For singer/songwriter Trevor Hall, music is not just a passion, it’s his life’s work. Hall’s oeuvre, a unique blend of roots and folk, is further inspired by his own yoga and meditative practices, paired with an ongoing fascination of Eastern Mysticism. The 10,000 spoke with the singer about his influences, songwriting process, and the power of music as a force to uplift and empower. Read on and scroll through for a healing-themed playlist, curated by Trevor Hall.
What was it like growing up in South Carolina, and how did you first get involved in music and songwriting?
It was a great experience. I grew up in a really small town which really helped me understand how special community is. I had a wonderful support system around me which allowed me to follow my dreams and passion of playing music. My dad is a musician so that’s how I really fell into it all. He plays the drums. He had an epic record collection that I would spend hours roaming through. It exposed me to a wide range of genres. However, it wasn’t until I was 13 or so that I really started writing my own tunes.
Tell us about your new song “Put Down What You Are Carrying,” and the experience of collaborating with other artists to produce the track?
“Put Down What You Are Carrying” is a song made up of a few different experiences. Some songs are written in an hour and some songs are written over a few years. This song was one of those songs that was written over a few years. I kept it in my back pocket for a while because I hadn’t fully finished it. This past summer, we were on tour with the great John Butler Trio and found ourselves in the middle of Washington on a day off. We spent the day in the hotel room finishing the song and laying it down on my drummer’s portable recording system. John gave me a tattoo while we were recording which was pretty fun! Great memories all around. After laying down the demo, I really wanted another voice on the track and was lucky enough to have my good friend Brett Dennen sing the second verse. It’s really a song about letting go of the things that hold us down. Hoping it brings some peace and healing to whoever gives it a listen.
