Trevor Douglas

CM: American Idol is on its final season, how do you feel about seeing the show at its ending point?

Trevor: “Well, to be honest…I never really watched the show before I auditioned so… Hahaha!”

CM: Do you have any advice for anyone that had planned to be on the show, but didn’t get the chance?

Trevor: “I’d tell them that the show is not the only or even always the best path to success. Not making the show isn’t the end of the world. It’s a TV show as much as it is a talent show, so they aren’t just picking talented artists, they’re casting personalities.”

CM: We see that you love science! Would science be a career choice you would be interested in if it weren’t for music?

Trevor: “Oh most likely yes! Haha! The problem is that when someone asks, “What branch of science would you like to study?” – I’m just like, ‘Well, they’re all awesome…I don’t know…'”

CM: Since American Idol, have you created any friendships off the show and remained in contact?

Trevor: “Oh definitely, mainly with the guys that got cut when I did. Riley actually came to Dallas and we did a show together at Six Flags Over Texas. It would be really fun to get together with Riley and Michael and do another YouNow like we did the night we were cut. That night with them is actually one of my best memories from American Idol.”

CM: How was your experience on the show? How is performing on stage now without the pressure of voting or cameras different to when you were performing on American Idol?

Trevor: “My experience on the show was overall very positive. They didn’t feed us well and once we reached Top 24 there wasn’t the opportunity or space to rehearse like there was earlier, but other than that I had a lot of fun! Haha! And I wouldn’t say that performing onstage has changed much since Idol. On the show I would just get up on stage and do my thing, and now it’s pretty much the same except that it is easier to book gigs. I was never able to use my loop pedal on Idol and that was a little bit of a disappointment to me, but there’s a funny story about that. I asked if I could use my loop pedal for just about every song I performed on American Idol and was always told no. I was waiting to hear from the producers if I could use my loop pedal on the next song coming up after Motown. After I was cut and in the hotel lobby with the other guys waiting on a car to take us to another hotel, Patrick, one of the guys in charge of us, came up to me and said, ‘Well on the bright side, you can use your loop pedal on the next song.’ Hahaha!”

CM: You have always shown so much confidence in your performances, do you have tips for some aspiring artists who are shy or nervous?

Trevor: “-Biggest tip for anyone that gets nervous on stage – whether it be singing, acting, dancing or whatever – is if being on stage is something you really want to do, there’s no reason to psych yourself out.

-Also, the more you practice and the better prepared you are, the less nervous you’ll be.

-Lastly, everyone makes mistakes, even professionals. One big difference between amateurs and professionals is that the professionals are much better at covering up their mistakes.”

CM: Ed Sheeran is someone you seem to look up to and love. Are there any other artists you look up to?

Trevor: “Yes. John Mayer, Jon Gomm, Damien Rice, Daft Punk, Allen Stone, Eminem, Bernhoft, and then Andrew McMahon is a big one.”

CM: Can we expect an album or new music in the future? The Sugarcoated Puberty EP went above and beyond our expectations!

Trevor: “YES!!! Yes you can! But I really want it to be as great as possible so it might take a while. Ideally I’d like to have at least a single out soon.”

CM: Do you have any favorite songs to perform live?

Trevor: “Any of my originals or any song, cover or original, that I get to perform with my loop pedal.”

CM: And finally, do you have any words of advice for anyone trying to make their music dream come true?

Trevor: “Mainly that you need to work hard. A lot of people think that if you’re really good, the opportunities will come to you. While that is partially true, it isn’t always the case. You have to make your own opportunities, whether it be through booking shows, social media, collaboration, or auditioning for a show like American Idol.”

Thank you, Trevor, for all the great advice! Stay on the lookout for new music from Trevor and make sure to download his current EP here.

Let us know how you feel about American Idol ending by commenting below or tweeting us @CelebMix - Celeb Mix

Fort Worth, TX native Trevor Douglas might have originally made a name for himself on the fourteenth season of American Idol, but it’s his original music, including his latest single, “Pressure,” that has allowed him to carve out his own space in the music scene. His soulful pop sound is immediately enticing to listeners, and, as a result, I found myself playing “Pressure” on repeat for hours. I got the chance to talk with Trevor about how he got into performing, his new music, what he nerds out about and so much more. Keep reading to see his answers!

What age did you take the step into making and performing music?

I started really young, around 3 or 4 [years old], on the violin. But I didn’t really start getting into and doing pop music ’til middle school. I wasn’t exactly what I’d call “good” back then, but [that] was when I really got into pop music. Then, as I got older, I got more and more serious about it.

Was there a specific moment or person that made you realize music is what you wanted to do for a living?

I don’t know, honestly. I just think back and this is what I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, so it’s so hard for me to pinpoint something like that. But I will say that my mom has always been very supportive and has really helped me along the way so that I could do this for a living.

I can’t stop listening to your latest single, “Pressure.” What’s the inspiration behind it?

Aw, thank you so much! Honestly, I just heard that bridge hook, the “why can’t we just start this over?” and thought to myself, “Woah! That’s incredibly catchy!” Then, I went home and wrote the whole song around that.

Going off of that, what is your songwriting process like? How do you take an idea and turn it into a song?

Honestly, every song is so different. It’s hard to say that I do it one way every time, but I really do like putting my lyrics on paper as opposed to my computer or phone. It feels a little more natural for me that way and the ideas flow better.

What is one of your favorite lyrics that you’ve ever written?

Oh, it’s a pre-chorus of a song that I wrote for a band called Light Years Away that’s not out yet.

Are you currently working on an EP/album? If so, when can fans expect to hear it?

I am working on an EP, and goodness, I wish I knew. It’s probably going to be some time this year, potentially this summer. I do all the recording and writing on my own, so it’s a lot of work and takes some time.

Who are you listening to on repeat at the moment?

Lauv. His writing is phenomenal. I got to see him in concert too and it was such an experience. I loved it.

What can fans expect from you for the rest of 2018?

Hopefully a lot. I’m going to keep writing and put out a few singles, I’m acting in some films for some friends, I’m cowriting and producing songs for other people, I’m starting a side project that’s going to be way different music than what I already do, and I’m going to be focusing more on YouTube and things like that.

Last question: we’re called Talk Nerdy With Us so what is something you nerd out over?

I am in love with Star Wars. I have been to every single opening night that I have been alive for! - Talk Nerdy With Us

The former ‘American Idol’ contestant explores his musical path, from conception to his latest single.

While some artists can click into their niche almost seamlessly, other artists find themselves dabbling with various instruments and writing styles before finding what truly fits them. In the case of Trevor Douglas, this act began when he was much, much younger.

Exposed to music at a young age, Trevor’s first desire was to play saxophone. He recalls the strong urge to play instruments even as a toddler and though his initial dream wasn’t easily doable, his parents still brought him to the local music studio in Texas where his brother and sister went for lessons.

“I watched Fantasia and there were violins that would dance,” he recalls of the instrument his heart got set on next. Valerie’s Music Studio, however, didn’t teach violin. “They taught fiddle,” Trevor says. “So I guess I technically started on the fiddle which is really just more folk, country-type violin.”

Guessing the age to have been around three when he started music, Trevor did eventually get to try his hand at violin. “I never got any good,” he admits with a laugh. “I was always very bad at it but I did not apply myself correctly.” One could also attribute his disinterest in playing violin to his growing love for pop music and the appeal of writing. “Then I started finding other instruments I liked better that I applied myself towards.”

The road wasn’t easy to navigate. Attempting guitar, Trevor remembers quickly putting it back down. “Guitar has a steep learning curve. Your hands hurt when you first start it,” he explains. “I was like, ‘No, no. The piano is what you play to get girls, not guitar!’” he demonstrates with a laugh. However, he did pick guitar back up and agrees it was a great decision. Using the skills he has gained over the years, he breathes new life into his performance when he plays his guitar, utilizing it in every way possible.

Starting out as a fun hobby, music became a serious career option during the artist’s freshman year of high school. While he wanted to pursue it beforehand, it had just been more for the fun of it. “After I did [“American Idol”], I was like, ‘You know what? That went decently well! Maybe I can actually do this.’”

His confidence stayed with him as, in his senior year of high school, Trevor switched to online schooling and focused on music more intensely than before, and at a full-time status.

“In the past year, I fell even deeper into it, as much as I can,” says the twenty-year-old. “I’ve been teaching myself how to record myself and produce my own songs.” Trevor’s latest single ‘Pressure’ is the first he did by himself. “I did it all on my own,” he says proudly. “In my closet in Texas. It’s the most soundproof spot I have.”

‘Pressure’ showcases the notable growth Trevor has had since releasing his first EP three years ago. Stylistically more mature and his voice coming into its own, ‘Pressure’ lays a strong foundation for the reimagining of his music.

At the mention of his original EP, Trevor groans, “Oh god.” He recalls the release being in 2015 and reveals that the recordings were actually from middle school. “Like it was recorded and written for that.” Pitching his voice slightly higher, the musician remembers thinking at the time, “Ha, ha! I should just release these and put them out into the world!” It’s hard not to laugh along with Trevor as he says, “And I did. That was – I definitely learned a lot about music and myself since then.”

Exampling this perfectly in ‘Pressure’, he describes the sound to be acoustic but a little funky. Pointing to Ed Sheeran as some driving inspiration behind the song, he also credits the “real funky” bassline that is growing in popularity – using “Want You Back” by 5SOS to demonstrate his point. “That bassline they have in that song – they just get it! And I’m like, ‘That’s a really cool idea! I should try and write a funky bassline.’”

In fact, the bass hook – “Why can’t we just start this over?” he sings before he explains – is what he heard in his head one day. Making a note of it on his phone, when he returned home that night, he wrote the song around that. The bassline is his favorite part of the song, he enthuses. “I love the hook of the bridge,” he continues, singings a serious of ‘ba’s and ‘bum’s as he recreates it. “I played that throughout the whole song. The acoustic guitar in the background is that hook.”

Trevor cites Ariana Grande’s song “One Last Time” as the inspiration behind the idea of it. “The background of ['One Last Time'] is the chorus,” he says. “And it’s beautiful and it’s a phenomenal song. It didn’t do the best popularity-wise and chart-wise but still, I think that’s such a powerful hook and a way to do that.”

The song, his first created in the digital audio workstation software Logic and mastered by friend Paul Flint, touches more on a generalization of experiences than a specific event. Trevor goes on to say, “It’s really not particularly about ‘Man, I’m having problems with a specific girl right now, let me write about it.’ I’ve had those problems before so I was able to write about what it was like.” However, through this experience, he’s learned that if he tries to write about everything that he is going through, he will never write a song.

“I’m very content, for the most part, with my life. Or my love life, and all that,” reveals Trevor. “If I were always to write about the struggles, I don’t have that many problems so I have to kind of imagine what they are like or what they have been like for me in the past.”

His writing has improved over the years, although his friends are always happy to bring back his first EP, “Sugarcoated Puberty”. Laughing, recalls wanting to showcase his new single ‘Pressure’ to them, only to have them play the likes of ‘On My Mind’ from the EP. “I was like, ‘No, don’t put that one on! I released a song and I’m really proud of it! Please put that one on!’”

Having listened to his older music, he laughs again before comparing it to his current sound. “It’s kind of like if you took those [older songs] and let them marinate, let them grow up for six/seven years – that’s kind of what I feel like it is. It’s still the acoustic guitar but it doesn’t sound as young.”

Trevor takes a moment to contemplate how he would describe them now. “It’s not quite childish; the songs feel kind of immature, like they’re not fully ready. Those songs feel like works in progress to me.” Despite this, he notes the popularity that ‘Into My Arms’ from the same EP still holds today. It is his favorite as well.

Reflecting on his growth since that time, Trevor has noticed two things, both that he claim sound pretty cheesy.

“For starters, I’ve just grown up a lot,” he says of the years in-between. “The songwriting is so important that you’re real and true with who you are and,” he admits with a quick laugh, “I just got a little better at feeling things.” He also fully immerses himself in the songwriting process. “If I’m writing a sad song, I’m probably going to start getting upset – like physically upset. And it helps! It’s a lot of work, it’s pretty draining, but it helps.”

He credits the change of perspective to his newfound passion for acting. “I acted for a while but I really started to get serious about it in the last year. Just that idea of being emotionally vulnerable really helps with my songwriting.”

Circling back to the growth he’s experienced, there’s a grin to his voice, either amused or slightly bashful, as he talks about getting real with fans and not always being the happy-go-lucky guy they used to see.

“I used to be like, ‘Hey guys! I’m Trevor! I’m a happy teen! I’m just gonna do all this cool, fun-loving stuff!’ and that wasn’t really me,” he explains. The turnaround to showing what he is truly like is natural and gives more confidence and ease to his music. “Once I started being who I am, my music started doing really well. I started writing better, people started liking my stuff.” Reiterating with a laugh that it sounds really, really cheesy, Trevor adds, ‘I recognize that but that’s how I would say I’ve changed.”

A way to show fans the true side of him is letting them get a glimpse at his sense of humor. He did this fantastically by making a video where he recreated favorite vines. “It’s been phenomenal for me,” he says of the large response the video has gotten. He uses a comparison between comedians and musicians, where a comedian may say something and it would be funny but if a musician said it, fans wouldn’t understand the humor and it wouldn’t be funny as they weren’t expected to make jokes. “It set me up as someone who can make jokes and I’ve always wanted that so I’m very happy with where this has put me.”

The idea for the video came from seeing others remaking vines. “They were so poorly done but they would get a hundred thousand likes and I was like, ‘This is disgusting. I can do so much better,’” he says teasingly. “I know that’s really conceited but I was like, ‘I know I could spent the time’, so I did.”

Trevor explains how he spent three and a half days making notes of vines but he admits with a laugh that he expected the video to do modestly well, he didn’t expect it to do this well. His process of picking vines were to try and stay away from any that might feel like it were making fun of the people in the original, or making fun of others. He referenced one vine, where a kid says, “That’s legit-ness!” for an example, as one he avoided.

The video, having amassed more than 240,000 views on YouTube and climbing past two million on Twitter [Explicit language used in videos], is what Trevor credits to a relaunch of his career. He explains how the interactions and social media traction from it are surpassing his time on ‘Idol’. “I know that’s really stupid but I’m so happy that of all the things I become famous for, it’s this,” he says cheerfully. “I’ve been so overwhelmed by all of the support from that.”

The popularity behind it means that some fans are calling for a sequel, which he finds cool and also scary. “I don’t know how to keep this up,” he confesses. “I have to keep putting out content this good.” With a laugh, he jokes, “I don’t know if I have that many good ideas. But it’s cool a lot of people came for the vines and stuck around for the music. It’s crazy.”

Of course, fans were curious as to which vine he would link to his new single ‘Pressure’.

“You should have given me more time!” he exclaims with a laugh. “That’s a hard question.”

After a few moments of thinking, Trevor concedes with a vine that has nothing to do with the song but he thinks about a decent amount, according to the singer. “[The vine] where they throw the frisbee and, excuse my language, but they’re like, ‘What the f—k, Richard!?’ I think about that one a lot.” As to why it didn’t make it into his remake video? “I didn’t have a frisbee to throw.”

While the sequel is still on a back burner for now, Trevor is focusing on his art. He reveals that he’s currently working on a song with Elijah Merrell.

“He’s so talented,” praises the musician. Trevor discovered him while researching for a school project. Studying online with Berklee College of Music, he recalls the assignment to take a song and produce it in a different genre. He chose the techno-pop dance beats from the ‘80s. “I’m very into ‘80s music and I love that type of stuff,” he says. Trevor was trying to learn how to capture that sound while on YouTube one day and found a video by Elijah that had about fifty views at the time. “But it was really good!”

He describes how he left a comment on Elijah’s video saying that he liked it and received a message back that the two should collaborate. “He sent me some things and we’re working on a song,” Trevor teases. “I’m always working on a song with Paul Flint. I don’t know when these will be out because they’re not all the way written yet – I still have to sit down and finish them. But hopefully in the next couple of months.” He is hoping to have enough songs ready – his best five of all he’s been writing, he believes – to work towards an EP, shooting for the summer though he makes no promises.

In addition to that, Trevor is working on broadening his horizons.

“I’m in California right now so I’m trying to do acting. That’d be really cool if something happens there. But I’m definitely going to be on YouTube more now and trying to do more humorous things.” He contemplates mixing the two sides of his life. “I’d love to release some comedy songs. I have some ideas but they’re generally too inappropriate and I can’t do those,” he reveals. As for what fans can keep their eyes and ears out for in 2018, Trevor says, “Mostly the new music; and I want to keep making good content that people enjoy.”

— - Teenplicity

Trevor Douglas has a voice that really takes your breath away for a moment, particularly on this latest single. The delicacy of his vocal tone, the intimate recording style, the emotion and the flawless ability to reach each note and moment fuses beautifully with the devotion and passion in the lyrics. There’s something totally unique and heartfelt about his performance here, it’s the sort that perhaps a few years ago would have felt comfortably a part of the outpouring of Timberlakes and Sheerans, but that right now feels completely fresh and genuine, and far more interesting than any of that.

Stay By Your Side is a gorgeous song, really thoughtfully written, and structured in a manner that initially grabs your attention with that almost whispered softness and purity, and that poetic lyricism; the autumn leaves, the connection between this and ageing. There’s a youthfulness to his voice that seems to contrast with the awareness in his writing, and that’s a powerful thing.

As the song progresses, the hook emerges as something much more pop-like – it’s a big ballad that utilises contrast in so many ways. The acoustic guitar sound works perfectly at first, then as things evolve, the intensity rises, Douglas’ performance grows more energetic and stylish in a different kind of way. You quickly grow accustomed to his voice and his writing style and there’s something addictively new about it all, as well as mildly familiar and comforting at the very same time – a winning combination, really.

As an artist it’s likely there’s a lot more to come from Trevor Douglas in the near future, his potential to bring something fresh to the pop world is strong, and this track is the perfect place to begin that journey. A beautiful and easily recognisable release once you’ve stumbled upon it. - Stereo Stickman

With his subtle, sensitive pop music, Dallas-based musician Trevor Douglas has had a number of accomplishments so far in his career. He’s been a finalist on American Idol, has opened for the Jonas Brothers at GEXA’s Heineken Lounge, and has entertained the crowd with lively performances at The Dallas International Film Festival and the Texas State Fair all within the last few years. Now Douglas has a new single out titled “Stay By Your Side,” a bright, upbeat song about promising to treat someone with the utmost respect. It’s a song that is unwaveringly optimistic about the future with a girl.

The track begins with an intimate and delicate acoustic guitar followed by Douglas’ sensitive vocals singing, “I see the weight that’s on your shoulders/ Autumn leaves change and we feel older,” which establishes the hurt his love interest has dealt with from her past relationship. From there, the soft beginning effortlessly transitions into a more upbeat and catchy sound. The foot-tapping rhythm grabs the attention of the listener while Douglas’ vocals exude an endearing bubbliness. In lyrics like, “He gave his attention to someone else/ Thought he could leave your heart on a shelf/ (You don’t need that, girl),” Douglas sings about how a girl’s previous man wronged her, and how she didn’t deserve it.

The song was written about a girl I liked who’s previous relationship was with a pretty toxic person. That made hard for her to want to open up again, even though we had feelings for each other,” says Douglas.

The chorus expresses a more hopeful outlook for the future and this budding relationship between him and this girl. Douglas sings, “And I promise you/ That I won’t ever lie/ I’ll be there for you baby/ You and I can touch the sky,” vowing to be different from the man from the previous relationship, and showing enthusiasm over the thought of being with this girl, loving her the way she deserves.

Douglas’ musical influences also show through this chorus. Its playful melody, good-natured lyrics, and overall catchiness take influence from several renowned pop musicians such as Ed Sheeran, Lauv, and Shawn Mendes just to name a few.

The vocals throughout this piece give off a warmth and sincerity that helps set the tone of the song and leaves the listener gravitating towards the track. There is a soulful component of Douglas’ vocals that make his lyrics and declaration of affection seem totally honest.

“…this song was just me telling her I really cared about her and, unlike her last relationship, would do all I could to make her feel safe and loved,” comments Douglas.

“Stay By Your Side” is a sweet, upbeat single that is sure to brighten anyone’s day. Be sure to look out for Trevor Douglas’ upcoming EP Four In The Morning, which will be dropping later this summer. - Elicit Magazine

It's nice that we're seeing acoustic-led sounds making a comeback in the mainstream consciousness...

While there's certainly nothing wrong with electronic, auto-tune heavy fare, I think we can all admit to a certain amount of fatigue when we hear yet another song on the radio powered by driving synth chords. No one's asking for that to go away, but variety is the spice of life, and monocultures kill ecosystems. Enter an artist like Trevor Douglas and it feels like a blast of AC on a hot day.

This Dallas-based musician may be familiar to you. He was an American Idol finalist in 2015, he played the opening slot for the Jonas Brothers at GEXA's Heineken Lounge, and has had stints at The Dallas International Film Festival and Texas State Fair for the last three years. His home state even awarded him the title of 'Most Entertaining Singer in Texas', solidifying him as a musician to watch in the region. His sound is crafted around live guitar loops, simple beats, and catchy melodies. It's a great listening time, and his latest track, "Stay By Your Side" encapsulates his oeuvre in one easy to enjoy package.

Lyrically, Douglas starts from a place of modern pop-folk, but quickly winds up somewhere that feels much more mainstream. It's a straightforward enough story. Boy loves girl who was in an emotionally abusive relationship, boy expresses his feelings truly and simply. There's nothing wrong with that, in fact that's the song's greatest strength. When it gets in to its rhythm the words hit a cadence that worms its way straight in to the brain. Even after four or five listens it doesn't wear out its welcome. Just repetitive enough to be catchy, not so much so that it gets lazy. It takes outrageous work to be this effortless, and it gives Douglas' work a pure distilled charm.

With so many artists making names for themselves in the public sphere, it can be easy to let people slip off your radar. But lets also not forget that with the age of the smartphone, adding new performers to your world is as simple as a few touches of the screen. You owe it to yourself to throw a few of those towards Trevor Douglas. He has an EP dropping later this Summer, and in the meantime you want to jump on that bandwagon. He has obvious talent, and the chops to go far, so you owe it to take a leaf from his book, and stay by his side.

Check out Trevor Douglas now! - Pop Dust