Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Trevor Donnelly. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Trevor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

This question is a tough one for me. I am overall happy yes, but it took me a long time to reach a state of peace with myself and where my life is headed. Truthfully I was unhappy for a very long time. The struggle as an indie artist and a signed artist is unmatched to most career choices. Some days are better or worse. I just take it all in stride. Yes I wonder what it’s like to have a regular job, I had that wonder for over 6 years as a professional artist. I wondered if it would be easier to just give up the music and just go live life. There are a lot of people, events, time, and important life changing events that I have been absent mostly mentally because I was too consumed by my career and focused on where I wanted to go. I am still chasing this dream even today and to look back all the times I could of had with the people I love, I woulda chose the people. The more you advance in the music industry the more you realize the smoke and mirrors of it all. I will always love music and my accomplishments but it’s bitter sweet in a sense. Now I live in Texas, moved out of Cali, to get more space and more for my money for my family. It’s not until I cut back from it all until I found peace. No more pressure, just my own time and what I want to do. I am even considering a regular job also.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started creating music back in 2012. It wasn’t until 2016 when I started taking it seriously. I was engineering, writing, singing, rapping, performing, making my own cover arts, producing my own music, directing my own music videos, marketing my own music. All of that lead to me signing a one year deal with Rostrum Records out of Los Angeles CA. Which later by 2018 I had moved to LA to start a PR firm with my wife and started working on building my oldest daughters career in acting, modeling, and music. Fast forward 6 years, I’v charted number one on Amazon R&B music charts. I’ve charted twice top ten on Apple iTunes, and charted once internationally top 10 Spotify Charts. I also managed to help my oldest daughter Mariana chart Top 20 internationally on Spotify as well. The songs she has are produced and written by me and Jaykliff out of Nigeria. My wife has helped tremendously with PR and exposure for our daughters career as well. Now I was able to purchase our first real home in south Texas near South Padre Island where we currently homestead dogs, chickens, and soon a goat.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Yes it is as it sounds. Move in silence. I learned real quickly people only gravitate towards activity. You can cry wolf and talk and boast all day, but if people don’t see real motion they just don’t care. It’s too much going on in the world for people to pay that much attention. Just focus, work, stay down until you come up. An example is I am always quiet online until I can share a real world achievement, like my charting accomplishments.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Tha your own mind will hold you back, I had to break out of negative thinking and thinking that I wasn’t good enough or didn’t deserve everything I’ve worked for. There is plenty to go around and everyone can learn from anyone. So never count yourself out too soon. It’s always someone more hungry.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tharift
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trdonnelly2022/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/riftbeatz
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/tharift

Image Credits
@trentflixx