Avifauna is an indie dreampop band made up of artists and makers from Denver, Colorado. Rooted in an Electro-Folk blend of atmospherics and hypnotic rhythms and harmonies, their sound is centered around singer-songwriter Meagen Svendsen’s “angelic vocals” and lyrical narratives. (Marquee Magazine).

Reminiscent of the British electropop bands of the ‘90’s, the members of Avifauna paint lush tones over theatrical landscapes, comprised of electronic keys swelling over funky drum beats and colorful guitar lines. Their sound taps into a wide range of influences from New Order and Radiohead to the Cowboy Junkies and Jose Gonzalez.

avi·​fau·​na |  \ ˌā-və-ˈfȯ-nə   , ˌa-, -ˈfä-nə  \
the birds or the kinds of birds of a region, period, or environment (Mirriam-Webster)

Meagen Svendsen found the name for her band in Mexico, long before she imagined she would be in one. She was living by the ocean there with her husband and future drummer, Robert Treta, and their two young boys, in a house under construction: a vacation rental of their own design. Svendsen, who has a hearing impairment, suffered from overwhelming anxiety brought on by the noise of the machinery. So, she ran away. Daily. Along the line of the sea. And into the jungle. Seeking safety in birdsong. And there she would remain. Until she felt whole again. A lifelong love of birds had become one of dependency.

Flash forward a decade and you have the band Avifauna – equal parts Svendsen (vocals, guitar), Treta (drums), Christopher Nelsen (bass) and Mark Penner-Howell (keys, vocals). They are visual artists (Svendsen and Penner-Howell), a designer-builder (Treta), and a master woodworker (Nelsen). Together they bring a unique blend of musical creativity formed collaboratively, over which Svendsen writes deeply personal lyrics and melodies, drawing on her longing for adventure (she has lived in Mexico, Japan, Russia and France), her great appreciation for nature, and a grave concern for humanity and the future of our planet.