The Path to Redemption
Avi Kaplan and His Musical Journey
Maybe you know Avi Kaplan as a past member of Pentatonix. That’s how I got to know his music, that’s how most people got to know him and his music. But his music evolved to be less Pop and more Folk, and it’s wonderful. Sometimes, most of the time, his songs sound like sad songs but are pretty optimistic and happy. His songs are calming and can slow you down, ground you, and bring you to the present moment.
I enjoy Pentatonix, but when they first exploded I listened to them a lot. I loved the videos, I loved the songs they chose to cover, and I loved how they looked like they were having a great time while doing what they loved. And then I just found something else or went back to the songs I have always loved since my teenage years. I don’t know, I forgot about Pentatonix and just stopped listening to their songs. Until I remembered and then Avi Kaplan had already left the group. Some days I have this problem, I fall into rabbit holes on the internet (most days, to be honest, I have to exert lots of willpower to stop this tendency). A 40-minute video about the worst fanfic ever written? I’ll sure watch it! Oh, links in the description to know more about it? Got it! So I went on to find Avi Kaplan, whose name I didn’t know, and I found Sweet Adeline.
Sweet Adeline — Avi Kaplan
And his music now is quite a contrast to the Pentatonix years. Pentatonix rose to fame with their amazing covers and cute videos. Also, they have a nice Pop sound, usually super upbeat and happy. Upon leaving Pentatonix Avi Kaplan released a sweet EP entitled Sage and Stone under the name Avriel and the Sequoias. Sage and Stone has 5 songs: Fields and Pier, Quarter Past Four, Sage and Stone, Song For the Seeker, and Sweet Adeline. They are all sweet, calm, and slow songs, but my favorite is Sweet Adeline. Adeline sounds delightful, sweet Adeline makes him sing, how adorable is that? According to this article, the song is about a past relationship. Sage and Stone was released before he announced his departure from Pentatonix.
I’ll Get By — Avi Kaplan
In 2019 Avi Kaplan announced his next solo project: I’ll Get By. This song is an ode to the phrase “Trust the process”. I bet you’ve heard this from someone too. At the beginning of this song, he feels empty and sad, But he decides to follow the path, to keep going and keep working, and he ends up feeling better. This one doesn’t sound sad, it’s an upbeat track with a lovely whistle.
It Knows Me — Avi Kaplan
Part of I’ll Get By is “It Knows Me”. It’s a funny song, it’s talking about all the dark parts of life, the world, and ourselves. It’s talking about our sins and our sadness, how these things are part of us, part of life, how these things are a very human thing to have and to be. It talks about the battles we lost to sadness, anger, desire and all the other human emotions that are deemed bad. And how all of this doesn’t make us bad or less human.
First Place I Go — Avi Kaplan
In 2022 he announced his debut solo studio album: Floating on a Dream. This album is filled with songs about healing and the process of trying to become a better person. That is a lifetime journey, isn’t it? The album starts with “First Place I’ll Go”, and it’s about recognizing the people, things, and behaviors that are bad for us but that we insist on keeping around. It’s about trying to make the conscious decision to avoid those things.
All Is Well — Avi Kaplan Feat. Joy Williams
All is Well features Joy Williams and it’s a whole spiritual journey, from falling into darkness and finding all your sins and flaws to finding your path into the light. It’s about finding balance and solace inside ourselves. It’s a beautiful song, and it sounds a little sad.
I don’t know much about Avi Kaplan as a person, but by his songs, I would guess he is a spiritual person, that he sometimes thinks about the purpose of life, how to heal, how to become a better person and all that. I think many of his songs talk about some of these questions and I think he does that very well. He talks about all that is to be human, not just the pretty parts, but the messy and uncomfortable parts as well. I think he shows us the path to redemption and healing, how much work it is and how messy it is. I hope you enjoy his vision of life as well. Also, follow for more stories about music, movies and so on.
