We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Trevor Wiest a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Trevor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
When I was in middle school, end of 7th grade. I had been playing guitar since around age 8. I really started getting inspired near the end of 7th grade. It started clicking, when I took lessons it became really fun. The momentum made it hard to put the guitar down. I would end up playing for hours. I really enjoyed the social part of playing in bands and performing. I remember meeting with a career counselor. In middle school starting to navigate a plan through high school, and starting to look at music colleges. I switched to a charter school to where I could focus more on music. It seemed like a natural and fulfilling direction.
Before I know I wanted to do it as a career I grew up around music. My parents played banjo, guitar, and trumpet. Being in that environment was always fun. My cousin played electric guitar too. I though that was cool! What really made me want to start learning was when I hear Van Halens “Eruption” on Rock 100.3 I was obsessed with that radio station, and guitar driven music.
Trevor, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Trevor Wiest. I’m a professional guitarist. Throughout my career, I have worked and recorded with acts such as: Radiochurch, Ellis Cleve, Chastity Brown, Moise, Elyse Jones, Danami and The Blue, C.J. Pitts, CMA recording artist Ben Johnson, Ethan Yeshaya, Liz Deyoe, Jemma Heigis, Coyote Wild, BellaDiva and many more. Including appearances with the Minnesota Orchestra and recordings with the London Symphony.
I started in the industry around the time I went to college for music. I went to McNally Smith College of Music from 2009-2014. It was great opportunity to learn but also get involved in the music scene in Minneapolis. Teachers would see students play and recommend students for gigs. By 2011 I was gigging every weekend, traveling around the country. In 2011 I played my first orchestra gig with the Minnesota Orchestra for annual Christmas concert at a Church called Hosanna. I got hired there as a guitarist and teacher through their music academy. This led to a Christmas album with the London Symphony I recorded on. The connections from the Minneapolis music scene lead to regular work in town, as well as touring throughout the country and internationally. Some of the most interesting experiences were going to the Middle East for USO tours in Qatar and Kuwait.
I have gotten used to “wearing many hats” being able to play many styles of music, getting the right guitar tone, and energy on stage. Wether it’s on a live gig or in the studio, I work really hard at dialing in the right parts, tone, and vibe for the gig.
This transfers over to recording as well. I have a home studio I work out of when I am in town. For sessions I end up recording a wide range of styles. Creating the right part and tone for the song, but giving it a spin that makes it unique is a fun balance. I have taught lessons over the years too. With students its fun helping them work towards accomplishing their goals.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I like that I am always learning. Both with literally learning music and practicing the craft of playing guitar. But also the path is interesting, navigating the challenges make life really fulfilling. The friendships it brings out of people is really great too. Collaborating with others when writing music leads to some of the best times of my life. The journey is the best part. Process of creating, hours in the practice room, even the struggles. Sometimes those lead to the best stories.
Projects where I am writing and recording have been the most creatively fulfilling. Throughout the years the two that really stand out are Radiochurch and The Blue.
Radiochurch is a soulful pop group based in Minneapolis. We started it in 2016. One of the fun things about it is we have been able to continuously write music even through the pandemic. I would say its pop music, “Indie R&B” When we play live we defiantly rock it out more. We released our 3rd Album/EP last summer called “Stranger Than Fiction” and we are currently working our next one. We plan on releasing through out the next one.
Around the time when I started getting regular work as a professional guitarist a bunch of my close friends lived in a house in St. Paul We called the Ivy House. There was a studio in the basement, we would always hang, write music, rehearse. Some of the best times of my life were there. We called that group “The Blue” Today the group is spread out between Dallas, Nashville, and Minneapolis. I am currently working on starting a publishing company with some of that crew.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think everyone has a creative part to them. It doesn’t have to be music or in the arts to be creative. Creative genius is all around us. It just shows up in different forms. If you see the most plan object, most likely someone invented, and a team of people to create.
One thing that is different as a musician though is you never really clock out of work. You are always working at getting better, reviewing music, writing. Looking forward to the next project, gig. It never stops.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trevorplaysguitar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trevor.wiest.guitar/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4VAC8ijYIe5qB17da72w5Q
- Other: Amazon music: https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B014KQHNX6/trevor-wiest?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_8AxzHlSgSoDG3YlKiA39QFnFH Radiochurch: one of the bands I write music with. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/radiochurch/1252305130