Kitchener, ON-Based Rocker Avalon Stone Takes Us Through The Stages of a Nasty Breakup on Grungy, Metallic “Forget You”
Sometimes you just get that sickly, sinking feeling you’re about to be played, and that’s what Avalon Stone’s new hard-rocking debut single “Forget You” – available now – from her forthcoming Album Chained is all about, produced by JUNO Award-winning producer Kevin Dietz (Glorious Sons, JJ Wilde, Billy Talent).
Heavy, grungy, and metal-tinged, “Forget You” takes us on a journey from that initial niggling feeling all the way to the aftermath of the breakup, where Stone experiences both regret and steely resolve:
Feel it burn
Want you to return
Now I’ll have to learn
To try to forget you
The song is a storm of sludgy guitars, pummeling drums, and Stone’s soaring and passionate vocals. Then, it suddenly turns quiet and introspective as Stone contemplates her sadness and the injustice of it all, only to be broken by her soulful, soul-shaking wail.
Avalon Stone isn’t just an artist; she’s a force of nature. Entering the performance scene at the young age of 10, she began fronting her own band by the time she was 12. Her sound is deeply rooted in the gritty embrace of ’90s grunge like Alice In Chains, Cranberries? and Nirvana, yet she manages to rejuvenate the classic genre with a contemporary, sharp edge.
Fans can look forward to frequent releases this Winter getting ready for her upcoming Album that blends a heady alchemy of nostalgia and innovation, weaving raw emotions into alt-rock anthems. Her soaring vocals resonate deep within, echoing long after the last note has played. This is an astonishing first single, and a new female Canadian rock artist on the scene that makes her one to watch.
Something you said on the call we really liked – If this first release is a sign of things to come, we’ve got a new female Canadian rock artist to watch out for.
In addition to making music, Avalon is passionate about mental health advocacy. As the founder of Music For Mental Health Canada, Avalon harnesses the power of her music while collaborating with other musicians to champion mental health causes.
Care to introduce yourself?
My name is Avalon Stone, a 20-year-old grunge-inspired rock artist from Kitchener, ON.
Tell us about the process of writing and recording “Forget You?”
The making of Forget You was full of excitement and synergy through the writing sessions, musical additions, and the recording process. Going into the initial writing session, Taylor Leith of Sierra Pilot and I knew we wanted to write an energetic, fiery rock song. So, we got together in my home studio and worked out a killer riff, then he worked on the rest of the music and I created the lyrics and melody. When we came back together it was instant. I remember being in his studio recording the demo and playing around with the bridge, and when I sang the big finale it was like there were sparks in the room; we knew we had it. I took some time to bring the arrangement to life with Caleb Bourgeois (guitar), Wes Bartram (drums), and Brent Wilson (bass). After getting a great response at live shows, we brought it into the studio. Over the course of my career, it has been difficult to capture the passion of a live performance in a studio setting, and producer Kevin Dietz knew how to do exactly that and brought out the energy in all of us. I will admit it took some time for me to get over some studio nerves, but the people in the room made it the best experience I could have asked for, and I can’t wait to do it again. We are recording the next songs now, getting ready for the release of the Chained album through 2024.
What’s it like being a musician in Kitchener?
Kitchener was a great place to grow up as a young musician. There were and still are so many different programs and resources for young emerging artists, especially in the blues community, where I have my roots. The Grand River Blues Society and others in the local music scene equipped me with many skills and connections that I still have and use today. I am so thankful for the people who have supported me and offered me mentorship as I have grown from a local blues singer into who I am today. Over the past few years it has gotten even better with the new Kitchener Music Office, and companies like Good Co prod. who have been putting in a serious effort to make the community a more vibrant and connected place. Kitchener is also close to many other cities in Southern Ontario, which makes expanding into other cities and growth very accessible.
Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?
The first Canadian artist to really blow me away, and still remains one of my favorite bands, is Big Wreck, who I had the pleasure of opening for in the summer. I’m grateful to have met, shared stages, listened to, collaborated with, and become friends with so many musicians since then, and most recently I have been very impressed by JJ Wilde, Harm and Ease, BRKN LOVE, The Jailbirds, Sierra Pilot, Vilivant and many more.
You’ve been making music for a short bit of time now, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
My advice for those who are starting out is to reach out to people and find those that you love working with, and that bring out the best in you. Go out to open mics, local shows, music industry events, etc. Your people are out there and the only way to find them is to get out and be part of the community. Learn from these people, grow with these people, play as many shows as you can, and support those around you. Building a career in music will take time, lots of trial and error, and being able to adapt to change. I know I’ve had my share over the last 10 years (and 300 shows) and I’m taking the lessons I’ve learned into building my solo career.