Interview: Trevor Hall

A native of Hilton Head, S.C., Trevor Hall has won over fans around the world with his distinct vocals and complex sonic landscapes that blend folk, reggae, rock, and electronic inspirations into a sound unmistakably his own.

Prior to hitting the road for a headlining show at Salvage Station on Thursday, Aug. 5, the singer/songwriter spoke with Asheville Stages from his Colorado home about navigating quarantine, becoming a father, and the power of Mac Miller.

Edwin Arnaudin: It feels like you were just in Asheville with John Butler [at New Belgium Brewing Co.], but I was looking it up and it was actually two years ago this week.

Trevor Hall: Oh, that's weird. It doesn't feel like two years ago. That's pretty wild. But yeah, that was our first show of that run with him, which was kind of cool. 

EA: Did you get to do much here outside of that show while you were in town that time? 

TH: No, I didn’t. I think we kind of just cruised in and played. I did get to get dinner at one of my favorite spots there, so that was a plus. But other than that, it was pretty quick. But I grew up in the South, so I used to visit Asheville all the time. It's a good town and I wasn't too bummed that I didn't get to run around because I've had a lot of time there. But yeah, we'll see this time. We'll see what works out.

EA: From all that time here and getting to see it change, what ways do you feel like Asheville is distinct from from other U.S. cities that you like to go to?

TH: Obviously, just being in the mountains there is really, really special. We're out in Colorado and every range kind of has a different vibe. But being in the mountains there is really sweet, and I feel like it's a town that just loves music. I've opened for so many people there, going to the early days in my career, and I don't think I've had a bad experience, just because the people are so appreciative and such music lovers. It doesn't matter where you're playing — that's kind of the essential ingredient, so it's a bonus to have that in such a beautiful place. Most of the time when we're on the road, we're in bigger cities and amongst the concrete, and it's always such a blessing and a bonus to play in a more natural setting.

EA: You’ll definitely get that at Salvage Station too. It's a nice spot, right by the river. 

TH: Yeah! I've never played there, so I'm looking forward to being in something new. 

EA: Well, speaking of new, you put out, almost a year ago, a really strong album [In and Through the Body]. And a lot of musicians I've spoken to over the last year have talked about how the idea of putting out an album during the pandemic comes with a lot of pros and cons. What stood out to you on that level of, you know, “Well, I want to put this out, but also, should I wait?”

TH: It was definitely a big conversation. And at the end of the day, I thought, “You know? Look. Music is healing. And if we need healing, we need it now with everything going on.” The downside, obviously, was not being able to tour the record right with it came out. And I think we were all unsure about when that would happen. I really thought, “Oh, this is only gonna last a few months.” And then, before we knew it, it was a year, year and a half.

That just was out of our hands, but looking back, I'm super grateful that we did release the record. People were home, they were more on the internet and looking around because they had so much time on their hands. And so it was a good time to release something because they could sink their teeth into it a little more than perhaps if everything was just moving at a regular pace.

And for me personally, it was good because it gave me something to be engaged with. It was really nice being home for so long and resting up. Being a touring musician, you’re just always moving. But I think, at a certain point, I would have kind of gone a little stir crazy and having the album, releasing a project was a good reminder of, “Yeah, this is what you do here. This is your service to people.” So, looking back, I am happy that we ended up making the decision to put it out. 

EA: This one and a lot of other strong albums from last year, it really was helpful being a music lover and not being able to see live shows. I mean, there were some good livestreams, but still having strong new albums come out and getting to go to the record store and pick that up or download it was really good from a listener side, too.

TH: Yeah! Good, good, good. 

EA: I was also curious if any of those songs that were released last year, if they've taken on any new meaning for you over the past year, whether with the pandemic or becoming a father or any other of these monumental changes that have happened?

TH: It's interesting. I think, with the pandemic, I got to kind of meditate on the songs more even though I wasn't out there playing them every night on the road. But it gave me more time to kind of sit with the record and sit with my experiences around that.

When we were recording the record, it was right at the beginning. I remember being in the studio [in Durham, N.C.] and us being like, “Oh yeah — we saw on the news there was a case in these states.” And we didn't really think too much of it because when you're in the studio, you're just so engaged. You’re kind of in your own little bubble. And I remember the last day of recording, just flying back home and going to the airport, everybody was wearing masks, and I was like, “What's going on?” And then I got home and it was five days later, six days later, the lockdown happened.

And so, I got to sit with the tunes in a different way, and it just made me so much more appreciative. Above anything else, it made me appreciative to have the opportunity to play music, understanding how precious it is. Whenever you have something taken away from you, you get a different perspective, obviously, and you realize how lucky you are to have the opportunity. So, if anything, it was just more of a great appreciation of being able to be a musician.

EA: And now that you're getting back to playing live with your band, I'm curious what it's been like translating those songs to the stage after having that break.

TH: We're all just kind of green to it. In some ways, we have this freshness — it's been so long and we're just so excited and grateful to be able to play. And to have that excitement around touring is always good because sometimes touring can be a little monotonous. But then to have that freshness and have the freshness of new songs to play, we’re pretty stoked. So I think all of us are greatly looking forward to it. Again, just having the gratitude of the opportunity is kind of paramount right now. 

EA: And I did mention a little bit earlier, but I was curious, too, with becoming a father over the past year, how has that impacted your creative life so far?

TH: Oh, man, that's pretty nuts. When my wife was pregnant, she became pregnant kind of right at the beginning/middle of quarantine. At first, it was kind of bad. I was like, “Oh man, I thought I'd have all this inspiration. I'd be writing these songs and it'd be pouring out of me.” And it wasn't for those first few months, and I was kinda bummed on it.

And then when we started getting closer to the due date, when my wife was in her final trimester, it really started to bubble forth. Obviously, you hear so much, "Oh, it changes you," and this and that. And everybody has their own experience, but nothing can really prepare you for that moment and that shift.

And it's still being unpacked. When he came into the world, it was just like an explosion of feeling all sorts of different things. And I think I'm going to be riding that wave for quite some time. The next album's just going to be songs about son. "Oh, son! Son, son!” [Laughs] It is what it is, but yeah, it's just been really amazing. I mean, if anything, I think just getting older and growing up, you just realize how special it is to have the opportunity. It’s just so amazing.

EA: Excellent! Well, yeah, congratulations on that.

TH: Thank you! Yeah. Thank you so much.

EA: And then also, on July 23, you've got the single cover of Mac Miller’s “2009” coming out. 

TH: Yeah! Very excited.

EA: I know it's been in your live set for a little bit, so I'm curious what about that song first appealed to you and then what’s kept it a part of your life for this long?

TH: I wasn't familiar with Mac's music when he was alive, and I remember just kind of going on my YouTube rabbit hole, watching all sorts of videos and performances and this and that. And on the suggested videos was Mac Miller’s set on NPR Tiny Desk [Concerts]. And I was like, “Oh, I'm gonna check this out,” because I've obviously heard his name, and then he passed and I was like, “I just want to see what he's all about.” 

When he performed “2009“ on Tiny Desk, I was just so emotional. I just was like, “Whoa!” Just the words and the spirit — his spirit really touched me. And I think it was even more powerful that he had passed, and then that song specifically, he really touches on some deep things in his emotional world. And I was just so, so moved and I was like, “Oh man, this would be a great song to learn.”

I just started playing it, and the more I played it, the more I fell in love with that, and the more I just was in awe of his genius and songwriting. And as we played it, more and more people started requesting it. You know, “Oh, this is cool.” And then it was, “When are you going to release your version of it?” And this went on for so long. 

Then finally, I was like, “Let's record this and put it up and do something good with it.” So we're happy to be donating to the Mac Miller Fund in Pittsburgh [via The Pittsburgh Foundation] and paying homage to his spirit and his artistry. It's just really cool, and I'm really happy with how the cover turned out — the studio, recorded version — and I think people are really going to be into it.

IF YOU GO

Who: Trevor Hall with Cas Haley
When: Thursday, Aug. 5, 7 p.m.
Where: Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Drive, salvagestation.com
Tickets: $30 advance/$35 day of show

(Photos by Emory Hall)