AVI KAPLAN SHARES ABSORBING COVER OF BILL WITHERS’ TIMELESS SONG “LEAN ON ME”
LISTEN HERE
Nashville based singer-songwriter Avi Kaplan, today, released his moving version of the late Bill Withers classic “Lean On Me.” This release marks Kaplan’s first new music since the debut of his acclaimed I’ll Get By EP, produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, First Aid Kit) and released earlier this year by Fantasy Records. A portion of the proceeds from “Lean On Me” will be donated to the Equal Justice Initiative, who are working hard to end racial inequality in all aspects of the criminal justice system. To celebrate the release, Kaplan will host a livestream on Friday, June 26th at 2pm CT- Tune in via his YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Twitter.
Purchase/Stream “Lean On Me” HERE
Avi Kaplan on the inspiration behind covering Bill Withers: “‘Lean On Me’ is one of my favorite songs, written by one of my favorite artists of all time, the incomparable Bill Withers. I arranged it for my most recent tour in hopes of inspiring the people who heard me sing it to look beyond their political or religious beliefs, color of skin, social class, and anything that could possibly divide us as a human race and come together. To lean on each other in troubling times. Since tour was canceled times have only become more troubled. I’m releasing this song in hopes of it being a reprieve for anyone suffering during all of this as I feel music is truly the best medicine. I also wanted to make sure it went further than that, so I will be donating all my proceeds from this track to Equal Justice Initiative, a foundation that fights against the oppression and injustice our Black, POC and Native American communities have faced for far too long. I truly believe in what they are doing, how they are doing it and their dreams for a better tomorrow.”
On I’ll Get By, Kaplan shares personal stories about love, anxiety, loss, and his time growing up in California. Exploring a range of sounds from soul to bluegrass, these songs are threaded together by the search for spiritual redemption, and cast with acoustic guitar, pedal steel, swirling organ and deep groove percussion that beautifully complements Kaplan’s haunting, otherworldly vocal ability. I’ll Get By melds early influences such as Bill Withers and Paul Simon with contemporaries such as Fleet Foxes and Hozier, offering a new twist on 60s influenced folk and blues. A compelling introduction from an inspiring singer-songwriter, on I’ll Get By Kaplan, the former Pentatonix star, rediscovered his musical roots, and created the sound he’s always wanted to make.
Photo Credit: Bree Marie Fish