Ava Silver: “Working With Cosmic Gate, Everything Came Together Naturally”
Ava Silver has built a career at the intersection of songwriting, vocal production, and performance across electronic music’s most diverse scenes. With releases on Armada, Monstercat, and Q-Dance, and live moments at Defqon.1, her voice continues to reach far beyond the dancefloor.
Ava Silver is one of those voices you’ve likely heard long before you knew her name. Based in the Netherlands, the singer, topline writer, and vocal producer has built a career on moving effortlessly between worlds - EDM, trance, progressive, pop-leaning dance, and the harder edges of electronic music, always bringing emotion to the center of the track. Her breakout moment came with Julian Calor’s “No Fear Anymore” on Monstercat, a release that introduced her voice to a global audience and even into gaming culture through Rocket League.
Since then, Ava’s vocals and songwriting have appeared on releases for labels like Armada, Monstercat, Q-Dance, and Art of Creation, leading to tens of millions of streams and standout moments across the scene. From performing live in front of 50,000 people at Defqon.1 to building Silver Vox, a platform connecting producers and vocal ideas, Ava Silver represents a new generation of vocalists shaping electronic music from the inside out.
Q: You’ve built a strong reputation as both a vocalist and topline writer across EDM, trance, hardstyle, and pop-leaning dance. When did you realize your voice could move between so many genres and still feel like you?
A: I started out in musical theatre, so I was trained very broadly. But I always loved pop and emotional songs, and my first songs were written during that time. When I studied at the Rock Academy in Tilburg, I really began exploring different styles. That’s when I noticed my voice could live in a lot of genres, and I loved the freedom of working with electronic sounds and producers. I feel most at home where emotion, melody, and energy come together.
Q: Your track “No Fear Anymore” with Julian Calor introduced your voice to a much wider audience through Monstercat, and even gaming culture. How did that moment change things for you?
A: That was my first big release, and it changed everything. Seeing people connect with the song not just in clubs but also through gaming and online culture was surreal. I worked hard to get to that point, and it felt amazing to see it start to show. To this day, it’s still one of the most important songs I’ve been a part of.
Q: You’re known for writing emotional hooks that still work on big dance floors. When you collaborate with producers from very different worlds, like progressive house and hardstyle, what’s the one thing that always stays the same in your vocal approach?
A: Melody and emotion are usually the starting points for me, no matter the genre. Even when a track is happy and made for big stages, I still focus on telling a story people can feel, giving the song that emotional layer. This wasn’t always the case, but it’s what I like to focus on right now.
Q: You’ve worked with labels and artists from Armada, Black Hole and Monstercat to Q-Dance and Art of Creation. What do you enjoy most about moving between melodic and harder electronic styles?
A: I love the contrast. One day I’m writing something very vulnerable and cinematic, and the next I’m working on something intense and powerful. Switching between those worlds keeps me creative and sharp. It pushes me to use my voice in different ways and grow as a writer.
Q: With Silver Vox, you created a platform that connects producers and vocal ideas. What made you feel the industry needed something like that?
A: I love working with other vocalists and producers, and I noticed how hard it can be to connect ideas with the right people. With Silver Vox, I wanted to create a place where producers could easily find vocal concepts and toplines. It’s about speeding up creativity and collaboration. Besides the platform, I also keep pitching exclusively to bigger names.
Q: Let’s talk about your recent collaboration with Cosmic Gate on Perspectives EP 3 and the track “Let It All Out.” How did that come together?
A: I had a writing session with my talented friend Melissa de Kleine (Deadmau5, John Summit, Nicky Romero), and we wrote the topline together. The idea of letting everything out and starting fresh really resonated with us. When Cosmic Gate heard it, they built the track around the vocals, and everything just clicked from there.
Q: Your vocals fit the track so naturally. Did it feel that easy in the studio, or did it take some experimenting?
A: Thank you! That’s because the track was built around the vocals. Working with Cosmic Gate is inspiring because they really know how to support vocals emotionally and sonically. They made it all come together so naturally.
Q: Performing live at events like Defqon.1 brings vocals into very producer-led spaces. What was that experience like for you?
A: It’s unrealistic. I’ve performed at Defqon.1 three times across two editions, and the scale is just insane. Sometimes people don’t even realize there’s a vocalist on stage, but you feel the energy of the crowd so strongly. That rush is addictive. I’m very grateful to work with Gunz For Hire, who brought me on stage with them multiple times. I love performing my songs live.
Q: Your music has been supported by major platforms like A State of Trance. How important is community support (radio shows, playlists, and fans) to building a long-term career today?
A: It’s awesome when someone like Armin van Buuren plays your track. It gives the song a life beyond the studio. Radio shows, playlists, and fan communities help people discover music organically. For me it’s not just about exposure, it’s about connection.
Q: Looking back at all your collaborations, was there one that pushed you out of your comfort zone the most?
A: My first hardstyle writing session (with Rebelion) really pushed me. I learned a lot about how to write for harder styles. Every time I step into a new genre, I grow as a writer, and I love that.
Q: Are there any artists or scenes you’re especially excited to work with next?
A: Right now I’m focused on trance and melodic house collaborations, while staying active in hardstyle too. I’d like to keep working across the worlds. I’ve co-written songs for artists like Eelke Kleijn and Laidback Luke, and hearing Armin van Buuren play a new ID I co-wrote at major shows is unreal. Artists like Illenium, CamelPhat, Hayla, and Tiësto also really inspire me. I love being surprised by what the future brings.
