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Taken from The Island Now (June 29, 2017)
Trevor Hall to play Paramount on July 7
by Grace McQuade
American singer, songwriter and guitarist Trevor Hall’s music is an eclectic mix of acoustic rock, reggae and Sanskrit chanting.
His work echoes with the names and teachings of divinities, while maintaining an incredibly and refreshingly universal message.
As an eleven year old, playing harmonica beside his father in South Carolina, music quickly became Hall’s most intimate companion, guide and creative outlet.
In his elementary years, he began to write his own songs and perform them locally, and at 16 he recorded his first record.
The following year he left South Carolina to study classical guitar at Idyllwild Arts Academy, an international boarding school east of Los Angeles.
There, Hall was introduced to yoga and certain spiritual practices found in India, which greatly influenced his music and his life journey.
During his senior year, he signed a record deal with Geffen Records, and his career as a musician formally began.
Hall quickly broke through the music scene, with such early accomplishments in his career as having a song recorded on the “Shrek the Third” soundtrack, as well as joining a series of sold-out tours with artists, such as Steel Pulse, The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Matisyahu, Michael Franti, SOJA, Brett Dennen and Colbie Callait.
Hall’s quick rise on the scene, however, was ripe with challenges that conflicted with his spiritual life and devotional practice.
In order to parallel his life’s path with the messages in his music, he moved into a traditional Hindu ashram in Southern California in 2008.
When not on tour, he lived as a monk and devoted his days to spiritual practice and service.
His involvement with the temple affected his music, and his music quickly became his practice.
Amongst his successful series of musical albums is the 2009 release of his Vanguard Records debut, a self-titled album, which featured the single “Unity,” written and performed with his longtime friend, Matisyahu.
His follow-up album, Everything, Everytime, Everywhere, debuted at #3 on the iTunes rock chart, #13 on iTunes list of top albums, and on Amazon’s list of Movers & Shakers.
The featured single, “Brand New Day,” was used as the music for “CBS This Morning Show.”
Hall’s 2014 release, Chapter of the Forest, debuted at #3 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart, and at #17 on the iTunes Top Albums Chart.
His latest album, KALA, written in Hawaii and recorded in Los Angeles, was released in Aug. 2015 and debuted at #2 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart.
While on the road, Hall sees the stage as his moving temple, a place where he can share in the experience of his spiritual journey with his audience.
His annual trips to India also continue to serve as a source of creativity and motivation for his music.
The precious lessons and experiences that he has harvested from his journeys east have moved Hall to return a service to those who have colored his music and his life so beautifully.
Hall uses donations collected at his live shows to help support an ashram in Allahabad, India, the home of his guru, where underprivileged and orphaned boys and girls are given the chance at a better life and a traditional Vedic education.
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