honestav

Viral alternative singer-songwriter honestav (Av) has built a devoted following through raw honesty and vulnerability. Raised in Pierce City, Missouri, Av grew up surrounded by financial instability, loss, and addiction. The youngest of five, he became obsessed with music after watching his siblings perform at local pizza parlors and bowling alleys, drawing inspiration from Rage Against the Machine and Limp Bizkit. At 15, Av found his brother dead by suicide. He turned to music as a lifeline, releasing over 100 songs in two years and developing an unfiltered fusion of alternative rock, folk, and hip-hop defined by gut-wrenching lyricism and eccentric humor. His vulnerability struck a global chord in 2024 with “I’d Rather Overdose,” written after his father’s death. The viral hit charted on Billboard, surpassed 80 million streams, and helped push his debut album, hara-kiri, beyond 100 million streams—fueling a sold-out 45-date headline tour and festival debut. His sophomore album, Sweet American Boy, peaked at No. 4 on Spotify’s Top Album Debuts chart. It features “Crash First” with mgk, which reached No. 1 on the iTunes Alternative Songs chart and landed on Vogue’s 2026 “Songs of the Summer” list. Whether performing on his global tour or connecting with listeners through his music, honestav remains committed to turning profound hardship into growth, connection, and head-banging music.