Today we’d like to introduce you to Trent Minter.
Trent, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’m from the small-town Santa Fe, Texas. I was born to a musical family, not that I really understood that at the time, it was all normal for me. I was in piano lessons at 7 and pretty much hated it and just wanted to play guitar because my brothers and my father all played guitar. We had just one guitar pretty much. Our grandfathers old 1950s Martin. I would sneak it to get some practice in when my brother wasn’t around. My first gig was the living room every family gathering. I eventually began performing in church and for many of my classes in high school or at lunch. I’d sit around and sing songs for my friends.
So, the next step was getting gigs. I’d go to coffee shop open mics when I was 18 and started getting known in that scene. By that point I had fallen in love with the music of John Mayer and electric guitar in general and was getting very serious about it. I eventually went to school to learn to play jazz. After working as a guitarist in Houston I decided I wanted to take the leap and pursue my original music in Austin, Texas full time. I moved with little notice and no job. That’s when everything really began.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
One of my favorite things in the world to do is play guitar. Personally, it all stems from that. But there’s all this other stuff that happens when you connect with something you love. It reaches other people. And I feel like songs reach people more than any other form of music. Especially songs about real experiences or real emotional expression. That’s what I want to do and try to do. I like writing songs that make people dance, think, or feel. When I think of how many times I’ve had a commute on a bad day and I put on one of my favorite records, and how much better I felt. And not just better but just enlightened with so much clarity. While tapping my hands on the steering wheel singing at the top of my lungs. That’s what I hope my music could do for someone one day. It sounds fluffy but I just want to give back what has been given to me.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I think life for artists has become more difficult in ways and easier in other ways. With social media we have the access we always needed, but new obstacles have emerged with that access. I think communities can just do a little more to consider artists. Go to a show, share someone’s work. Just anything. If everyone did a little no one would have to do a lot kind of thing you know. Also, I think most people are only familiar with the biggest artists and don’t realize that local and semi famous artists need work too. Having local music at your events and town wide concerts and such would be huge.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Honestly the real place my art exists is at the show. If you want to come to a show you will get the real experience, the real me, the interaction. That’s where it originated. But any little bit helps. You can go to my website Www.trentminter.com, look me up on Instagram @trentminter. Find my music on iTunes, Spotify, or YouTube.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.trentminter.com
- Email: trentmintermusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: @trentminter
- Facebook: Facebook.com/trentmintermusic
- Twitter: @trentonminter
Image Credit:
Lauren Lyman
Scott David
David Beck
William Mullarky
Drew Spencer Wolod
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
