I’ve been thinking a lot about pop lately — pure pop, the kind that skips chart math and ignores genre debates. Just pop as a feeling. Ava Della Pietra leans straight into that with ‘2 Can Play’, and the result feels sharp in the best way.

Her newest single’ is an embodiment of everything Ava has steadily become known for, yet this time she delivers something surprisingly more incisive, more commercially honed.

The track kicks off with a hypnotically tight bassline—the kind that moves beneath your feet, rumbling softly yet insistently enough to keep your pulse racing. Ava’s production choices here are commendable: lean, stylish, precise. Minimalistic percussion, finger-snaps, and playful whistles skim across the surface, each sound placed with the kind of intentionality that hints at meticulous studio craftsmanship. These elements coalesce into a sleek, catchy instrumental—a perfect vehicle for the kind of narrative Ava is spinning.

She sings with a calm that cuts, delivering the line “two can play that game” as a clean, deliberate strike—sharp, unwavering, laced with just enough sarcasm to sting. And narrative really is key here. She pivots away from victimhood, flipping betrayal into empowerment with a playful confidence reminiscent of pop’s greatest narrators—from the cheeky sass of early Lily Allen to the icy control of Dua Lipa at her sharpest. Ava crafts an alter ego that revels in reclaiming agency, strutting forward in heels sharp enough to pierce any lingering doubts.

Moreover, the accompanying music video adds a crucial layer of cinematic drama. Ava plays the role of a commanding protagonist, reinforcing visually what the track accomplishes sonically.

Plenty of new artists pile layers onto songs, hoping something sticks. Ava goes the other way. One tone, one texture, one decision after another that serves the same mood. This gives ‘2 Can Play’ its staying power. It commands attention by staying fully formed. Pop needs this kind of clarity sometimes.