| Paul Avion | |
|---|---|
| Origin | California, USA |
| Genres | Indie rock Indie folk |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, guitarist |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Associated acts | Silversun Pickups, Giant Drag |
| Website | http://www.paulavion.com |
| Past members | |
| Tanya Haden, Nick Lucero, Korel Tunador | |
Paul Avion (born Pablo Avion, a native of New Orleans, LA) is a musician from Los Angeles, CA.[1] In 2009, he was chosen by SPIN.com as an Artist to Watch,[2] and he is also known for living and working in the slums of Africa for SPIN Earth.[3]
Paul Avion is noted for music that encompasses a wide variety of styles, from folk to experimental to electronic pop,[4][5] with most of his songs apparently coming from dreams.[6] He has said he considers himself a "sound explorer" in the vein of Joni Mitchell or Leonard Cohen, who he sites as major influences.[7]
He has received further press in College Music Magazine, Glasswerk UK, Sentimentalist Magazine and other outlets.[8][9][10]
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."[11][12][13][14]
On November 3, 2010, the video for "Stop Joseph Kony" was released,[15] 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,[16][17] as well as receiving write-ups and recommendations from several.[18][19][20]
The album also scored at the top of a poll of "What Record Are You Looking Forward to Most" by Magnet Magazine.[21]
Contents |
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 Lewis, 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.[1][22]
He has released a number of singles, such as "Stand Up, Be a Man" and "Fibromyalgia," which have appeared on PBS' Roadtrip Nation,[23] Fuel TV's extreme sports show, The Daily Habit, and AMC's Hollywood Icon.[24]
"Fibromyalgia," which was featured as a download on SPIN.com,[2] appears to have been written about local musician Annie Hardy of Giant Drag, who suffers from the disease.[5][25] In February 2009, Paul Avion received further press in SPIN.[2]
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.[26]
In January 2010, SPIN Earth announced the publication of a series of articles covering Paul Avion's trip to the slums of Kenya.[27][28][29]
