Getting To Know: Ada Ador

Photo By: Pero Arsenievic

Ada ardor's EP, 'Secret Sunday Service,' is where the echoes of European pop from the freshly-collapsed USSR meet the contemporary beats of London. Produced by the eclectic Max Mannone, this synthpop gem dives into themes of growing up, tangled relationships, and existential musings. Drawing inspiration from childhood memories and nomadic experiences, ada ardor infuses urgent danceable vigor with Bergmanesque romanticism, creating a sonic journey that captivates. With singles already making waves on BBC, KEXP, and Rolling Stone's radar, ada ardor emerges as a must-watch artist of 2024, blending nostalgia with innovation in a captivating sonic landscape.

What childhood experiences growing up in the early post-USSR era shaped your approach to creating "Secret Sunday Service"? How did these experiences influence the European pop and French experimental elements in your debut EP?

The disparity between the Western pop music and my childhood reality, how a child stayed unaware of this contrast and how it was yet massively attracted to that Western music and its world while surrounded by a very different cultural reality. This disparity, processed by an adult already, was one of the main points of inspiration for “Secret Sunday Service”.

The EP was produced by London-based DJ and producer Max Mannone. What was it like working with him, and how did his background in contemporary French experimental pop shape the sound and direction of "Secret Sunday Service"?

As I was sure about the content, but not so much about what the EP’s dominant style and genre should be, Max’s role can’t be underestimated. He had the courage to make the sound less genre-blind and more defined stylistically. When I sent him demos Max recognised the so-to-say European quality in them and asked whether I knew about the current Parisian scene, which I had no idea about at the time. Once the EP was done and I started releasing singles, reviewers and algorithms suggested me some names whose work I immediately felt related with: for instance Leonie Pernet, Agar Agar, UTO.

"Secret Sunday Service" explores themes of growing up, relationships with one's past, and reflections on the world. Can you share some personal stories or experiences that inspired these themes? How do these stories connect to the broader message of the EP?

I was a shy kid who grew up into a girl pretty unconfident about her appearance and strengths. All the girls seemed to me much more attractive and confident, and Horse was inspired by those times. Kingdom Locked is about figuring out the relationship with your past as if it was a person, an old friend you don’t want to be influenced by anymore. The overstimulated, overloaded race-like reality we live in inspired Dream Trance, relationships seen through a somewhat Bergmanesque lens produced Sun On My Floor where the protagonist is saying “I feel like I can leave any moment, but right now I feel light and want to play, and I want to spend this time with you”. I reckon, Right is the hub where it all comes together, and the broader message gets brewed, even though the song imposes more questions than answers, which is actually a part of the broader message.

Synthpop is a key element in the EP, along with influences from eurodance and dream pop. What drew you to these styles, and how did you blend them to create a unique and cohesive sound for "Secret Sunday Service"?

These were the genres I was hearing on the radio as a kid. The radio was on non-stop in my parent’s flat where I lived for the first 18 years of my life. I guess the combination of how that music was making the lightness of being seem possible and yet acknowledging all the things that bring suffering was what drew me towards this sort of music. Its combination of naive optimism and some dark existential melancholy. Say, in the songs of Ace of Base, Eurythmics, Mylene Farmer, Sting. 

The journey to create this EP involved challenges, including unsuccessful attempts to take shape and years of nomadic life. What were some of the biggest obstacles you faced, and how did you stay motivated to complete the project?

Finding a space for music-making regularly while living a nomadic life, a room, a quiet corner, where you could be undisturbed and unnoticed by others for some time. But at the same time, amongst the changing desks and beds and views from the window, this project was one of the very few things that remained a constant of sorts, so holding on to it in a way helped to not get too overwhelmed by the ever-changing circumstances.

Your music invites a conversation about the contrast between East and West, stemming from your upbringing in a deprived region during the collapse of the USSR. How has this perspective influenced your songwriting, and what message do you hope listeners take from "Secret Sunday Service"?

One of my favourite people, Ursula K Le Guin, who was famously an advocate of avoiding messages in fictional works, said: “Terms such as message are appropriate to expository writing, didactic writing, and sermons — different languages from fiction”. I feel that’s true for what I do. The closest to a message though could be “Don’t bury yourself under your problems and existential thoughts, and your past, try not to lose the muscle that let you invent games out of thin air as a kid”.