Love

If you were at the Audiowaska Stage around 5PM Sunday evening late last April at Lucidity Music Festival, you may have have had your heart opened a little bit by this dude.

When you think of “conscious music” you dont usually think of 808 bass, hip-hop lyrics, and jukey vibes. Trevor Kelly aims to change all that.

We were able to get Trevor Kelly to tell us a little about himself and his latest release “Sacred Fire” on Pirate Sound International.

Enjoy <3

– B E G I N –

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where you located? How long have you been making music and how did you get started?

My name is Trevor Kelly I’m a California native, San Francisco transplant. I have been composing, creating, and performing music since I was 13 – years in various genres and all things musical, live band to electronic. I left standard high school around 15 to pursue my music endeavors full time, composing the instrumental and lyrical parts for the groups and recordings I was involved with. I consider myself a musician, and a bass music producer, not limited to any genre. I strive to express myself, and my love for music, and its ability to positively impact humanity fully through my productions and performances.

2. You just dropped the “Sacred Fire ep”, tell us the idea behind the album.

Sacred Fire represents the endless energy source within and without us. While it is invisible to the eye, it can fuel your purpose, intention and creativity. I wrote the title track off the EP “Sacred Fire” while on my first American tour, when I was in Pittsburgh, the day after my show with Love and Light. I was staying at the BC1-OfaKind house, playing on the new keyboard I bought for the road, snow falling outside. Inspired by the moment, I started writing the main Rhodes lead piano lines, and, from there, the track created itself.

3. “Sacred Fire” is the first EP release on Pirate Sound International. How does that feel? How has the response been?

Pirate Sound International represents the underground pushing through; promoting music that should be heard, available to everyone, and backed with the best intentions! I am honored to help their vision grow and prosper! Much respect!

4. You also have a side project called Pacific Standard, tell us a little about that.

Pacific Standard was created to make a major impact on both the hip-hop and electronic music worlds. A collaboration between myself, Trevor Kelly (producer/DJ) and Ro Knew (emcee), Pacific Standard evolved organically, becoming a natural vehicle for music as a tool to inspire originality, creativity, and the dismantling of any boundaries that divide us as humans! We’re also into drums that knock, earth-shaking bass lines, slick rhymes, and hypnotic melodies. Paying tribute to soundsystem culture and hip-hop culture, our debut EP “Local Honey” is out now for FREE download on our Soundcloud and Bandcamp pages; Our LP, “Timeless,” is a modern record reflecting the California mind state that inspired it. Release date SOON TBA!

5. You are kind of a one-man-show. As an artist that doesn’t have the support of manager / booking agent how do u manage yourself?

Great question.

It is a challenge! Trying to maintain creative integrity in a very competitive business world is, if nothing else, educational. To move forward, we all need to surround ourselves with people we trust, those who share our vision and are willing to work alongside our efforts. No man is an island…it takes teamwork.

It’s a different day in music. I’m not solely the artist, dedicated exclusively to my craft, I’m the business man, managing and maintaining the status of my career. So many different avenues must be covered to cultivate myself as a well marketed and productive artist. There is so much music out there nowadays, its a challenge to make waves in the vast sea of producers. A balance must be maintained between myself as an artist, and how I’m being received.

I keep a current flow of fresh music out for release while actively seeking out new and bigger bookings/festivals. The challenge becomes: how can I keep up with my marketing, booking, and promotion commitments while maintaining a high level of production? Time for music is of the utmost importance. I keep on the grind, and stay as healthy, and grateful as possible.

6. Where do you find your biggest source of inspiration ?

I derive much of my inspiration from the hardworking producers, and artists around me. Musicians who go out of their way to make music their main priority, living day to day to get to the next booking, next EP. Music that has intention and depth. From the people who truly support and enjoy the music we make! They go out of their way to make things possible for us to thrive and perform!

7. Any artists you want to give a shout-out to and think we should check out?

Oh man . . . loaded question! So many good artists out there at the moment. Gotta shout out Yheti, Taso, DJ Rashad (RIP), B. Bravo, Ro Knew, G jones, Doshy, Grimblee/Hecka, Hypha, Duffrey, Shlump, Billy Kenny, Taiki Nulight, Jafu, to name a few on my radar and in my sets!

– E N D –

Check out “Sacred Fire” via Pirate Sound International:

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#trevorkelly #bass #piratesoundinternational #westcoast #sacredfire #ep #interview #freemusic #freedownload #musicislovesb

Follow Trevor Kelly on SoundCloud & “Like” him on Facebook

A Review of Lightning In A Bottle 2014 by Steven “Sloth” Toth

This year’s Lightning in a Bottle took place on a wonderful cloud of floating smiles and excitement. Upon arrival the wait for our wristbands was minimal- taking only a few minutes. Our greeters welcomed us warmly and we were taken by shuttles from car parking to our campsite. Arriving to the festival was exhilarating and the anticipation I had for LIB met its requirements, plus more.

The Woogie stage, my other home while I’m at LIB, looked spectacular. The stage was propped up in a tree like the previous year and the dance floor was overlooked by groovy shade structures that complimented the artistic style that The Do LaB usually portrays.

Thursday nights are typically mellow at Lightning in a Bottle- the only music coming from renegades and campsites. Nonetheless, eager participants flooded the campsites and festival streets. Wondering around, our minds were boggled as to what The Do Lab had in store for us this year. Finally, we found ourselves at The Chocolate Boogie renegade stage to catch Tara Brooks and Lee Reynolds pumping out those funky deep grooves.

Friday morning glowed with spirits fresh, high energy and full-on excitement. The yoga classes were poppin’ off as people aligned their tripods: mind, body and spirit. As much as I love yoga and mindfull well being, I awakened that morning indulging mimosas for breakfast. My Slothy vibes were in full effect and I was ready for some Woogie: round two with Tara Brooks. Not only does she supply bass thumping tech house that vibrates your inner core, but she is also a drop-dead sexy woman . . . I struggled to contain my droolin.

Next up on the Woogie was Maxxi Soundsystem hailing from the UK. His track selection was immaculate as each bass drop enlivened a bounce . . .Did I mention the speakers for the Woogie this year were protruding with pristine sound quality?

The energy then flowed over to The Lightning Stage for The Polish Ambassador’s sunset set. Let me just say, The Polish Ambassador knows how to put on a party! A full-on onesie throw-down was raging on stage, contagiously making the crowd go nuts.

The Glitter Girls came on after The Polish Ambassador and blew my mind with their stage performance. I had not known much of who these lovely girls were, but I praise my ignorance because the surprise was jaw dropping. They’re pretty much a group of highly attractive girls who perform acrobats and twerk to 808 bass while getting half naked. I was in heaven.

As the night made it’s welcoming presence upon the festival, the neon lights and outlandish costumes crawled on the scene – it was time to get furry and weird. Two notable highlights were Damian Lazarus and Claude VonStroke, each a house music legend that displayed cunning examples of the boundless ways the genre can flow. The party continued into the late night until my body finally crumbled and flopped into my tent like a dead fish.

Saturday morning was just as glorious as the previous morning, but my god was it hot. Our campsite had a giant dome set up with solid speakers. It was time to whip out my laptop and mixer and channel some musical lushness for that early afternoon comfort. After a couple hours of mixing it was time to head to the outer festy lands. Per usual we jolted straight to the Woogie, but this time it was mandatory as the one and lovely Pumpkin was on the decks. It’s hard to imagine an LIB without a proper dose of Pumpkin vibes accompanied by the glimmering sun descending.

Woogie than brought out the “Queen B” of the house game, the beautiful J.Phlip. Booties began to pounce to the low-end rythms that the Dirtybird all-star was wheeling out.

The sun made its departure and the colorful night time visuals of art and light were in full effect all throughout the festival grounds. Once the music cut off on the mainstages we headed back to our campsite where a couple buddies and I DJ’d through the night.

Sunday was mellow yellow as I stayed at the campsite vibing with friends until sundown. As the sun began to take its final bow, we headed over to catch Lee Burridge who was evoking a three-hour journey on the Woogie stage.

Next, I caught Tokimonsta on the Bamboo stage, who intertwined heavy-hitting booty bass with sensual beats. We then shimmied on over to catch Phantogram who was absolutely mind-blowing. A flawless performance of electronic synths, refreshing vocals, and contemplative melodies.

I closed out the festival with The Gaslamp Killer. The dude is absolutely nuts and to be honest I don’t even really know how to explain what he was playing but it was on point, and exerted all the remaining juice I had left.

At the end of it all, LIB was, once again, a beautiful display of humanity. People synchronized in harmony, sharing gifts and joy all because it feels good. The music was phenomenal, the art was inspirational, and the overall atmosphere was like a comfy snuggle.

The Do LaB successfully brought love to the masses and they did it right!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

Photos By Chelsea Lawler

Tag

Music is Love – Interview 005 – feat. Trevor Kelly

LIB 2014: Oneness Vibrating Eternally