Interview with Trevor James

Hello Trevor James! Thank you for chatting with me!

Tell us about your latest release! 

My latest release, titled "Again", was released on all platforms on June 3rd. In summary, "Again" is a soft-pop track that tells a guy-meets-girl love story; it's about infatuation, the intensity of a new romance, and the struggles of long-distance relationships.

What was the creative process for it? 

Like many of my songs, the process for "Again" started off with finding the right chords on my acoustic guitar and first building the instrumental foundation of the song. Then, I'd played around with some different vocal melodies for the choruses until I landed on something I was happy with, and repeated this same process for the verses and bridge. And lastly, (and like usual for me), the most time-consuming part of the process was writing, tweaking, and re-tweaking the lyrics until I was happy with the full picture and story of the track.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences? 

My musical influences vary a LOT - from pop-punk heavyweights like Blink 182, Green Day, and The Offspring, to older legends like The Beatles, Billy Joel, and Elvis Presley, to contemporary talents like Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, and Bruno Mars. These artists have all influenced me or my music for various reasons, for example Ed Sheeran for his success as a pop-acoustic solo artist, and Blink 182 for their uniquely fun approach to music, which has served as a reminder for me to not take myself too seriously.

Who would be a dream collaboration for you? 

This is really tough, but I'd say that right now a dream collaboration for me would be Hayley Williams (of Paramore fame). I've had a ton of respect for her since first listening to Paramore way back in high school, not just as an awesome singer/songwriter, but as an incredibly magnetic performer/front-woman as well.

Do you have a piece of advice you carry with you that you like to pass on to other musicians? 

Definitely. It might sound cliché but always believe in yourself. Especially when just starting off, you need to hold fast to that inner confidence & belief in yourself, and brush off any unhelpful criticism or negativity. I specify "unhelpful" because a crucial component of improving is learning from people - whether that be other artists better or more talented than you, or fans whose feedback you should value immensely. You need to stay humble, recognize that you don't know everything, and remember that every new experience can be an opportunity for learning and growth. (Okay I guess I snuck in two pieces of advice lol)

Any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for? 

Yes! On August 12th, I'll be releasing my newest single called "Comfort". It's about trying to remain grounded & positive while struggling with deeply negative emotions, and, without spoiling too much, I'll just say that this song has a much different sound than my "normal" style.

Please let everyone know where they can keep up with you and your music! 

The best ways to keep up with me are by following my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/trevorjamesmusic), my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/trevorjamesmusic), and my Spotify. Thanks!