Welcome Avatari as we break down how 2020 turned out for him and upcoming goals for the following year! This year definitely changed alot of things for everyone and he’s well on his way to making sure the next year is much more successful than this one.
Hi, Avatari! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us! How have you been during 2020?
That’s a loaded question! 2020 has been a lot of different things for me – as it has for all of us. I’d say it’s been extremely challenging. As a father and family man, it’s been scary. Trying to keep my family as safe as possible and provide for them. As a musician, I was planning to launch my new project and start to tour and play out. That was wiped away. I think a lot of musicians can relate. On the flip side, I’ve been able to stay at home and spend a lot of time with my son who just turned three. He’s at an amazing age where the whole world is waking up for him. So I’ve been able to witness that, and play a lot of games with him. Also, on the music front, I’ve re-invented the way I connect with fans. Since playing live is off the table, for now, I’ve been doing a ton of live streams and connecting on social media. And in a lot of ways, I feel like it’s brought me closer than ever to my fans. Kinda crazy. I wasn’t expecting that. And on a completely different level, I’ve lost two people in my life that I cared for as deeply as anyone on the planet. Sorry, it’s a lot of stuff. But you asked. So 2020 has been beautiful. Frightening. Heart-breaking. Revolutionary. Intense.
Do you have a new attitude for 2021?
Absolutely. If nothing else, 2020 has forced me to hit pause. It’s given me the opportunity to reflect and re-evaluate a lot about my priorities and the way I choose to live. It’s made me appreciate my life and my loved ones. Some of the “smaller” events. Things like playing with my son in the grass. Hugging my wife. Reconnecting with an old friend. Understanding the value of small kindnesses. It’s also given me a deeper connection to the power of music and community. My experience of doing live streams during the pandemic has shown me that people are craving connection right now. Probably more than ever in my lifetime. And I feel it is my duty, and that of every artist, to provide that in as great a way as possible. I think that opportunity is very exciting. And I think it will bleed into life after the pandemic.
How do you find your peace?
Playing music. Spending time with my family and my friends. Meditating. Reading. Breathing. Watching movies. Being in nature with trees and animals and the ocean.
What are you listening for when listening to new music?
I always listen to the melody and the overall vibe first. It’s the way I’ve always been. I remember when I heard Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” for the first time. Or Radiohead’s “OK Computer”. Or Imagine Dragons or Jimi Hendrix. What reeled me in was the vibe. The groove hits me almost simultaneously. Does the rhythm of the song move me? It doesn’t need to be fast or danceable (though I do love that too) but does the song make me want to move or sway at a physical level. And then the deal-maker or breaker is always the lyrics. The lyrics are what make the difference between a cool, fun song; and a song that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. For a song to really resonate with me the lyrics need to hit me in the heart and feel totally authentic. Finally, it’s the voice of the vocalist. The singer doesn’t have to be Aretha Franklin (there’s only one) it’s just about singing from the heart. With confidence, and uniqueness.
What keeps you going?
Wow. I guess my family. My friends. My fans. My love of music. I just love it so much. I always have. I can’t imagine a life without it. And as much as I’ve spoken about the beauty of the opportunity to live stream during the pandemic, don’t get me wrong, nothing in the world can replace the power of the live show. So that’s also keeping me going right now. I feel a bit like an animal in hibernation. But I know that when winter is over and it’s time to come out of the cave – there’s going to be a giant feast waiting.
Night owl or morning person?
I’d say I’m naturally a night owl. But I’ve forced myself to become a morning person. I like to be as productive as possible, and I find the best time to do that is in the morning. My mornings also set the tone for my whole day. If I wake up groggy and behind the eight ball, then I spend the day trying to catch up. If I start my day nice and early, with a little time to breathe and reflect, then I’m probably going to give a much better day. That being said, I relish the occasional stay up late watching movies or writing music night.
Favorite guilty pleasure?
That’s easy. Pizza. Oh yeah, and brownies.
Which platforms are you most active on and how do our readers stay connected with you?
I’m active on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/avatari
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avatariworld/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avatariworld
But if you really want to connect a bit deeper, then follow this link to join my private fan community The Avatars:
https://go.avatari.world/street-team
Thank you for your time!!
