New Music from Allison Leah, Alex Skye, Sarah Suarez, Ava Dallas, Haley Montelaro, Stephània, and Sabrina Ponte

"I Didn't Know I Was Growing Up" - by Allison Leah

Release Date: May 1 2026

What You Should Know: "I’ve had this song in my pocket for over a year now and have been waiting for the right moment, and grad season just felt right. This song is also the first single off my NEW EP, Mirror, releasing this summer. It’s a 5 song collection of reflections, musings on growing up, and self-identity. These five songs are some of the most vulnerable I’ve ever written & sharing them right now feels so right. "

Find It: Spotify, and Apple

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2026 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previous Noteworthy Releases: "What I'm Missing", "24 Years Down", "Sorry For Myself", "i gave u my number"

Previously on Section 36: "Allison Leah Visits Section 36 Music!", "Allison Leah's 36 Favorite Things"

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"Never Have I Ever" - by Alex Skye

Release Date: April 30, 2026

What You Should Know: "This song is a hyper-pop, dance, house song that is for an upcoming project… BUT I am releasing it under my name first. Here is a break from the sad indie folk"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple and Spotify

Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2026 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Alex Skye Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Hairline Fracture" - by Sarah Suarez

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple and Spotify

Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2026 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Sarah Suarez Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Easy" - by Ava Dallas

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple and Spotify

Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2026 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Ava Dallas Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Out of Our Control" - by Haley Montelaro

Release Date: May 1, 2026

What You Should Know: "I cannot express how surreal this is. My younger self knew she wanted to be an artist and a songwriter, but didn't know how to get there. Every year of middle and high school I would say "This is the year I'll release music" but had no idea what steps to take.

Now at the age of 19 I can say I have 9 tracks out, 6 of which are in this EP. Life is crazy."

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple and Spotify

Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2026 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Haley Montelaro Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Every Kind of Way" - by Stephània

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Find It: Everywhere, like  Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2026 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Stephània Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Back In Boston" - by Sabrina Ponte 

Release Date: May 1, 2026

What You Should Know: A version of this song like you've never heard before!

Find It: Spotify or Apple

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "Songs that Cover the Bases", "It's 2025 In Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Sabrina Ponte Visits Section 36 Music!"

Ava Dallas Visits Section 36 Music!

At long last, Ava Dallas visited Section 36 Music! Ava has a fantastic musical catalog, and a recent single you won't want to miss! Be sure to check it out as soon as you can. I was so excited she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, her goals, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Ava Dallas visits Section 36 Music!

Your recent single, “Boy and a Ghost”, is just outstanding. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you!! It really started to grow on me after I released it. I originally posted a little snippet to this song, I think it was just the first verse and chorus. The response i got from viewers on social media was pretty re-assuring that I should make it into a full song, so I did! I then got a comment from someone saying “if this was released on Halloween that would be perfect,” and I just thought that was the best idea (hence it being about a ghost) so I SCRAMBLED to get the production done so I could release it on halloween (i posted the video on oct 8 and typically you need a final product of a song 2 weeks before the release), so I only had a week and a half to finish production, recording, mixing and mastering.. a process that normally takes about at least 4 weeks depending on who you ask. 

The song is about a girl who loses herself in a relationship to the point of no return. It’s so easy to get caught up in someone else and start obsessing over the things they care about until your whole life slowly starts to circle around them. I’ve done that in past relationships and now that I’m not in one I can actually see how easy it is to lose sight of yourself without even realizing it. That’s where the ghost idea came from because it felt like I faded so far into the background that a version of me kind of disappeared in that relationship.

Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?

Yes! My super talented friend, Daniel McCurdy wanted to help out on the drums and bass for this record. We spent a couple sessions together and shared some laughs and a good time piecing things together. I love collaborating on things and doing this song was especially fun!

What do you enjoy most about performing on stage in front of an audience?

Getting to see how many people relate to the lyrics I write (especially the ones that make me feel the most alone) is honestly my favorite part of performing. There’s something really powerful about being vulnerable in front of a room full of strangers and realizing they’re feeling the same things you are. Not everyone gets the chance to stand on a stage and share the parts of themselves they usually hide, and I feel really lucky that my career is moving in a direction where I get to do that. 

What would you say is the biggest challenge with your musical career?

At this point in my career I’d say the most challenging part is figuring out my “thing” and what actually makes me stand out from everyone else who grew up wanting to be a performer or musician. Then taking that “thing” and trying to translate it onto social media is a whole separate challenge that I’m still learning how to navigate. Being an artist requires a lot of self-evaluation. It’s not something we’re naturally born knowing how to do, so shifting into that mindset where I have to step outside myself and really see who I am the way others do has honestly been a bit of a puzzle. But it’s a puzzle I’m completely willing to figure out.

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?

Ooo I would definitely cover Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid or Almost There from The Princess and The Frog. I love Tiana, I think she’s such a boss lady and her vocal agility is crazy. I also love the jazziness that comes with it and that movie as a whole. I aspire to be Tiana honestly.

What are your immediate musical goals?

As of right now my most immediate goal is to finish producing my album and hopefully release it early this summer. I’ve always felt like albums are such a monumental step for an artist because creating a full body of work really helps shape an artist image and define what their sound actually is. I’m excited to unravel it all.

I also aspire to land a publishing deal. I write and produce a lot of genres and have many songs that I feel maybe aren’t the most suitable for me, but definitely for others I’d like to pitch one day!

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I'm definitely excited to hear that album!

As always, I want to thank Ava for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview. 

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again, Ava, and good luck reaching your goals!