Meet Avehre: The RnB Heavyweight You’ve Been Sleeping On
Gladys Knight’s protege Avehre delivers “Circles,” an upbeat R&B cut that details the ups and downs of wanting to get closer to a lover. However, in order to understand Avehre’s tone and style, you have to understand his upbringing.
Born Brandon Avery Smith, Avehre has been making music since the age of six. Smith’s love of music began when he started singing in church and was surrounded by gospel, soul, and blues at a young age.
“I...loved the reaction people had to me singing and the connection I felt in being able to connect with them emotionally,” Avehre explained.
Smith’s connection with music also stemmed from his family’s ability to give him a space to be vulnerable around them both in life and in the music space.
“My upbringing was all about family. I was taught about being vulnerable and honest about feelings. This is reflected in my sound and how I write. The music I grew up listening to included gospel, the blues, and soul music also helped to shape my sound. My music tells the truth of my soul and who I am,” he stated.
However, it wasn’t until he heard his aunt sing that he wanted to truly take making music seriously.
“My aunt Sharon was a singer and my role model. I watched her performing all over and it inspired me to want to do the same,” Smith stated.
Avehre’s first big break came in the form of writing for his now mentor Gladys Knight. Him and Gladys’ collaboration won an Image Award and led him to working on some of her music videos as well as collaborating with none other than Boyz II Men as a writer and vocal producer.
Fast forward to today, Avehre continues to be one of the most under recognized writers and singers in the R&B world. His mature sound stems from his collaborations with Knight and Boyz II Men as well as his upbringing in the church. He looks forward to dropping his EP, being on a virtual concert series, and even launching his first podcast.
Circles is a track that showcases his skills and serves as a testament to what he's truly capable of. Avehre is definitely someone to watch. Check out “Circles” below!