Project Description

Interview with

TREVOR HALL

Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs

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Raised on an island in South Carolina, singer/songwriter Trevor Hall realized at a young age that music was more than just a passion – it was, rather, his life’s art. At sixteen, he recorded his first album, soon after which he left South Carolina for Idyllwild Arts Academy in California where he studied classical guitar and was introduced to the practices of yoga and meditation, which would greatly influence his life and his music.

Hall’s music, a blend of roots and folk music, is imbued with a deep love of Eastern Mysticism. This powerful symbiosis fostered a deep connectivity with his growing fan base and Trevor quickly matured into a leader of the burgeoning conscious musical community. Along with numerous pilgrimages to India, he has also completed a series of sold-out tours and collaborations with artists such as Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Matisyahu, Michael Franti, Xavier Rudd and Nahko & Medicine for the People. 

His previous full-length album releases, Chapter of the Forest (2014) and KALA (2015), debuted at #3 and #2 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart respectively and were supported by extensive tours around the US and Australia. Beyond his intention to spread love and healing through music, Hall also collects donations to support children’s education in India and has continuously donated to charities and relief funds.

The Fruitful Darkness is Trevor’s first independent release — supported by his fans known as THE VILLAGERS — has become the #1 Music campaign of its kind in 2017 — after a decade plus recording for established labels such as Geffen and Vanguard. “There have been many hurdles and triumphs along the way” Hall reflects. “This album conveys the deep vulnerability of journeying through the unknown, as opposed to playing it safe.” Besides the change in infrastructure, the album itself explores completely new sonic terrain and is being released unconventionally, in 3-5 song installments on specific lunar dates. The full length album premiered at #4 on the Alt Charts, the most successful of Hall’s career yet. Listen to the album here.

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How did you first get into music? When did it become a serious concern?
My father is a musician so I grew up in a really musical household. We had instruments everywhere and my dad had a massive record collection that I used to explore as a kid. Because of all these things, music became my shelter and love very early on. When I was in middle school, I began to write my own songs. I used to lock myself in my room for hours just writing writing writing. After a while, I had enough songs for an album. My father then surprised me on my 16th birthday and took me to his friend’s recording studio where I recorded my first album. That’s when we began to get a little more serious about music.

What kind of music did you grow up on? What artists inspired you and which do you still look to now for ideas?
I grew up on all different kinds of genres. Because my father loved such a wide variety of music, I listened to everything from jazz to classic rock to reggae. But it was definitely Bob Marley and reggae music that stirred something deeper in me. Reggae music was definitely the music I gravitated to the most. I’ve always considered that style to be the roots of my inspiration. I then got really into Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals which moved me into more folk styles. So Bob and Ben were really my pillars growing up. Nowadays, I can get inspired by anything and everything. I’ve been really into Bon Iver and Ben Howard the last few years … but roots music has always been my first love.

How would you describe your sound for anyone who has not yet listened to your music?
I’ve never really been able to fully answer this question! Because I love so many different styles of music … It’s hard for me to box myself in to one category. I usually just say it’s a mix of folk, reggae, and acoustic roots.

What do you enjoy most about song writing? What does that process of creating a song look like for you?
I don’t know what I’d do without song writing. It is one of the only times that my mind stops and I’m able to just listen. For me, it’s all about getting out of the way. I’m just playing what I’m hearing. I try not to involve myself as much as possible. The music usually comes first which creates the vibe and feeling of the song. I then try and mumble how I think the melody fits and then try to translate the mumbling into actual words. Again, for me it’s about “no mind.” I try not to reason or make sense of anything. Most of the time when a song comes through, I may not know what it is exactly about. Then after some time … maybe a week, a month, or even a year … the meaning is revealed to me.

Can you share the origins or inspiration behind album The Fruitful Darkness?
The Fruitful Darkness was really inspired by the last couple of years of my life. I got really into astrology and how the stars relate to us as human beings. I was going through a period of what astrology calls the “Saturn Return.” This period is usually a tough time in one’s life but is said to provide great meaning and lessons. My Saturn Return was all about turning in and facing the darkness. For me, the “darkness” means the “undefined.” I feel as a people, we are so obsessed with knowing things and explaining things because it gives us some sense of control. The things that we can’t explain or define … we tend to push away and ignore because we can’t understand them. However, I feel that if we can turn into those things we can’t understand … if we can turn into the “darkness” and not try to figure it out but just sit with it and not ignore it … then some of the greatest lessons of our lives will come out of that space. That’s what The Fruitful Darkness is about for me … turning into the things that scare us and bringing those things into the light.

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Which tracks would you call “signature” pieces for you?
I feel like some of my signature tracks are “Green Mountain State”, “The Lime Tree”, and “Moon / Sun”.

What is your favorite track on the album and why?
I think my favorite track on “The Fruitful Darkness” is “Up There.” It’s just a really personal and meaningful song for me. It was written about a meeting that we had with a very incredible indian saint named “Siddhi Ma.” We met her in India in 2017 and she passed away about a year later. The song recalls all the details of our meeting and whenever I sing it I can always feel her presence so strongly.

What’s next for you? Do you have any upcoming live shows? Or music releases?
We have a big tour coming up this March all through the states called “The Moon / Sun Tour.” We are excited to get back out there and get the year going. The tour culminates in our trip overseas to play Bluesfest which we couldn’t be more excited about.

If you could perform with anyone (Alive or Dead) who would they be?
Bob Marley … no question.

What are your major goals or aspirations for 2019?
I’m not sure if I have any. I just feel so lucky to be able to play music for people. It’s such a great blessing that it’s hard for me to think beyond that. I guess an aspiration would be to never take any opportunity for granted and to always remain humble in my musicianship.

Do you have any longer-term goals?
I do have some longer term projects that I’d like to see happen … but I don’t want to give anything away haha!

Finally, this is a paragraph dedicated to some quick discovery. Really corny, but for the fans, can you tell me your favorite album, artist, movie, place, drink, meal and person (living or dead) and some brief reasons why? Answer some or all please?
Favorite Album : The Will to Live by Ben Harper
Favorite Artist : Kumar Gandharva
Favorite Meal : Kichiri

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Keep up with TREVOR HALL
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM  | TWITTER | WEBSITE

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Bluesfest 2019, the line-up so far:

Jack Johnson – Iggy Pop – Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals – Paul Kelly

The Saboteurs (Jack White, Brendan Benson, Patrick Keeler, Jack Lawrence)

Hozier – David Gray – Ray La Montagne

Norah Jones – Julia Stone – Tash Sultana

Mavis Staples – Gary Clark Jr. – Kasey Chambers

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic

Tommy Emmanuel – Snarky Puppy – SIX60

Meshell Ndegeocello – Colin Hay – Imelda May

Kurt Vile and the Violators – Keb’ Mo’

Allen Stone – St. Paul and The Broken Bones 

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

Melbourne Ska Orchestra – Ocean Alley

Archie Roach – Shakey Graves – Arlo Guthrie

Nahko and Medicine for the People – Tex Perkins

I’m With Her – Ruthie Foster – Richard Clapton

Russell Morris – Flogging Molly – Backsliders

The Marcus King Band – Fantastic Negrito – Samantha Fish

The War and Treaty – Deva Mahal – Larkin Poe

The Black Sorrows – Vintage Trouble – Pierce Brothers

Mojo Juju – Trevor Hall – Irish Mythen – Anderson East

Melody Angel – Hussy Hicks – Thando

The California Honeydrops – Elephant Sessions

Caiti Baker – Little Georgia

Benny Walker – Dallas Woods – Amaru Tribe

RockWiz Live

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The 2019 playing schedule so far is available HERE  with many more to come.

Tickets are now on sale HERE

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Follow BLUESFEST
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

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AMNPLIFY – DB