When Avi Kaplan walked away from Pentatonix in 2017, the music world collectively gasped. Or at least the corner of it that cares about three-octave bass drops and tight a cappella harmonies. People were confused. Why leave a Grammy-winning machine at the height of its power?
Honestly, the answer was written all over his face in that tearful farewell video. He was exhausted. The pace was relentless. But more than that, his soul was itching for something that wasn't just "vocal percussion and bass."
He needed a guitar. He needed a cabin in the woods. And he desperately needed Avi Kaplan Change on the Rise to happen.
The Break That Nobody Saw Coming
The transition wasn't an overnight thing. It felt more like a slow exhale. After leaving the group, Avi basically vanished into the Tennessee hills. He lived in a cabin. He spent a lot of time with trees. If that sounds like a cliché "musician finding himself" trope, it’s because it totally was—but he actually did the work.
He initially tested the waters with a project called Avriel & the Sequoias. It was folk. It was pretty. But it felt a little like a transition phase. Then, in early 2019, everything shifted.
When Avi Kaplan Change on the Rise finally dropped, it wasn't the polite, acoustic folk people expected. It was dark. It was heavy. It felt like something ancient was waking up.
What’s the Deal with Change on the Rise?
If you haven't sat down and really listened to the track—not just had it on in the background while doing dishes—you’re missing the point. The song starts with this rhythmic, thumping stomp. It’s primal.
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The lyrics aren't complicated, and that’s why they work. He's talking about a "change on the rise," but he’s not talking about the weather or politics. He's talking about a personal reckoning.
"I’ve been down in the valley, I’ve been up on the mountain top..."
It’s about the duality of his journey. Moving from the "valley" of burnout and anxiety into a new era where he finally owns his sound. Mike Mogis, the guy who produced for Bright Eyes and First Aid Kit, was the one behind the boards for the I'll Get By EP. You can hear that influence. It’s got that "haunted campfire" vibe.
Why the Song Hits Different
Most bass singers are used as a foundation. They are the floor. In Pentatonix, Avi was the bedrock. But in this song, his voice is the lightning.
- The Drone: He uses these low, resonant drones that feel more like a cello than a human throat.
- The Grit: There’s a rasp in his middle register that he never really got to show off in a cappella.
- The Space: The song breathes. There are moments of silence that feel just as heavy as the notes.
People often ask if the song is religious. Avi has been pretty open about how his Jewish heritage and the concept of "teshuvah" (return) play into his writing. Whether it's literally religious or just deeply spiritual, the "promised land" he sings about feels more like a state of mind—a place where he’s finally allowed to be himself.
The Production Magic of Mike Mogis
Working with Mike Mogis was a genius move. Mogis has this way of making acoustic instruments sound like they’re echoing in a massive, empty cathedral.
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For Avi Kaplan Change on the Rise, the production stays out of the way of the voice. It’s mostly just foot stomps, some claps, and a few choice guitar licks. It sounds "big" because of the resonance, not because of a hundred layers of synthesizers.
A lot of fans were worried that without four other voices to blend with, Avi’s sound would feel thin. It’s actually the opposite. He sounds more present than ever.
Breaking the "A Cappella" Curse
It is notoriously hard for a cappella stars to go solo. Just look at the history of the genre. People get used to hearing you as part of a collective instrument.
Avi avoided the trap by pivoting hard. He didn't try to make a pop record. He didn't try to out-sing his former bandmates. He leaned into the dirt and the grit of Americana and Delta blues.
When you hear Avi Kaplan Change on the Rise, you don't think about Pentatonix. You think about old timber and dusty roads. That’s the highest compliment you can pay an artist who’s trying to reinvent themselves.
What We Get Wrong About the Transition
Some folks think Avi "hated" his time in the spotlight. That's not really fair. In interviews, he’s always been super respectful of what PTX did. He just outgrew the box.
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The "Change" he’s singing about wasn't an escape from something bad; it was a pursuit of something better. It’s a subtle difference, but it matters.
How to Really Experience the Music
If you’re just getting into his solo stuff, don't stop at the single. The whole I'll Get By EP is a cohesive mood.
- Listen with headphones. Seriously. His sub-harmonics don't always translate through phone speakers. You need to feel the vibration in your ears.
- Watch the live versions. There’s a performance from the Bowery Ballroom in New York where you can see the physical effort it takes to produce those low notes. It’s an athletic feat.
- Read the lyrics. They are deceptively simple but deal with heavy themes of anxiety and recovery.
Avi Kaplan Change on the Rise isn't just a song title; it's a mission statement. It’s the sound of a guy who finally stopped doing what he was "supposed" to do and started doing what he was meant to do.
If you want to support this kind of artist-led evolution, the best thing you can do is dive into the full discography. Start with the I'll Get By EP and then move into his 2022 full-length, Floating On A Dream. It’s a masterclass in how to change your life without losing your voice.
Check out the official music video for "Change on the Rise" and pay close attention to the visual metaphors—the fire, the darkness, and the eventual light. It tells the story better than any blog post ever could. Once you've done that, go back and listen to "Otherside" to see the flip side of that coin.
The path forward for Avi is looking less like a tour bus and more like a long hike through the woods—and honestly, that's exactly where he belongs.