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Avian / Press

“Sometimes it is the brief seconds of silence that make a song, says vocalist and pianist Bryan Wehrkamp. Piano-rock quintet Avian Sunrise's new album title, "Silence in the Sound," references the importance of appreciating the small things. Two Avian Sunrise songs have been played on MTV's "The Real World." "What You Deserve" was played March 31 and "A Noisy World" was featured May 4.”

“Ask Bryan Wehrkamp what difference a year can make, and the Avian Sunrise frontman will lay out the facts with candid resolve. They played a festival in Austin, Texas, called South by Southwest. There was the featured track on an MTV show. And a new drummer who also does write music.... With “Silence in the Sound,” the indie five-piece continues to explore its brand of ambient piano-rock, now maturing in Sioux Falls from the Vermillion college band it was last year.”

“Nearly everything about five-piece rock band Avian Sunrise suggests positivity. First, there’s the name, which evokes images of uplift and renewal. Then, there are the tunes, characterized by soaring melodies and hopeful, heartfelt lyrics. You could also apply these themes to their current upward trajectory in popularity.”

“Avian Sunrise’s modern dreamy pop music has roots in variety of genres, gathering influence from ambient, rock and pop.”

“The Band “Avian Sunrise” performed for St. John’s Youth Group “Second Sundays” on Sunday, Nov. 14. The five-member alternative rock group out of Souix Falls, South Dakota, brought a message of acceptance and inspiration to the youth with their half-hour concert of uplifting song.”

“All seven tracks on the EP are pretty fantastic. From the soaring orchestral arrangement and soothing vocals of "Fear No More" to the really awesome melodic sounds on "What You Deserve" and "Set You Free," I was instantly hooked from the moment I heard their music.”

“The total running time of the album is less than 30 minutes but offers a solid amount of piano-driven, pop-rock perfection. The Vermillion-locals clearly know how to write inspiring music that appeals to fans of bands like Quietdrive, Switchfoot and Brighten. A Noisy World is only Avian’s second EP, making it evident that these guys not only know how to make excellent music, but they’ll be doing it for a very long time.”

"A Noisy World” represents a more upbeat and sophisticated stride for Avian Sunrise. Piano/alternative rock and ambient veins return with new attention to dynamics and layering. The group, which also includes Matt Bump (guitar), Corey Gross (bass) and Brock Schardin (drums), found guidance in producing and engineering while recording the tracks at Blacklodge Recording Studio in Eudora, Kan. The experience shows. Voices — vocal and instrumental parts — ring crisp and bright. The weight of the album seems to fluctuate in the breaths of musical conversation.

“Throughout the EP, Avian Sunrise prove that they are talented songwriters, shown through the mastery of writing great vocal melodies around perfect rhythm instrument arrangements.”

“In the fall of 2008, vocalist and pianist Bryan Wehrkamp began writing “Your Broken Fall”, a song dedicated to his sister’s struggle with depression. As Wehrkamp started to form a band to play the song with, an event occurred that would greatly influence his future work.”