EXPLORING IDENTITY THROUGH MUSIC: TREVOR PHELPS ‘IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?’

Instagram: @trevxrphelps

Trevor Phelps, a 21-year-old artist born in Arkansas, has had an appreciation for the beauty of life's melodies since his early days. His passion for music grew immensely, leading him to believe that he would make his mark in the industry someday. Initially, Trevor started creating beats for rappers and sharing them on YouTube back in 2017. However, this pursuit alone didn't satisfy his hunger. Encouraged by both his voice and family members who recognized his talent, he decided to explore singing. Although self-doubt initially held him back, he bravely combined his voice with his beats in 2019 and released his first track that October. 

Trevor’s musical style is influenced by acts like Twenty One Pilots, The Neighbourhood, Cage the Elephant, and Jon Bellion – resulting in an alternative pop vibe characterized by captivating lead melodies blended with guitars and synth bases. When reflecting on how he has grown as both an artist and an individual throughout 2019, Trevor shares that he has truly honed his sound and refined his songwriting skills. Looking back now, he believes that earlier compositions lacked specificity, which hindered their relatability. 

Trevor recently released an EP titled, Is This What You Wanted?, which consists of six tracks focusing on self-reflection. He mentioned, “After every project that I do I feel like I learn a lot about myself and my life. Especially with Is This What You Wanted?. The whole project is about who I am as a person and who I want to be. While writing, it helped me face my problems head-on and helped me see who I am.” The EP encourages listeners to think about their satisfaction with their journey and choices. According to Trevor, it poses a question for the future: "Is This What You Wanted?" This central theme drove his process, resulting in a narrative that confronts regrets while striving for alignment with personal aspirations. Trevor said that the song, “Behind Me,” is essentially the title track of the EP. In the hook, he wrote, “Someday when it's said and done I hope it's everything that we'd ever want.”

Is This What You Wanted? marks Trevor’s final independent release. He signed with Th3rd Brain Records in October following the release of, “Who Am I.” I am excited to see what’s coming for Trevor in the future, and I invite you to join along the journey and stream his music on all major music platforms.