Healing the Scars of Lust with Thavoron’s “18” (27 April 2022)

Thavoron releases “18,” available April 27th on Digital Formats via Trailing Twelve Records.

Seattle, Washington-based Thavoron (Tav-er-on) shares his new single “18,” set for digital release on April 27th through Trailing Twelve Records. After receiving critical acclaim for his debut album Ugly, Thavoron returns with “18” - a somber vocal-driven slice filled with dreamlike guitar, swirling flute, and yearning saxophone to lay the foundation for vulnerable passages on youth, lust, and the emotional scars of traumatic relationships.

Growing up as a first-generation Cambodian-American and writing songs about queer relationships, 21-year-old Thavoron approaches the alternative and indie rock genres with a perspective that is uniquely his own. After releasing a debut album thematically centered around self-discovery and finding beauty in the ugliness, Thavoron went into a reflective state and unearthed some of the more traumatic moments of a previous relationship for “18.”

 I wrote this song during my quarantine in December. I think mentally I’m in a different mindset now for sure, but I think with all that extra time on my hands it just caused me to reflect a lot. I was mostly going through the feeling of “I don’t know why I’m still thinking so heavily and deeply on this past situation when I’ve moved on with my life”. I think it goes to show how much this situation affected me and how non-linear growth is. Writing this song taught me to coexist with my past, instead of suppressing it. - Thavoron

Thavoron’s songwriting balances vulnerable introspection [“How foolish of me/ To think that you’d believe in me/ And not just my body or the way that I’d speak”] and poignant prose [“I’ve got one better / you just know hurt / Do it to me to just feel worse”]. These passages are taken directly from Thavoron’s personal experience, as he shares below:

“18” is about a situation I went through when I was 18, naive, fresh out of high school, and desperate to love. The only thing that my partner at the time would see in me was my physical body. It's mentally taxing to know that even if you do offer all parts of yourself to someone. No one is obligated to love you the way that you love them. Some people pick and choose which parts of you to fully see, and this song is about the events leading up to that. I wanted to highlight the sadness and beauty of intimacy and movement with this song. There's something so inspiring about altering your concept of self and reclaiming your power in the same body you once felt so used in.

After writing the demo in his home studio, Thavoron brought the song into House of Breaking Glass Studio in Seattle. Effectively transforming the song from a bedroom demo into a widescreen orchestral composition, Thavoron recruited Phillip Peterson (HAIM, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift) to add percussion, cello, & bass alongside Spencer Edgers to play flute and saxophone. Working alongside Peterson, the production on “18” highlights Thavoron as an artist with a clear vision and deft ability to create truly heartbreaking atmospheres.

“18” employs reverb-soaked guitar, confidently restrained bass, undulating cello, and dazzling woodwinds to create a rich and mature backdrop to Thavoron’s emotionally wounded vocal. In the enveloping climax of “18,” Thavoron’s yearning vocal multiplies atop a powerful and swirling tapestry, leading into a final burst of emotion before everything comes to a sudden halt - a sonic wink at the often jarring conclusion of a strained relationship.

Thavoron’s “18” is out April 27th, 2022 on Digital Formats via Trailing Twelve.

Watch the official music video below.

Upcoming Show Dates:

April 3rd - Royal Room, Seattle WA
April 20th - Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
May 21 - Fisherman’s Village Music Festival, Everett, WA

Recorded at House of Breaking Glass
Produced by: Phillip Peterson & Thavoron
Cello & Bass: Phillip Peterson
Flute & Saxophone: Spencer Edgers
Mix/Master: Phillip Peterson
Visuals by Maddie Ludgate & Gemma Cross
Press Contact: trailingtwelve@gmail.com

TTRS-056
© & ℗ 2022 Trailing Twelve Records. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Copying, Reproduction, Hiring, Lending, Public Performance, And Broadcasting Strictly Prohibited.

THAVORON - 18
TTRS-056
Releases 27 April 2022
Length: 3:54

Socials: spotify / instagram / tiktok / twitter / website

BIO

Thavoron is a 21-year-old first-generation Cambodian American artist based in Seattle, Washington. Layering angelic vocals and intimate lyricism over heart-breaking sonic progressions, Thavoron pulls inspiration from contemporaries such as Frank Ocean, Faye Webster, and Bon Iver.

Growing up as a first-generation Cambodian-American and not feeling represented in the music industry, Thavoron hopes to help pave the way for Southeast/Asian American and queer artists alike looking for a sense of creative community:

“..being surrounded by people I couldn’t fully relate to resorted to me locking myself up in my bedroom to just write to try and make sense of all my differences as a person.”

With coverage including Before The Data and Buzz Music LA, Thavoron’s music has been described as deeply reflective, vulnerable, and increasingly rare. Tackling themes like cultural identity, grief, and strained relationships, Thavoron crafts hauntingly melancholy songs that leave a lasting impression.

ACCOLADES

“It's become increasingly rare for us to find songs that hit with enough force to give us goosebumps, but Seattle-based artist Thavoron has provided just that with standout cut “bend, or” off his debut album, Ugly.” - Before The Data

“His recent release “bend, or” is a perfect example of tackling grief, with its minimalistic yet visually soothing music video, and lyrics that tackle identity crisis in correlation with love.” - Rice Spice Magazine

“Thavoron makes his way in and tells a story of passion and vulnerability. While wearing his heart on his sleeve and drenching us in his breathy and whispery vocals, Thavoron offers a deeply reflective and detailed lyrical portrayal that anyone can relate to.” - Buzz Music LA