AVAN LAVA Release Make it Real EP Today

In a culture seemingly obsessed with irony and self-seriousness, NYC's dance-pop pioneersAVAN LAVA are a breath of fresh air. Or, to be more specific, they are a big, bright, confetti-filled breath of fresh air that, upon breathing, causes a person to dance, sweat, and smile uncontrollably. The band have staked their claim as one of New York's most vibrant pop acts-a kind of natural bridge between late night club culture and kaleidoscopic pop theatricality. In doing so, the trio of Ian Pai (producer/drummer), Le Chev(producer/keyboard/guitar) and TC Milan (vocals) have earned a fervent fanbase and managed to bring their raucous live show to points all over the globe. The group last EP-Flex Fantasy-proved to be a commercial breakthrough, fine-tuning the trio's penchant for marrying soulful vocals and sanguine beats. In addition to a seemingly endless amount of touring, the EP also produced three videos (including a gorgeous clip for "Sisters", filmed in San Juan) and lead to a long-standing collaboration with famed fashion photographersInez & Vinoodh, for whom AVAN LAVA created original music for the duo's fashion campaigns. They also contributed music to campaigns for Dior, Mango, Viktor & Rolf, Calvin Klein, and Miu Miu-collaborations that not only kept the band occupied, but kept them at the cultural forefront. Now, after nearly three years of constant touring, collaboration, and logging countless hours in the studio, AVAN LAVA are set to return withMake It Real-a six-track EP that pushes the group's seamless, club-friendly sound into the stratosphere

"In the world of electronic music, three years is a long time," says Le Chev. "Production technology changes so rapidly, so there are are all these new ways of doing things. Other than that, we are still the same people we were before. As three friends making music together, our mission as a band is still kind of the same. After touring so much, we kind of wanted to capture that feeling of celebration that we felt when we played live. We wanted to hear more of that in our music. The songs on Make It Real are definitely the most bangin' things we've ever recorded and a lot of that has to do with the fact that these songs are really meant to be played live in a big room filled with people. "

The six tracks on Make It Real show off AVAN LAVA's various strengths, not just as great pop songwriters but also in terms of production. "Take This City" and "Last Night" (a track championed by BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac) are the kind of classic, house-inflected party tracks that sound equally huge played in headphones or blasting across a dance floor. Elsewhere,

"Leave it All Behind" is the kind of euphoric tour de force that has become the band's stock in trade-an empowerment anthem that seems tailor-made for late-nights out and/or high-fiving yourself in the mirror. Le Chev described the track to The FADER as follows: "When you finally take a minute to gain perspective, you're not where you set out to be. 'Leave It All Behind' is about having the courage to start over, even if that means losing everything. It's about making the space for freedom in your life."

So much about AVAN LAVA'S modus operandi can be summed up in their live show-a constantly evolving spectacle involving backup dancers, custom designed light shows, and the occasional confetti cannon. At a time when the idea of a live show often involves little to no production and not much in the way of sense of humor, the AVAN LAVA live experience is essentially the opposite: big, bright, and fundamentally joyous. For the uninitiated, seeing AVAN LAVA play live is something akin to being to being taken to church-a sweaty, messy, club-shaped church where everyone is encouraged to stop worrying about being cool and dance their asses off. This spirit of euphoria-the shaking off the negative and embracing happiness-has always been at the heart of what AVAN LAVA is all about. It's also the driving force behind the tracks on Make It Real.

"We have always wanted to create a live show that at least matched-if not surpassed-the energy that was happening on the records," says Pai. "You want to figure out how to create an environment in which people feel like it's OK to go nuts. You can have joy that is deep, you know? There is a way to represent that feeling. It is a celebration--people getting together to share this same experience. That's the magic of a live show. All of these people show up for one night to spend some time with us. To be able to give people something that can touch them deeply but also isn't about bringing them down...that's something we really enjoy. We've gotten used to seeing people show up to our shows wearing gym clothes because they know they are probably gonna sweat. I always think that means we are doing something right."

Aside from just being a rocket-fueled missile aimed at the dance floor, one the most winning aspects of Make It Real is that it's actually about something real. In addition to the EP's singular vibe of positivity, the tracks represent a personal journey for the band as well.

"In some ways, Make It Real actually reflects a lot of what has gone on between the three of us over the past three or four years," says TC Milan. "We've all gone through a lot together-both happy things but also some dark s. A lot of these songs are really about letting go of the things that don't really serve you any more and making space for something good. I think our music has shifted in the sense that it really is about looking for things that are deeper...but while also retaining this sense of joy. I think people forget that dance music can really do that. You can make people move and actually say something at the same time."

AVAN LAVA - Make It Real EP (out 3/31 via Atlas Chair) - track listing:
1. Leave It All Behind
2.Take This City
3. Wanna Live
4. Ooo Eee
5. Last Night
6. Paper Heart
07. Why Can't I Fall In Love (bonus track)