Avatari is the singer, songwriter, and actor whose powerful voice harnesses the alternative rock of Imagine Dragons and Twenty One Pilots. His music is soulful and anthemic, and he takes on a more heartfelt sound with the new single, Nothing Compares 2 U. This cover of the original song, written by Prince and popularized by Sinéad O’Connor, is a tribute to the past icons and the many other rock artists that have inspired his project, showing off a softer and more vulnerable side to this artist.
Ari Welkom is the man behind Avatari, and he’s been in and around the music industry for years; performing with bands across Los Angeles, playing at festivals like Outside Lands and Life is Beautiful, and touring nationally. However, since his time during the pandemic, he’s got a new focus in mind. With the goal to strengthen and synthesize his creative expression, he crafted his solo project, Avatari, as a byproduct of his musical legacy. It has become his channel for his musical inspirations, and his debut single, Legacy, was even licensed by Rolls-Royce for one of their campaigns. With Nothing Compares 2 U, the singer is now displaying his softer side, adding a new edge to his solo artist mission.
The track was originally written by Prince in 1984 for his band, Family. However, it wasn’t until the powerful singer and activist Sinéad O’Connor recorded a version in 1990 as a single did it receive worldwide recognition. Avatari says he came to the idea to record a version of the song because he was looking for a special cover that held meaning for him, and this song, with its emotional and powerful ballad, was the perfect fit. “This song was huge when I was a kid,” he says. “I distinctly remember it being on the radio, and I remember Sinéad O’Connor being this larger than life front woman who was also a fighter for justice. I thought she was such a badass.”
Avatari has taken this spell-binding song and made it his own, while also paying tribute to the amazing talent of Prince and O’Connor that inspired him to become a musician. The chorus is soft yet deep with the hurt and yearning of a breakup, and his voice is a perfect match for this alternative breakup anthem. “A lot of my music is high energy and intense, and while that's a frequency that I love to create from, I chose this song to reveal my softer and more vulnerable side,” he says. “And to serve as a reminder that it’s important to honor all parts of ourselves.” Nothing Compares 2 U continues to be a hit more than two decades after its release, and Avatari is etching his name alongside the legends behind this single, making his mark in musical history.