LIHUE — There’s a lot of Kauai mana in Trevor Hall’s music and he’s going to be sharing that inspiration with the island Friday night at Kauai Community College’s Performing Arts Center.
“Kauai is definitely one of the islands that’s really spoken to us,” Hall said. “A lot of songs were written here; the song ‘Mother’ was written in Kauai.”
Last year, he played at Princeville’s Church of the Pacific, but this time around he’s touring with his band.
“I came there maybe 11 years ago for the first time, but this is the first time we’re coming with the band and we’re excited to bring the whole thing,” Hall said.
Hall had a set of drumsticks in his hands while he was still in diapers, he said, and it was his father’s love of music that gave him his start.
“There were always instruments around the house and I kind of grew up with it,” Hall said. “My dad had a big record collection and I would pull them out; whatever cover looked interesting, I threw that on.”
Hall found his way to a guitar when he turned 11 and started writing songs, which he eventually began recording. He went to a music boarding school in California for high school, where he focused on classical guitar.
“I was just doing the study and being the student and then while I was at school, I played around town in L.A. on the weekends,” Hall said.
His music caught the attention of several record labels and he signed a record deal with Geffen Records the same year he graduated high school.
Music has always been Hall’s way of connecting with himself, but his high school best friend and fellow musician introduced him to yoga and spiritual practices, which have lent their own flavor to his songs.
“It helped me concentrate that energy so it’s stronger, rather than being scattered,” Hall said. “And really, my music took on this new thing of having it be more of a prayer and more about going within.”
Hall said connecting with the Earth and with people is an important element of his music.
“I’ve been really blessed to travel to a lot of great places and I have undeniably felt the call from her in each different place, whether it’s Hawaii or India, Nepal or Maine, or Vermont,” he said.
The singer/songwriter has performed with musicians like Xavier Rudd and Michael Franti; and bands like Nahko and Medicine for the People, Steel Pulse and The Wailers.
Dove Liddle lined up the show on Kauai.
The doors open at the KCC Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 pm. Tickets are $36.45 and can be purchased online at www.dovepresents.com and on Kauai at Progressive Expressions in Koloa, Papayas in Kapaa, Healthy Hut in Kilauea, and Harvest Market in Hanalei. Info: (808) 635-5556.
