collaborators who helped me make this EP a reality. In summary, I think an education in songwriting served me well, but I think it really depends on what you make of your time at a place like Berklee; it is up to you to make life-long connections, meet new collaborators, and connect with creatives who are striving to fulfill their dreams, too. Berklee was more of a community than anything else for me, personally.”

Make sure to stream Aly’s new EP “Do Not Resuscitate”, available now on all music platforms!

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene Magazine, back in October 2020. When not helping her team and working on their print issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral TikTok recipe.