Paul Avion
Encyclopedia
Paul Avion is a musician from Los Angeles, CA. In 2009, he was chosen by SPIN.com
as an Artist to Watch, and he is also known for living and working in the slums of Africa for SPIN Earth.
Paul Avion is noted for music that encompasses a wide variety of styles, from folk to experimental to electronic pop, with most of his songs apparently coming from dreams. He has said he considers himself a "sound explorer" in the vein of Joni Mitchell
or Leonard Cohen
, who he sites as major influences.
He has received further press in College Music Magazine, Glasswerk UK, Sentimentalist Magazine and other outlets.
In 2010, he announced his first solo album, to be released in December 2010, titled R U With Me. The first track released was "Henry Sage & Mrs. Wolverton."
On November 3, 2010, the video for "Stop Joseph Kony" was released, meant to draw attention to atrocities committed by the Lord's Resistance Army
in Uganda
.
As of December 2010, R U With Me had debuted #7 on CMJ's new adds chart and had hit the top 30 lists of various stations, as well as receiving write-ups and recommendations from several.
The album also scored at the top of a poll of "What Record Are You Looking Forward to Most" by Magnet Magazine
.
, Elliott Smith
, Giant Drag
and the Silversun Pickups
. He originally formed the band Par Avion, which featured a revolving lineup, including musicians such as Tanya Haden
(cellist, sister of Petra Haden
, now wed to comedian Jack Black
), and Ben Mumphrey
, producer of Frank Black & the Catholics
Devil's Workshop EP.
, Fuel TV
's extreme sports show, The Daily Habit, and AMC's Hollywood Icon.
"Fibromyalgia," which was featured as a download on SPIN.com
, appears to have been written about local musician Annie Hardy
of Giant Drag
, who suffers from the disease. In February 2009, Paul Avion received further press in SPIN
.
In June 2009, Under the Radar Magazine
's Digital Sampler, Volume IX included the single "Art School Dropout" along with a number of bands from Sub Pop
, Merge Records
and Saddle Creek Records
.
In January 2010, SPIN
Earth announced the publication of a series of articles covering Paul Avion's trip to the slums of Kenya.
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
as an Artist to Watch, and he is also known for living and working in the slums of Africa for SPIN Earth.
Paul Avion is noted for music that encompasses a wide variety of styles, from folk to experimental to electronic pop, with most of his songs apparently coming from dreams. He has said he considers himself a "sound explorer" in the vein of Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
or Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, who he sites as major influences.
He has received further press in College Music Magazine, Glasswerk UK, Sentimentalist Magazine and other outlets.
In 2010, he announced his first solo album, to be released in December 2010, titled R U With Me. The first track released was "Henry Sage & Mrs. Wolverton."
On November 3, 2010, the video for "Stop Joseph Kony" was released, meant to draw attention to atrocities committed by the Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
As of December 2010, R U With Me had debuted #7 on CMJ's new adds chart and had hit the top 30 lists of various stations, as well as receiving write-ups and recommendations from several.
The album also scored at the top of a poll of "What Record Are You Looking Forward to Most" by Magnet Magazine
Magnet (magazine)
Magnet is a music magazine which generally focuses on alternative, independent, or out-of-the-mainstream bands.-History:The magazine is published four times a year, and is independently owned and edited by Eric T. Miller. Music magazines with a similar focus in the 1990s era included Option,...
.
History
Paul Avion moved from New Orleans to Los Angeles in 2005, settling into the much-vaunted Silver Lake music scene, home to artists such as Jenny LewisJenny Lewis
Jennifer Diane Lewis , is an American singer-songwriter musician and actress. She was the primary vocalist of the indie rock band Rilo Kiley, and has released two solo albums. She currently performs as part of the duo Jenny & Johnny with boyfriend Johnathan Rice...
, Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
, Giant Drag
Giant Drag
Giant Drag is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formerly a duo, the band was founded in 2003 by Annie Hardy who continues to be the band's sole singer and songwriter....
and the Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002. The band comprises Brian Aubert, Nikki Monninger, Christopher Guanlao, and Joe Lester....
. He originally formed the band Par Avion, which featured a revolving lineup, including musicians such as Tanya Haden
Tanya Haden
-Biography:Born in New York City, she was a member of several bands, including Let's Go Sailing, and is the creator of the Imaginary Bear puppet show. She has contributed to recordings of a number of Los Angeles musicians, including vocals and cello on Par Avion's EP, Pop Music United...
(cellist, sister of Petra Haden
Petra Haden
Petra Haden is an American violinist and singer. She is or has been a member of several bands, including That Dog, Tito & Tarantula, and The Decemberists; has contributed to recordings by The Twilight Singers, Beck, Mike Watt, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age,...
, now wed to comedian Jack Black
Jack Black
Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
), and Ben Mumphrey
Ben Mumphrey
Ben Mumphrey is an audio engineer, record producer and musician.Some of his work credited as producer or co-producer includes the Frank Black albums Show Me Your Tears, 93-03 and Devil's Workshop, all released on Cooking Vinyl Records, , the 1998 album by released by Bong...
, producer of Frank Black & the Catholics
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
Devil's Workshop EP.
Releases
He has released a number of singles, such as "Stand Up, Be a Man" and "Fibromyalgia," which have appeared on PBS' Roadtrip NationRoadtrip Nation
Roadtrip Nation began in 2001 as an idea Mike , Nathan, Brian and Amanda, four friends fresh out of college, formed when they were not sure what to do with their lives...
, Fuel TV
Fuel TV
Fuel TV is a U.S. cable and satellite specialty channel that launched on July 1, 2003. It focuses on the cultures of such extreme sports as skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding, motocross, surfing, BMX and FMX. It is a unit of Fox Cable Networks and is currently available to 26-million...
's extreme sports show, The Daily Habit, and AMC's Hollywood Icon.
"Fibromyalgia," which was featured as a download on SPIN.com
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
, appears to have been written about local musician Annie Hardy
Annie Hardy
Annie-Summer Hardy is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the American rock act Giant Drag.Previously signed to Interscope Records, she was voted one of NMEs "50 Coolest People," and has received major news coverage in NME, Spin, MTV News and Rolling Stone, among others.She is known...
of Giant Drag
Giant Drag
Giant Drag is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formerly a duo, the band was founded in 2003 by Annie Hardy who continues to be the band's sole singer and songwriter....
, who suffers from the disease. In February 2009, Paul Avion received further press in SPIN
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
.
In June 2009, Under the Radar Magazine
Under the Radar (magazine)
Under the Radar is an American magazine that bills itself as "The solution to music pollution" and features interviews with accompanying photo-shoots. Each issue includes opinion and commentary of the Indie music scene as well as reviews on books, DVDs and albums.Items are reviewed based on a...
's Digital Sampler, Volume IX included the single "Art School Dropout" along with a number of bands from Sub Pop
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
, Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
and Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
.
In January 2010, SPIN
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
Earth announced the publication of a series of articles covering Paul Avion's trip to the slums of Kenya.
Discography
- Pop Music United (2006)
- Fibromyalgia (2009)
- R U With Me (December 2010)
Videography
- "Pop Music United" (2006)
- "Fibromyalgia" (2009)
- "Stop Joseph Kony" (2010)
- "Stand Up, Be a Man" (2010)
Other appearances
- In April 2008, the song "Stand Up, Be a Man" was featured on PBS' Roadtrip NationRoadtrip NationRoadtrip Nation began in 2001 as an idea Mike , Nathan, Brian and Amanda, four friends fresh out of college, formed when they were not sure what to do with their lives...
. - The song "Pop Music United II" appeared on Sonic Vogue's Sound of Style, Vol. II in 2008.
- The song "Stand Up, Be a Man" was featured on the compilation Groovetonics, Volume 2 in 2008.
- In September 2008, the song "Stand Up, Be a Man" was featured on Fuel TVFuel TVFuel TV is a U.S. cable and satellite specialty channel that launched on July 1, 2003. It focuses on the cultures of such extreme sports as skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding, motocross, surfing, BMX and FMX. It is a unit of Fox Cable Networks and is currently available to 26-million...
s "The Daily Habit". - In July 2009, "Pop Music United II" was featured on AMC's Hollywood Icon.