Avari Is on the Move with New Single “Run Around”

When you’ve got the grind in your DNA, staying still just isn’t an option. That’s the message Avari is driving home in his latest single “Run Around,” a fiery collaboration with Sauw that captures the urgency, hunger, and unstoppable energy of chasing greatness—city to city, opportunity after opportunity.

Born Richard Alvarez in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and raised in the heart of Haines City, Florida, Avari is no stranger to hard work. His deep love for lyricism was carved out early by legends like A Tribe Called Quest and Notorious B.I.G., and his hustle took shape as a well-known DJ in Tampa’s nightlife scene while studying at the University of South Florida. That same momentum followed him into Washington, D.C., where in 2022 he founded Phantom Music Group, LLC, launching his own independent label and dropping his debut mixtape All-Nighter.

Now, Avari is doubling down with “Run Around,” a track built for those who refuse to sit back and wait for a break. Instead, this song is a bold reminder that opportunities don’t just fall into your lap—you chase them down. You outwork everyone in the room. You keep running, no matter how far you’ve come.

“I hate when life gets easy,” Avari admits. “So I challenge myself over and over and over again to continue shooting higher and striving for greater successes. This song is the manifestation of that energy.”

Blending his signature introspective bars with high-powered production and Sauw’s dynamic presence, “Run Around” is equal parts street-smart and motivational—designed to live in your headphones during the 5AM grind or while flying across state lines chasing your next big move.

At its core, this release is a message to dreamers, doers, and anyone who refuses to let complacency creep in:

“I want people to understand there’s always an opportunity to do better. Every day is another opportunity to secure the bag. You just gotta get up and go get it. I been up, I been on the run around.”

With Avari’s relentless work ethic and lyrical fire leading the charge, it’s clear this artist isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In fact, he’s just getting started.

You’ve worn a lot of hats in the music game—DJ, audio engineer, artist, label founder. How have those different roles shaped your approach to creating music today?

Being a DJ is probably what changed my understanding of how to create music the

most. I spent years traveling the country, performing at weddings, clubs, bars, collegiate events, etc.. I developed the skill of “how to read the crowd”. I began to understand, intuitively, what the crowds were looking for and how to transform my DJ sets into what felt like a roller coaster ride. The path of becoming a skilled audio engineer took many years. I'd have to say this has been the most difficult role to play because I’m an honest audiophile and getting high quality mixes and vocals is not easy. I love the sound of a crispy, yet heavy base. I love clear-sounding vocals with a light touch of reverb to give it more character. My approach to making songs is super meticulous because I want to make music people can identify with. I want to make those songs catchy, melodic, something with replay value because it has this element that resonates with the listener. I will spend days on a project or even more. I like to make sure my presentation is a reflection of who I am as a person and I am a perfectionist.

Run Around” captures such a raw, driven energy. Can you take us behind the scenes—what inspired the song and how did the collaboration with Sauw come about?

The inspiration for the song came from the actual fact that I be moving all around the

Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia area (DMV - for short). One day, I’ll be at the University of

Maryland DJing, the next I’m in DC doing a rap show. Another day, I’m out in Virginia talking to studio managers and engineers. Always looking to make new connections, searching for

opportunities wherever they may be because no one ever tells you where they are. You gotta

find them. The collaboration was inspired by the fact I honestly had no idea what to write

beyond the second hook. I felt like having me alone on the track didn’t give it enough character so I reached out to my boy Sauw because his flows are super melodic and I know he’s very comfortable spitting about the same subject matter the song was about. He’s a latin rap artist in Maryland, he’s a graduate from UMD, too. I thought having him on the track would be a good way to include that Maryland energy into the track and show love to the community I’m putting music out for. He absolutely killed it in his verse.

You mention not being satisfied with staying in one place or getting too comfortable. What keeps you motivated when the hustle gets heavy or the progress feels slow?

My biggest motivation is the way my mother’s voice rings in my head like Professor Oak

in the OG pokemon games when you try to use your bicycle indoors (lmaoo). I grew up in a

single-parent household that struggled financially. My mother always told me “if you don’t want to see yourself struggling like I do, make the difference. Work hard and then keep working.” If it gets too heavy, be mindful not to hurt yourself. Be gentle with yourself but don’t just completely stop. If it feels too slow, focus on your form and make sure you at least get good reps in. That’s my philosophy in music, school, and love-life. I definitely believe there is a time for rest. I agree that rest is 100% essential but when I give myself a task I make sure I get it done and I do it to the best of my ability.

Founding Phantom Music Group is a huge move for an independent artist. What vision do you have for the label, and how does it reflect your values as a creator?

Ultimately, I want to be able to use the record label as a tool for community outreach. I

want to be able to host events for artists to perform. I wanna use it as a tool to volunteer and

teach kids about music and audio engineering. I’ve spent personal time volunteering around

Prince George’s County, Maryland already doing just that. The cultural impact that J. Cole has made with his record label, Dreamville, is the framework that I view this through and it’s exactly what I want to be able to do with my label in the future. Phantom Music Group reflects my value of leadership, primarily. I once heard a quote that said “If serving others is below you, then leading others is above you.” and I take that to heart. From a young age, my family taught me to be a leader, not a follower. So I thought to myself, what better way to be a leader in this music space than to be the head of my own record label and use that as the instrument for community outreach? I get to serve my community while also demonstrating to them through action that there is so much we can do to uplift one another, in a myriad of different ways. It doesn’t solely have to be through music.

If someone’s hearing your music for the first time through “Run Around,” what do you hope they understand about you—not just as an artist, but as a person?

I hope they understand that they, too, can manifest an indomitable spirit. I hope they

understand that chasing their dreams will never be easy, but that’s what makes it worth it. Long nights, hard days. When times get tough, the tough get going BUT it’s important that I don’t forget to mention this next part. There was a time between 2018 and 2022 where I completely stopped recording music because I stopped believing in myself. I reached a point where I thought I was “yelling into the void” so to speak. Years later I realized it was because I never had a solid strategy, I didn’t know how to get my music out there but now there is an abundance of information on the internet. A lot of it is freely accessible. Don’t ever give up on your dreams, but don’t let them stay dreams either. Find practical ways to realize your goals, one step at a time. Because that’s how you “run around”, one step at a time.