AV Super Sunshine’s new song “Are You Happy” was written to bring to light how mental health issues can affect happiness. As a severe depression and PTSD survivor himself, AV has fought hard and found a road back. His mission is to have fun while sharing what has worked for him in hope others can be helped by his experiences.
His new track launch coincides with the BBC’s announcement for a major new pan-BBC Mental Health season. Like AV Super Sunshine, the BBC has an ongoing commitment on mental health issues. Millions of people are affected by mental illness. This pan-BBC season will raise awareness, share stories and give tips on maintaining good mental health.
The artist explains,
“I heard a BBC public service announcement asking folks not to be afraid to talk to someone about the issue of happiness and mental health. We think that’s a great piece of advice, whether to tell someone you need some cheering up or asking a friend if they need a hug, don’t be afraid to reach out”. AV Super Sunshine continues, “Everyone involved with the song is hoping “Are You Happy” get’s people talking and helping one another about the subject”.
AV Super Sunshine is building buzz and expanding fan base through radio play, DJ dance pool play, social media, online video, television and cable music programming. With the grass roots support of 250K+ fans across demographic and geographic boundaries, AV Super Sunshine is becoming more than the name of an artist, or a sound, developing into a movement as a symbol of inclusivity.
A native of Wisconsin, AV’s life has been anything but the conventional mid-western psyche. For 15 years he made no music whatsoever.
“I got really sick,” he relates. “I had a very big portion of my life that wasn’t very productive. But that’s when I started playing again and really writing from the heart. I began writing what I felt rather than trying to write songs to please.”
“I remember reading an interview with David Bowie where he explained his views about writing from the heart. Bowie felt that because he was a human, if he wrote a piece that moved himself, other humans would be moved too. I believe that. I always write songs from my own experience that other people will understand, with the hope that maybe I can somehow help.”
AV’s new-found motivation began by seizing an invitation to host Wisconsin’s oldest weekly open mic as a way to wean off anti-depressants. The once reclusive artist got off the couch in 2013 and hit the ground running! Within a few months’ time of showcasing his songs, he received an invitation to record at Ben Folds Studio in Nashville. While recording at Ben’s, he received his unique name from Grammy-nominated, songwriter producer James House who crafted it by combining the artist’s initials of AV with his song title “Super Sunshine Girl”, to form AV Super Sunshine.
The AV Super Sunshine name fits both the artist and his music perfectly. When asked about his songs and inspiration, AV explains,
“It’s real personal. I’m a long-term, severe abuse victim but trying to fight the good fight. A few years ago I was diagnosed with severe PTSD, depression and anxiety disorder. I’ve used songwriting as a way to cope.” He goes on to explain, “I’ve had every kind of treatment imaginable including hypnosis-induced out-of-body stuff. I recorded everything I’ve been experiencing in my songwriting. Everything I write is about a true life or an emotional experience I’ve had.”
He shares his Super Sunshine with the hope that his songs will help others with similar circumstances or illness.
AV’s ‘Baby Goodbye’ was released to CMJ radio as a single in July 2015 and with grass-roots fan support hit #7 on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales chart in October 2015. A follow up J’ust Like Kurt’ Kurt Cobain tribute EP (CMJ Top 100) went to radio in October 2015 followed in May 2016 by a ‘Baby Goodbye’ CD (CMJ Top 100). which spent 21 weeks on the CMJ chart. In October 2016, ‘Bass Face’, a collection of radio friendly pop-rock-art songs produced by legendary hit maker Michael Bradford is being released to Triple A, Alternative, CMJ and Pop radio.
Watch the video for ‘Are You Happy?’:
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