"Songwriting to me is a practice of getting out of the way," says Trevor Hall. Given his prodigious talent, no doubt the 19-year-old singer/songwriter is on to something. Trevor's 4-song Geffen EP The Rascals Have Returned gives music fans a clear look into the musings of an artist well beyond his years.
Produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz and Liz Phair) and written entirely by Trevor, the EP masterfully weaves folk, hip-hop and reggae influences into a rootsy acoustic-centered style. On songs like "Under the Blanket" and "The Rascals Have Returned," Trevor sings smart supple lyrics often in a coiled half-whisper ("traveling bodhisattvas transform madness into opera/oh the sky is falling but there is plenty of room to breath"). Ballads like ""The Lime Tree" pulse with the heart and recklessness of youth.
On The Rascals Have Returned, singer/guitarist Trevor is joined by guest musicians like drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, John Fogerty) percussionist Leon Mobley (from Ben Harper's band) and bassist Sean Hurley, with producer Alagia on keyboards. The new EP comes right on the heels of Trevor's six-track live Geffen EP released last year and recorded live at the Mint and Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles. That recording was Trevor's first Geffen release following his 2004 indie debut Lace Up Your Shoes. Trevor recently finished recording his first full length Geffen release produced by Abe Laboriel Jr. and Abe Laborial which will be released in February, 2008
Despite his age, Trevor is a veteran performer, having launched his career at 15. A native of Hilton Head, South Carolina, Trevor started writing at age 14, inspired by artists like Ben Harper as well as legends Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix. His development took off when he moved to the mountains east of Los Angeles to attend the Idyllwild School for the Performing Arts. "It totally transformed me," he says. "Being there opened me up to new cultures, new sounds and new possibilities."
Soon, Trevor secured management, and began playing and recording out of his new Southern California home base. Trevor spent last summer touring with Steel Pulse and has since opened for the likes of Ben Harper, Jason Mraz, G-Love, The Wailers and Donavon Frankenreiter. Trevor will be out on the road much of 2007, having already toured with artists like Matisyahu, Rusted Root, Ziggy Marley, Stevie Nicks and Colbie Caillat.
Trevor has also aligned himself with many charitable organizations and performed last year on Capitol Hill in Washington DC for the Arts Advocacy Council along with Bob Weir and other luminaries fighting to keep the arts in public schools. He is also an avid surfer, and recently performed at two benefit concerts for the Surfrider Foundation although with his career in full swing there's been little time for him to hit the beaches.
Having just graduated from high school, Trevor is devoting all his energies to his career. And while the accolades are already pouring in, he doesn't like to think about the whirlwind to come. "I'm just in the moment," says Trevor. "I still feel that I'm only beginning to explore the possibilities of my music. But music is everything I have and everything I can give."
For more information about Trevor go to trevorhallmusic.com, myspace.com/trevorhall, and excerpts from his first CD can be heard at http://cdbaby.com
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