AVATARI — the solo project of Los Angeles-based musician and songwriter Ari Welkom — has shared another soul-rallying single with the release of “Fighter.” Joining previous releases “Nothing Compares 2 U” and “Power,” the trio of tracks represents the fledgling fires of his forthcoming debut album which he’s currently in the studio busy recording. As AVATARI he creates modern rock anthems made all the more electrifying by their thrilling hooks and spirited lyricism.
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Bristling with a potently defiant energy “Fighter” hones in on the necessity of picking yourself up through all of life’s many, many tribulations. The track is grounded in a formative childhood memory — one in which a 5-year-old Welkom found himself facing down a couple of bullies. “I was getting my ass kicked by a couple of other kids in the play yard,” he said of the fight. “I was too ashamed and embarrassed about it to tell anyone.”
But out of that horrendous experience came another lesson, taught to him by his Uncle Tommy, who drove him down to a karate dojo and pushed him to devote his time and energy to learning how to defend himself. Against the track’s shuddering melody AVATARI revisits the moment buoyed by a searing and rousing declaration: “When I was young I got beat down / I picked myself up off the ground / Took on all my enemies / Found the voice inside of me.”
“I’ve always been a fighter / Runnin’ through the fire,” AVATARI howls with stirring passion. “Don’t pull no punch I’m comin’ up / I’ve always been a fighter.” Despite the physicality of Welkom’s success against his bullies and the song’s combative imagery — the song is far from a naive call for violence. Instead, it taps into the idea that within everyone is an indefatigable soul that refuses to give in, urging you to persevere and not let the bastards get you down.
Welkom said of the single: “And life is precious. So the song FIGHTER is not meant to be taken literally. It’s not about war. Not on the physical plane. It’s about a spiritual war that we are all in the middle of, whether or not we know it. It’s the battle for our souls in this twisted up chaotic world that we live in. It’s about the war I fight every day with myself, inside my own mind. Telling myself that I am enough, that I am a good person, that the love in my heart is greater than the fear, and that my main job each day is to show up and do the very best job, be the kindest person I can be, and give the most love that I possible can.”
Words: Steven Ward
Visit AVATARI on his website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Watch the music video for “Fighter” the new single from AVATARI below!
