Maven Avila
 Avila in September 2020. | |
| Date of birth | June 22,1998 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Nationality | American |
| Pronouns | they/them |
| Gender identity | Agender |
| Known for | Vocalist and guitarist of Dead Letterman |
Maven Avila is an American singer-songwriter and activist, best known as the vocalist and guitarist of American alternative rock band Dead Letterman.
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Maven Avila was born in Louisville, KY in 1998.
Musical Career[edit | edit source]
Burnwick (2015-2016)[edit | edit source]
Avila's musical career began in 2015, performing as a hip hop act under the moniker Burnwick. Avila's one album as Burnwick, Future Shock, was released independently on August 17, 2016. Burnwick also performed as a featured artist on several songs by Washington based rapper Youngin, including Black Leaves and Smoke With You. Following the release of Future Shock, Avila set out on a regional tour, including performances in Kentucky (Louisville and Lexington,) Indiana (Bedford,) and Tennessee (Knoxville,) however, these tour dates were later cancelled due to a personal emergency. Avila announced on Facebook in late 2017 that there would be no further releases or performances under the Burnwick moniker, and Future Shock was removed from streaming services shortly thereafter.
A Family of One (2018)[edit | edit source]
In late 2018, Avila announced on Facebook that they would be returning to the studio to record new music, now under the name A Family Of One. They would release 4 singles in late 2019, Ethereal, Woodlawn Bridge, Social Anxiety, and Slade's Song, all of which were re-recorded or altered versions of material previously heard under Avila's Burnwick moniker. A Family of One did not release any new music in 2019.
Vagabond Avant (2019)[edit | edit source]
Avila resurfaced in 2019 with sporadic musical releases on Soundcloud under the moniker Vagabond Avant. These releases displayed a stark contrast from Avila's previous hip hop oriented work, now showcasing elements of multiple genres, live instruments, and sung vocals.
Dead Letterman (2020-present)[edit | edit source]
On February 11, 2020, Avila announced the formation of Dead Letterman. Originally a solo project, Dead Letterman has since featured additional members, including multi-instrumentalist Tyler Warden from March 2020 to summer 2021, and drummer Johnny Friend since March 2021.
To date, Avila has released 6 EPs with Dead Letterman, and will assume vocal duties on their upcoming album, There Is A Better Way, which is to be released in early 2022.
Singles[edit | edit source]
On October 7, 2020, Dead Letterman released a new single, Halloween.[1]
On October 18, 2020, Dead Letterman released a new single, Mackenzie.[2]
On December 8, 2020, Dead Letterman released a Christmas themed EP, A Dead Letterman Christmas.[3]
These releases were added to all streaming platforms on December 17, 2020.
When the World Burns[edit | edit source]
On June 5, 2020, Dead Letterman released the Bandcamp exclusive EP When the World Burns,[4] a commentary on the Black Lives Matter protests. All proceeds from this album were donated to Blak Visions Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to civil rights for people of color. This EP was later released on all streaming platforms on December 17, 2020.
Departure of Tyler Warden, Small Hours[edit | edit source]
On December 22, 2020, Avila announced that Tyler Warden would be leaving the band, and Dead Letterman would continue as a solo project. Additionally, they announced Dead Letterman's first full-length album, Small Hours, which is set to be released in 2021.
Activism and politics[edit | edit source]
Avila is an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, women's rights, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Avila has hosted fundraisers for organizations such as Black Visions Collective, the Native American Rights Fund, and the Lebanese Red Cross. On June 13, 2020, Avila hosted their first live performance at Wet Basement, where all proceeds were donated to artists of color.
On November 4, 2020, Avila was awarded the title of Kentucky Colonel for their work in music and activism.
Personal life[edit | edit source]
Avila is agender and pansexual, and uses they/them pronouns. Avila is a recovered alcoholic, maintaining sobriety since September of 2019.
Discography[edit | edit source]
As Burnwick[edit | edit source]
Future Shock (2016)
As A Family of One[edit | edit source]
Ethereal (2018
Woodlawn Bridge (2018)
Social Anxiety (2018)
Slade's Song (2018)
As Dead Letterman[edit | edit source]
The First EP (2020)
The Second EP (2020)
The Third EP (2020)
Dead Letterman (2020)
Dead Letterman II (2020)
Govern Me, Daddy (Andy's Song) (2020)
Taproom Queen (2020)
Acoustic (2020)
When the World Burns (2020)
Halloween (2020)
Mackenzie (2020)
A Dead Letterman Christmas (2020)
- ↑ "Halloween". Archived from the original on 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2020-12-23.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- ↑ "Mackenzie". Archived from the original on 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2020-12-23.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- ↑ "A Dead Letterman Christmas". Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
- ↑ "When the World Burns". Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
