You know that exact second when everyone is staring at you, waiting for you to blow out the candles, and all you want to do is disappear? Ava Valianti has captured that highly specific, deeply uncomfortable feeling and turned it into an absolute indie pop gem. Her latest single, "Birthday Cake," drops you right into the middle of a party you never wanted to attend....

This track slides in sideways, catching you off guard with its woozy, 60s psychedelic shimmer. Straight out of San Francisco, Michellar crafts a sound here that feels instantly familiar – sun-dapped and swirling – yet underneath, something’s deeply unsettled. It's the sonic equivalent of walking into a brightly lit room only to realise the walls are slowly closing in. https://open.spotify.com/album/3imBzLCYQikcIYz9w6IVQe?si=0SYBio1dRwel9v7QULvzDw Because "Dreaming" isn't about fluffy clouds...