Rising Music Star Avalon Kane On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry

An Interview With Eden Gold

Be vulnerable. I didn’t want to give too much of myself away when I first started, but when you listen to some of the greatest songs in history, everything is laid out for you to see. So let it out.

As a part of our interview series with leaders, stars, and rising stars in the music industry, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Avalon Kane.

Avalon Kane, an independent electronic experimental songwriter and musician hailing from Adelaide, South Australia. A multi-talented artist, Avalon combines her skills as a guitarist, self-taught pianist, and synth experimentalist to create a unique sonic landscape that blends elements of rock and roll with electronic music. Drawing inspiration from ambient, dance, dark wave, and minimal electronic genres, Avalon has carved out her niche in the music world. Her journey from a quiet farm girl to a bold electronic artist is as fascinating as her music is innovative. With two albums recently completed and her first live shows on the horizon, Avalon Kane is poised to make waves in the electronic music scene with her immersive, whole-body sensory experiences that promise to captivate audiences and push the boundaries of experimental electronic music.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

Hey, Thanks so much for having me! I grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. I was a pretty quiet kid with a vivid imagination who loved spending time alone on our farm. I’d often have my cat for company, but that was it. I read a lot. I always had my nose in books. I also loved music. Particularly Icehouse. I probably listened to Icehouse’s album Man of Colours over 1000 times growing up.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did your journey begin?

Being quiet, my parents thought it would be a good, idea for me to learn an instrument. I was petrified, but they made me do it and I was grateful in the end. I chose the acoustic guitar as that is what Iva Davies and Bruce Springsteen played. I had lessons all through primary school, and then I just played for myself. I performed a couple of times at high school, but it was so terrifying I didn’t want to do it again! I became interested in the keyboard through music at school and enjoyed making my own compositions at home after I got one for Christmas. As I got older I had the urge to learn the guitar again so I went back to lessons. I wanted to play loud. I wanted to use an electric guitar and an amp. My teacher had a full studio and I became interested in learning how to write my own music. I started getting restless just using his studio as I wanted to explore more and we never had enough time during lessons. So I started building my own little studio at home just for me to play in. I got my first synth, a refurbished laptop, Logic and wrote my first songs. It felt like home.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I had the incredible opportunity to play guitar on stage with Nickelback in 2019 at Rod Laver Arena. It was the first time I had ever played in a band, on stage and to an audience of more than 50 people. I was the first female to ever jam with them live and that changed my life. They are the most incredible humans. They will do anything for their fans, their supporters, and their extended band family. They really are a huge example of working hard and being themselves throughout everything that comes their way. They are my favourite band in the entire world and I am so proud and honoured to say that.

It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I organised all the styling and set design for the Red video that came out last year. I was in a bit of a rush putting a bed frame together and thought I’d cut a few corners to make it work. Well, it backfired on me as I sat down on it when we were all there waiting to film and it all collapsed under me. I looked like a total fool! I will always put things together properly from now on.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

There are two people that I really can’t separate as they equally have done so much for me. Max Hurrell, my producer and my very close friend has been a huge inspiration, support, and guide to me over the past 2 years. Max has encouraged me to release what I feel out into the world without judgment, is always willing to just sit and work through thoughts with no pressure for resolve, and has changed the way I see myself as an artist wholly in the best of ways.

Stu Patterson who has been a part of my music for the past 2 years has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me as a creative. Firstly, I have always thought my voice was shocking. I mean, I didn’t even want to hear it! In the beginning, when Stu and I started working together, I would write the song and Stu would sing it. To convey the melody, I would sing on the rough cut (and I mean it was a rough cut) and I would always be so embarrassed to share it with Stu. I would also never want to sing in front of Max or Stu in the studio live — ever. Arghhh.

One day in my studio I had recorded vocals for Unseen, a new song from my album. I shared it with Stu and they told me I could definitely sing that one. I shook my head like normal. Then Stu fiddled a bit with Logic and played it again and it did sound ok. “Everyone can sing. You just have to find the confidence.” Stu said. Now I sing and I love it.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

I have just finished off 2 albums that I have been working on for 18 months. That was a huge project with Stu and Max. I am very excited to release them and get them out into the world. Also, I am gearing up to perform my first live shows. I’m really looking forward to using my deck as an instrument. I’ve been playing around with modulating tracks with the decks, and other tools and gadgets to make it a bit experimental. When you come to an Avalon Kane show you’ll have a whole-body sensory experience. You’ll have vibrations from the subs, the visuals teaming with the sounds, and waves of beats running with the synths — it’s going to be fun.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film, and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

It would be a very dull world without diversity. As someone who has grown up in various generations, I haven’t always been presented with other ways of thinking and other flavours of life. Especially wanting to be a female electronic artist — I can’t ever recall seeing one on my TV screen when I was growing up. Even playing the guitar was typically just for boys when I was learning it. Acceptance is a HUGE thing that our world needs to bring to the forefront. Kicking assumptions to the curb and accepting people for who they are, what they want to do, and what they bring to the world is paramount. The more we are shown, represented, revealed, and celebrated — the more community we can create.

As a successful music star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated? How do you overcome obstacles in your career?

There are always pitfalls and obstacles in life in general. It’s the way you choose to view them. You need to allow yourself to feel the tough moments. They help you grow. They don’t define you though. It is how you move forward and realign yourself to your own frequency that counts. Please don’t compare yourself to anyone else. You will always be looking in the other lanes and not focusing on your own. If you favor what you are doing, then it’s not for you. Everyone has their place and purpose and the, re is always time to find it.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?

1. Be vulnerable. I didn’t want to give too much of myself away when I first started, but when you listen to some of the greatest songs in history, everything is laid out for you to see. So let it out.
2. Community is key. Working with other people is the best. As a solo artist it can be all encompassing at times. Allowing people in, helping other people, sharing ideas, and collaborating is what music should be about.
3. Promote other artists. Don’t be one of those artists that never follows back, or never shares other’s work. Don’t be a dick. It’s always lovely to hear from other artists when you love their work. Share and share alike!
4. Respect the arts. Respect the fact that people are trying to make a living with their art. Don’t expect people to do favours for you all the time just because they can play an instrument, or are good at visual arts etc. Pay them. Do the right thing.
5. When working with producers you are collaborating — not sitting at the back of a room in silence waiting for them to finish your work. It should be a partnership — not a one-way street.

Can you share some insights into your creative process? How do you approach songwriting? How do you approach musical collaborations?

My brain never switches off and I get inspired by lots of things. It could be a picture. It could be a movie. An experience that moves me. A feeling. I never follow the same process with writing, and I love that. It keeps it fresh. The last track I wrote was about Halloween. I had driven by a pine forest that went on forever. Then I created a story about what would be in the forest and if the trees decided to devour people…. Hahaha. I took a video of the forest, came home, edited it to black and white, and kept it on a loop in front of me in my studio. I went through my sounds until I found the one that I felt matched the mood of the video. It probably took a couple of hours, and it was done. The lyrics came so quickly once the track was done as it was techno. Born to live, born to die. I’m happy with that track. It’s a nightmarish vibe and I love it.

It’s funny I haven’t thought about too many other collaborations since working with Stu as we suit each other so well. We share a very similar taste in music and we both love loud crazy sounds so I think it would be hard to collab with someone else. However, I wouldn’t mind delving a bit into heavy metal. Maybe teaming up with a heavy metal band and doing some really crazy stuff. Get a bit of Avalon messed up with Grindcore.

Your music has resonated with so many fans worldwide. What do you believe sets your music apart?

Jay Honeycomb from No Transmission called me a deranged Enya and I personally love that. That is exactly what I am trying to convey. I really love Enya! I really love bands like Loathe, Thou, and Knoll too, so mixing them all up kind of makes me that character. I’ve embraced the darkness with my music more in the new era of my music. It’s more me. Darker beats, darker feelings. There’s beauty in that, and people are enjoying the way I represent that.

How do you connect with your audience?

By giving all of me. Not holding anything back. Diving right into all the experiences that have made me who I am. Particularly the dark, sad times. Taking you to the spaces that you don’t want to go, to but know you need to sometimes.

With your busy schedule and demanding performances, how do you prioritize self-care and maintain a balance between your personal, life and career in the music industry?

During the process of writing the albums, in particular, the deeper tracks where I have had to go to spaces I haven’t been to in a while — I did have to take a step back and take a break. However, writing helps me get through those times too — Hole song came from a very dark time last year that I had a lot of trouble recovering from. I remember singing it to Stu and it was quite oppressive. I was still very weighed down by it all but was working through it and getting better. When we recorded the vocals, Stu shaped them to bring them more into the light which moved me to tears. It changed the outlook on the song and gave it hope.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

My husband and I used to have a pasture-raised egg business with 500 chickens that we absolutely loved. However it was taken away from us due to people not understanding farming, animal rights and the need for sustainable produce and small business in the local community. I would want to inspire local councils to dedicate areas of their community just for small farms of primary production that could never be changed — so we can run smaller run family farms that actually love the animals, provide fresher produce, and get rid of those enormous huge horrid places that hold thousands and thousands of poor animals. Our health will be better, there will be more jobs, and the animals will have such a better life! So many people want to farm in a smaller way and it is wonderful. We just need areas dedicated to that — grants for families — land, so many possibilities. There is such a better way of doing things for everyone.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

Hogan McClaughlin and Bill Safi are two artisans who I follow and admire immensely. I love their creativity. It is dark, exotic, and delicious.

How can our readers continue to follow your work online?

I am on Instagram a bit. I like to share bits from my studio practice on my stories. I have a YouTube channel too where I upload little sets from time to time. Also, my website has all the latest music news and releases.

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!

Thank you so much!!

About The Interviewer: Eden Gold, is a youth speaker, keynote speaker, founder of the online program Life After High School, and host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast. Being America’s rising force for positive change, Eden is a catalyst for change in shaping the future of education. With a lifelong mission of impacting the lives of 1 billion young adults, Eden serves as a practical guide, aiding young adults in honing their self-confidence, challenging societal conventions, and crafting a strategic roadmap towards the fulfilling lives they envision.

Do you need a dynamic speaker, or want to learn more about Eden’s programs? Click here: https://bit.ly/EdenGold.