Avery Florence is a singer driven by a desire to connect with her audience and her interest for a more intimate performance experience has led her to start her own series of DIY concerts around her base in Toronto.
Avery Florence. Photo provided.
She has a beautiful and bold voice that is genuine, soulful, and unique. After listening to her songs, I personally felt a gentle and light mood that was mixed with a melancholy tone within her lyrics. Florence’s words bring you into her world and paint a lifelike story that gets you immersed in her experiences and, at the same time, has you thinking about your own life experiences.
She is on tour through Ontario and Quebec to promote her new January EP and stops in Ottawa on January 26, at Bar Robo, to perform songs from her new album as well as upcoming releases.
Avery took time from her current tour to give Apt613 a call and tell us some of the stories behind her songs.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Apt613: Happy belated birthday Avery. Is your new EP’s title partly because you have a January birthday?
Avery Florence: Thank you! Yes, I definitely feel a connection with my birthday… because your birthday and the New Year are a very reflective time and this album, to me, is a reflection of where I’ve been and where I’m moving forward. I started music late and this album is like a jump in and a move forward, as an artist and i’m giving it all I’ve got… what I mean by late is that I find a lot of musicians started as young kids, like 7, but I didn’t pick up a guitar until I was 21, when immediately I fell in love with songwriting.
What made you fall in love with singing and songwriting?
Not to sound so cheesy, but it was the first time I felt like beyond myself. It was the first time that I was able to really communicate my feelings, before that I was kind of closed, talking about feelings, and it was a sort of way of connecting with myself and sharing that with other people. I hope when I perform, it inspires people to be more open with themselves and others around them.
What are some of the sources of inspiration behind the songs on your EP, January?
Avery: My music is very emotional. I am not as good of a storyteller as I am speaking or singing from my heart. I’m a very empathetic person, almost to a fault and I think music helps me deal with that. Most of my inspiration comes from the outside world, how it affects me and how I affect it.
I feel like being an artist is similar to being in touch with what you are as a true human being. Bob Dylan said this and I love the quote, he said: “always be in the state of becoming.” And artists should make it their job to get to the core of things and remind people how to be human.
Inspiration comes from all places. Like the song “Bleed”… that song was actually written from a journal entry I had done ten years before where I felt like I was in the same negative cycle with relationships, with myself and other people, but mostly I do write the lyrics along with a melody.
Avery Florence. Photo provided.
I hear you like to organize your own performances. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages about doing your own concerts versus performing on pre-booked shows?
Avery: A few years ago, I saw this artist called Matt Corby on YouTube, and he did this thing called the secret garden shows where he would put on shows in his friends backyards and other people would hire him to put on shows and I thought that was a nice intimate way to perform.
The positives are that you get to create a space where people feel like they’re being invited into something very intimate. It’s like you’re the host and you get to set the vibe. I mean who doesn’t want to sit on the couch with a bottle of wine and just listen to music. On this tour we’re actually doing house concerts along with a bunch of the tour spots.
The negative is that you are in charge of everything and that can be very time consuming!
How has the reception been so far from the audiences, from your new EP?
Really great. I’ve gotten messages from friends and their friends, and friends of friends and so many others. Like last night’s show was honestly very humbling. It blew me away how many people were (at my concert) and how many people were attentive. Everyone was silent through most of the show, just paying attention and enjoying the music. The vibe has been so cool and I hope I get the opportunity to continue to grow and put on even better shows.
Well you’re music really is wonderful and I look forward to seeing you on January 26 in Ottawa.
Avery: This was fun. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak to me.
Avery Florence will be performing at Bar Robo (692 Somerset St W) on Friday January 26. See Facebook for details.
