5 Shocking Reasons Why Avi Kaplan Really Left Pentatonix (And His Major 2024 Career Shift)

The departure of Avi Kaplan from Pentatonix in 2017 sent shockwaves through the a cappella world, leaving millions of fans confused and heartbroken. After six years of unprecedented success, including multiple Grammy Awards and sold-out world tours, the man with the iconic, booming bass voice announced he was "taking a step back." While the official statement cited the demanding pace, the full story is a complex tapestry woven with personal struggles, creative differences, and an overwhelming desire for a simpler life. This deep dive, updated for late 2024, uncovers the multiple, interconnected reasons why one of the world's most unique vocalists chose to walk away from a global phenomenon.

The decision was not a sudden impulse, but the culmination of years spent on the road, away from loved ones, and a growing disconnect with the group's evolving musical direction. Today, Avi Kaplan has successfully transitioned into a celebrated folk-rock singer-songwriter, releasing new music and touring extensively in 2024. His journey post-PTX illuminates the high cost of massive, non-stop success and the courage required to prioritize mental well-being and artistic integrity over fame.

Avriel Benjamin Kaplan: Biography and Career Timeline

Avriel Benjamin Kaplan, universally known as Avi Kaplan, is an American singer-songwriter and musician celebrated for his incredibly deep, resonant bass voice, which can reach notes as low as the C2. His unique vocal power was the foundation of Pentatonix's sound for over half a decade.

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• Full Name: Avriel Benjamin Kaplan
• Date of Birth: April 17, 1989
• Hometown: Visalia, California, U.S.
• Education: Studied classical music and opera at Mt. San Antonio College.
• Pentatonix Tenure: Joined in 2011 and left in May 2017.
• Pentatonix Role: Vocal Bass, often providing the rhythmic and harmonic foundation.
• Major Achievements with PTX: Three Grammy Awards, multiple platinum-selling albums, and over 10 million albums sold.
• Solo Career Debut: Released the EP Sage and Stone in 2017 shortly after leaving PTX.
• Genre Shift: Transitioned from a cappella to a folk-rock/Americana style, heavily influenced by artists like Simon & Garfunkel and The Tallest Man on Earth.
• Current Status (2024): Independent artist, actively releasing new music and touring the US and Europe.

The Five Core Factors That Led to Avi Kaplan's Pentatonix Exit

While the public announcement was brief and emotional, the underlying causes for Kaplan's departure were multifaceted. They paint a picture of a man struggling to reconcile his personal values with the demands of a relentless global career.

1. The Grueling, Non-Stop Pace of Global Stardom

This was the primary, most cited reason in Kaplan's tearful 2017 announcement. Pentatonix's success was immediate and explosive after winning NBC's The Sing-Off in 2011. The group entered a six-year cycle of constant recording, promotion, and touring that was unsustainable for Avi.

• Relentless Schedule: The group was constantly on the move, flying from one continent to the next with little downtime.
• Emotional Toll: In his departure video, Kaplan explicitly stated, "It’s been hard for me not to be with my family and friends when I need them, or when they need me."
• Burnout: The massive success, while thrilling, came with a level of pressure and exhaustion that ultimately led to burnout, a common struggle for artists in the modern music industry.

2. A Deep Yearning for Family and Home

More than just the schedule, Kaplan's departure was rooted in a profound homesickness and a desire to reconnect with his roots. He is known to be a private and nature-loving individual, and the constant public eye and travel conflicted with his personal life. He needed to plant roots and be near his loved ones, a simple luxury the Pentatonix machine could not afford him.

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3. Creative Disagreement Over Musical Direction

This factor is less public but widely discussed among fans and industry insiders. Avi Kaplan, with his background in classical music and a deep appreciation for organic, acoustic sounds, reportedly grew uneasy with the group's evolving sound.

• Shift to Pop: As the group gained mainstream success, their music began to incorporate more pop elements and, crucially, a higher degree of studio processing and effects.
• Loss of A Cappella Purity: Sources suggest Kaplan felt the music was moving away from the "pure" a cappella quality that initially defined the group.
• Desire for Folk/Americana: His solo work immediately after leaving demonstrated a clear pivot to a folk, Americana, and acoustic style, which was a genre he had always been passionate about but couldn't fully explore within the PTX framework.

4. The Pursuit of a Solo Career and Artistic Freedom

The intense focus required to maintain Pentatonix's status left no room for individual artistic exploration. Kaplan had a backlog of original songs and a distinct musical vision that was fundamentally different from a cappella pop.

• New Genre Exploration: His solo work, starting with the Sage and Stone EP, allowed him to sing, play guitar, and write music in the folk and roots genres, showcasing his baritone range rather than just the bass.
• Independent Artist Status: By 2024, Kaplan has embraced his role as an independent artist, allowing him full creative control over his new music and touring schedule.

5. The Lineup Change Conflict (Unconfirmed Reports)

One less-substantiated, but recurring, rumor suggests internal friction over the band's structure. Some reports indicate that around 2015/2016, Avi desired a change in the group's lineup, specifically related to the inclusion of Kirstin Maldonado. When the rest of the group decided to maintain the current five-member lineup, it may have been a final sign that their long-term visions for the group were diverging.

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Avi Kaplan's Major Career Shift: An Update for Late 2024

Since his departure, Avi Kaplan has successfully reinvented himself, proving that leaving a successful group was a necessary step for his personal and artistic growth. His solo career is flourishing with a distinct, mature sound.

New Music and Touring in 2024 and 2025

Kaplan has been anything but quiet. He has firmly established his solo identity with his debut full-length album, Floating on a Dream (2022), produced by Grammy-winning Shooter Jennings.

• New Releases: 2024 saw the release of new singles, including "Feel Alright," which further showcases his soulful, Americana style.
• Extensive Touring: He has maintained a busy schedule throughout 2024, with tours across the U.S. and Europe, and has announced plans for further touring in 2025.
• Independent Success: He is now operating as a fully independent artist and even mentioned plans for a Patreon in 2025 to connect more directly with his fanbase, highlighting a shift away from the major-label machine.

In short, Avi Kaplan left Pentatonix not because of a feud or a failure, but because his success had created a life that was fundamentally incompatible with his values. He chose peace, family, and artistic authenticity over the relentless, overwhelming pace of global pop stardom. His current success as a folk singer-songwriter validates his difficult decision, showing fans that sometimes, stepping back is the only way to truly move forward.