Audiovent

Audiovent

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	early 1990s
Headquarters	Calabasas, California , United States
Products	Alternative rock music
Number of employees	4 (current lineup)

Audiovent is a rock group from the United States, specifically hailing from Calabasas, California, known for their alternative rock style. Initially established in the early 1990s under the name "Vent," they adopted the name Audiovent after securing a contract with Atlantic Records in 2001. Their only album released under a major label, Dirty Sexy Knights in Paris (2002), included two singles that achieved moderate chart success: "The Energy" and "Looking Down". In 2003, after creating demos for more than 19 tracks intended for a follow-up album, creative disagreements within the band caused them to disband in 2004 before recording could begin. Audiovent reunited for live performances in 2017 and resumed songwriting and studio work in 2022, culminating in the release of the single "Sleepless Machine" in late 2023, with additional material forthcoming.

Origins as "Vent" and the Papa's Dojo era (1993–2000)

The band's roots trace back to middle school when vocalist Jason Boyd started working alongside bassist Paul Fried. Soon after, Fried’s stepbrother Benjamin Einziger became part of the group. The trio shared familial ties with members of Incubus—Jason is the sibling of Brandon Boyd, Benjamin is Mike Einziger’s brother, and Fried is their stepbrother. Drummer Jamin Wilcox completed the initial lineup, forming the band known as "Vent". During their early phase, they honed their skills by covering songs from influential bands such as Nirvana and Metallica.

Throughout their high school years, Vent cultivated a local fan base through frequent live performances. In 1999, they independently produced and released an album titled Papa's Dojo, which enhanced their reputation regionally but also led to internal conflicts. To resolve these issues, the members participated in group therapy sessions aimed at improving communication. This intervention helped preserve the band's unity and soon attracted attention from major record companies following the release of Papa's Dojo. Eventually, they signed with Atlantic Records, which matched their artistic goals.

Debut on a major label (2001–2002)

Upon joining a major label, the band rebranded themselves as "Audiovent" to improve marketability. They interviewed over ten producers before selecting Gavin Mackillop to oversee their 2001 debut under Atlantic Records—a process characterized as "slow and meticulous." Recording took place over roughly three months, during which they chose to overhaul much of their previous work from Papa's Dojo, re-recording tracks with advanced tools such as Pro-Tools. The search for a mixing engineer concluded with hiring Chris Lord-Alge, which further extended production time.

Released on June 4, 2002, Dirty Sexy Knights in Paris experienced modest commercial performance, reaching number 156 on the Billboard 200 chart and maintaining its position for six weeks. The album was promoted with two singles: "The Energy" attained number 17 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart and number 9 on Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, while "Looking Down" reached number 29 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Before the album launch, Audiovent toured alongside Adema, and following its release, they supported acts such as Saliva, Theory of a Deadman, and Our Lady Peace. Their year concluded with a live performance broadcast by MTV from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Unfinished sophomore album, disbandment, and later reunion (2003–2023)

By 2003, Audiovent faced diminishing sales and reduced radio exposure following their debut release, prompting the band to start crafting a second album. Nevertheless, creative disagreements soon reemerged. Einziger remarked on ongoing clashes and a lack of cohesion among members. In March 2003, drummer Wilcox departed due to artistic differences and was succeeded by Ryland Steen from Reel Big Fish. Throughout the remainder of 2003, the group recorded new tracks, generating 19 demo recordings with aspirations to collaborate with producer Tony Berg in early 2004. Subsequently, they worked in the studio with Eric Stenman for additional production and mixing efforts.

During May 2004, Audiovent performed live shows under the provisional name "Nigel" to signal a change in musical direction. By mid-June, persistent creative conflicts led to the band's dissolution. Einziger, Fried, and Steen then formed Agent Sparks, which released an EP and a full-length album between 2005 and 2006; however, the project dissolved in 2007 without achieving commercial success.

Although the anticipated second album never reached completion, five unreleased demos were made available on Myspace in August 2008 as The Lost Demos Vol. 1. Additional demo tracks later appeared on Stenman’s personal website.

In late 2018, Audiovent announced plans for a reunion tour alongside Hoobastank, which was subsequently canceled by Hoobastank citing personal reasons. The band held a reunion concert on January 11, 2019, at The Viper Room. In October 2023, they released a new single entitled Sleepless Machine.

Musical style and influences

Audiovent deliberately embraced a classic "guitar, bass, and drums" rock setup to set themselves apart from the DJs, rap vocals, and angst-heavy themes that were dominant in nu metal and rap metal during their major label debut era. They endeavored to avoid direct comparisons with their sibling band Incubus; nevertheless, critics frequently associated them with Incubus’s 1999 release Make Yourself and Brandon Boyd’s vocal style. Despite this association, they largely evaded being labeled nu metal and were instead categorized as alternative rock, post-grunge, and hard rock. Music critics highlighted the variety within their repertoire; Billboard noted their spectrum ranged from acoustic ballads to intense rock compositions. Their experimentation included incorporating sitar on "Rain" and employing a 22-piece orchestra on "When I Drown."

Drawing inspiration from classic rock legends such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie, Boyd also cited influences including Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, The Funky Meters, Radiohead, The Flaming Lips, and Shudder to Think. He emphasized their dedication to creating sincere music that "comes from our hearts." The band's sound was also shaped by elements of soul, funk, jazz broadly defined, as well as metal during their formative years. Initially composing lengthy progressive rock pieces reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s style, they later shifted focus toward influences from The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Drummer Wilcox identified John Bonham, Ziggy Modeliste, and Russell Batiste Jr. as significant inspirations behind his drumming approach.

Members

Current lineup

• Jason Boyd – lead vocals (1993–2004, 2018–Present)
• Benjamin Einziger – guitar and backing vocals (1993–2004, 2018–Present)
• Paul Fried – bass guitar (1993–2004, 2018–2019)
• Shane McLafferty – drums (2018–2019)

Former members

• Greg Cooper – drums (1991–1994)
• Josh LeVine – guitar (1991–1994)
• Jamin Wilcox – drums and vocals (1993–2003)
• Ryland Steen – drums (2003–2004)

Discography

Studio albums

Release Year	Album Information	Highest Chart Rankings
		US	US Heatseekers
2002	Dirty Sexy Knights in Paris Launch Date: June 4, 2002 Record Label: Atlantic (83544) Available Formats: CD, digital download	156	4

Singles

Release Year	Track Title	Highest Chart Positions			Associated Album
		US Alt.	US Main.	UK
2002	"The Energy"	17	9	167	Dirty Sexy Knights in Paris
	"Looking Down"	—	29	—
"—" indicates the single did not enter the chart.