Thavoron Immortalizes Youth on “Forever Young” - 19 July 2024

Thavoron releases “Forever Young” available on July 19th on Digital Formats via Trailing Twelve Records.

Cambodian-American artist Thavoron (Tav-er-on) returns with his new single “Forever Young” set for digital release on July 19th via Trailing Twelve Records. “Forever Young” is an ode to queer love, firsts, and the paradox of fleeting moments that feel eternal. Opening with a thoughtful chord progression and a gently gathering drumbeat, the instrumentation blossoms into dramatic strings, urgent siren-like vocals and a quickened rhythm.

Youth serves as a recurring motif in Thavoron's music. The song’s title reinterprets the timeless phrase to convey a nostalgia uniquely intertwined with his identity.

“’Forever Young’ came from a place in my heart that deeply wanted to immortalize the feeling of young, queer love. The feeling of realizing that imperfection comes with youth, and that we’re still young in this moment, so it’s fine that things aren’t perfect—as long as we’re together. I think this song was an opportunity to reveal my inner naiveté, a mindset revolving around the idea that ignorance is bliss.”

“Forever Young” was years in the making despite the song’s youthful spirit and sonic urgency. Thavoron shares that after recording the guitar in 2021 at his parent’s home, he couldn’t quite crack the right lyrics and melodies.

“It felt really simple, but for the life of me nothing ever came from it. I kept trying to steer it in this new-era ballad tone for years, but I think I was really denying the underlying anthemic and danceability factors to this song. When I learned to let the song unfold on its own, it took an entirely new meaning.”

In a devastating turn of events, Thavoron’s laptop screen broke after piecing together the verse. All of the files stored on his computer were lost, including the initial demo. “But I really had to view it in a perspective of knowing this was my chance to get it right, a second time,” says Thavoron. “The amount of stages this song went through was a lot for me personally, but it taught me a lot about myself as an artist, and my determination.”

“Structurally, it was a really creative exercise to create this song. How much was too much, and when should I reel it back in?”

Complementing the single is an evocative music video that delves into the longing for intimacy in a digital landscape, directed and edited by Thavoron himself. Through a montage of Photo Booth videos, Tumblr posts, and digital camera selfies, Thavoron fearlessly exposes his vulnerability, inviting viewers to witness his intimate moments. He looks the camera lens dead on. He lays on his bed in a hoodie and Calvin Klein underwear singing along to haunting lyrics such as “Sparks unspoken like a fire in a haze / if we look close, could you call it fate”.

Thavoron's innovative use of digital storytelling not only explores the boundless possibilities of queer love in the internet age but also immortalizes the yearning that comes with it. By making his youth, yearning, and desires visible, Thavoron encapsulates the essence of "Forever Young."

Thavoron’s “Forever Young” is out on July 19th, 2024, on Digital Formats via Trailing Twelve.

Directed and Edited by Thavoron
Album Art and Press Photos by Thavoron

Written, Performed, and Produced by Thavoron
Press Contact: info@trailingtwelve.com

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© & ℗ 2024 Trailing Twelve Records. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Copying, Reproduction, Hiring, Lending, Public Performance, And Broadcasting Strictly Prohibited.

Release Date: 19 July 2024
Release Title: Forever Young
Artist: Thavoron

Socials: website / instagram / tiktok / twitter / spotify

BIO

Thavoron is a 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 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 Under The Radar, Celebmix, METAL, Ones To Watch, Seattle Times, Unclear, and Before The Data, 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.

PRESS HIGHLIGHTS

“Thavoron writes the words every tired heart has longed to speak and delivers it in the most painfully romantic way possible.”
- Ones To Watch

“Thavoron captures a striking allure of contrasts, with his intensely personal lyrics and immaculate falsetto standing next to a sea of tense and knotted instrumental textures.”
- Under The Radar

"Angelic, heartbreaking, and intimate"
- Wonderland

“By masterfully fusing elements of dream pop with indie, jazz and rock, this artist creates songs that are conceptually refreshing in tone, yet deeply personal and rich in emotion.”
- Alfitude