Today we’d like to introduce you to Avé Edwards.
Hi Avé, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always believed that, when words fail, music speaks the loudest. I started performing at a young age training with the renowned Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale, and then Temple’s Musical Theater program. Over the years, I’ve poured myself into writing, producing, and telling stories that many fear sharing but need to be seen. Alongside my career as an artist, I built businesses, worked in corporate leadership, earned my doctorate, and dedicated a lot of time to understanding people what shapes us, what divides us, and what helps us heal.
For a while, life has pulled me in a lot of different directions. I experienced incredible highs, but also moments that forced me to slow down and ask myself some difficult questions about purpose, identity, and whether I was taking care of everyone except myself.
That’s where this new era has come from.
Save Myself isn’t about giving up on people or becoming selfish. It’s about realizing that you can’t give from an empty well. Before you can truly love, lead, or lift anyone else up, you have to be willing to choose yourself first.
Picking up the microphone again feels different because I’m not trying to prove anything. I’m simply creating from a place that’s more honest than I’ve ever been. Every song on this project reflects a different part of that journey: the heartbreak, the growth, the confidence, the healing, and ultimately the hope that no matter where you’ve been, you can always find your way back to yourself.
I think that’s the artist people are meeting now. Not a new Avé, just the most authentic version of me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think any meaningful artistic journey is completely smooth, and mine certainly has been far from it. Like many others, I’ve experienced seasons of grief, anxiety, self-doubt, and moments where I had to confront parts of myself I’d rather have avoided. Parts of me I’d buried and forgotten came roaring back, crying out for healing. Losing people I love, carrying expectations, and trying to balance multiple careers while still showing up creatively took a real toll. At one point, I’d fallen out of love with the very career I’d spent two decades building.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that healing isn’t a destination; it’s a practice. There were seasons in which I was so focused on meeting external expectations, achieving the next goal, or being what everyone else needed me to be, that I stopped replenishing me. That’s a dangerous place to live for anyone, especially an artist.
Ironically, music became both the outlet and the guide. Writing songs gave me a language for emotions I couldn’t always explain in conversation. Sometimes, I’d sit down thinking I was writing about a relationship or a single moment, only to realize I was really writing about fear, grief, forgiveness, or learning to extend compassion to myself.
That relationship between art and mental health has gone both ways. My experiences have shaped my music, while my music has helped shape my healing. Each song became an opportunity to process something instead of suppressing it.
That’s really the heart of this new project. It’s about shifting the focus inward and being who you need to be for yourself. We spend so much of our lives trying to manage other people’s opinions, expectations, or approval that we forget to build a healthy relationship with ourselves. This project asks a simple but powerful question: Who are you when the noise fades away? That’s the question I’ve been living with, and these songs are some of the answers I’ve found along the way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At my core, I’m a storyteller. Whether I’m writing a song, a novel, a stage play, or conducting scholarly research, I’m always asking the same question: Why do people think, feel, and behave the way they do? Every creative path I’ve pursued comes back to that curiosity.
Another part of my musical journey that has deeply shaped me is my work with the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale. Beginning training at age 10, performing with the choir has given me opportunities to sing in remarkable venues, collaborate with incredibly talented musicians, and share music with audiences across 4 continents. Beyond the performances themselves, it instilled in me a deep appreciation for musical excellence, discipline, and the power of music to bring people together across cultures and generations. It’s a community that continues to influence how I approach my own artistry, reminding me that every performance is an opportunity to connect with people in a meaningful way.
Most people know me first as a singer and songwriter. Over the years I’ve released a number of singles, including Mind Your Business, Dive In My Ocean, Your Heart Belongs to Somebody Else, and Better Than You, along with my EP, The Enlightenment. Each project represents a different season of my life, and I think listeners can hear that evolution. The music has always blended pop, R&B, and storytelling with themes that encourage people to reflect on themselves and the world around them.
I’m also an author. My fiction series, The Heir Series, began with Heir Apparently, continued with Up In the Heir, and I’m currently developing the third installment. Before that, I had the opportunity to write and direct my stage play, Every Knee Shall Bow, in 2016. Whether I’m writing for readers, theater audiences, or music listeners, I love creating stories that invite people to ask deeper questions about themselves and the world around them.
Outside of the arts, I recently earned my Executive Doctorate of Business Administration. My research focuses on organizational culture, workplace behavior, and what motivates people to speak up (or remain silent) in difficult situations. While research and music may seem like completely different worlds, they’ve actually strengthened one another. Both require empathy, analytical clarity, careful observation, and a genuine interest in understanding the human experience.
What I’m most proud of isn’t any single accomplishment, rather that fact that I’ve never felt pressured to fit into just one box. I’ve been fortunate to build a career that bridges music, literature, theater, scholarship, and entrepreneurship while staying true to who I am. Each discipline teaches me something that makes the others stronger.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t create simply to entertain; I create to start conversations. Whether someone listens to one of my songs, closes one of my books, leaves one of my productions, or engages with my research, I hope they walk away seeing themselves or someone else a little differently. If my work inspires reflection, empathy, or even just one meaningful conversation, then I feel like I’ve done my job.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be this: invest as much in understanding the business as you do in developing your craft. Talent may open the door, but knowledge gives you the ability to build a sustainable career. Learn how contracts work, understand your rights, ask questions, and never stop educating yourself.
I would also say don’t lose yourself trying to become what you think people want. Trends come and go, but authenticity has a way of lasting. There will always be voices encouraging you to compromise your values or your vision for quicker success. Listen to feedback, stay open to growth, but make sure the person steering your career is still you.
Finally, be intentional about the people you surround yourself with. Not everyone who applauds your dreams is invested in your growth. Some people will challenge you to become your best, while others are simply attracted to the idea of being close to your journey. Learning to recognize the difference, and protecting your peace accordingly, is one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://officiallyave.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/officiallyave
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/officiallyave
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Ave_Edwards
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7eVzJhhj5KZN5ffg1ZN6zP?si=B5QggegOTdOT2THe2ynKLA
