We recently connected with Trey Calloway and have shared our conversation below.
Trey, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
The son of a preacher man, I grew up singing in church and was a seasoned performer by the age of 10. Southern and contemporary gospel were my first musical loves, but I was instantly mesmerized by the sounds of country music after hearing songs from the Garth Brooks Greatest Hits album that my parents bought me. This music inspired my artistic journey and changed my life. A passion for the rocking, boot stomping, country music of artists such as Garth, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, and Travis Tritt grew within me, and I began writing songs, playing guitar, and performing in clubs at the age of 15. I knew early on without a doubt that I’d make country music my career. I spent most of my childhood and the entirety of my adult years playing music in front of people from all over the world. Music and the performance of it is my life. It’s my passion and one of the driving forces behind my existence; without it, I know that I’d be lost.
While I love performing for fans, I hope that above all I’m remembered as a successful songwriter. My dream is to bring original music to life to help others in whatever way my music might touch them. I have come to know that music can work miracles. It can make you fall in love, it can remind you of the best day of your life, it can get you through any tough times and it can even heal a broken heart. Some say that music is the universal language, and I believe this whole heartedly. It has saved me time and time again, and I’m continuously inspired to write songs and express myself through music. My life informs my artistry so when I experience pain, loss, joy, fun or other emotions, these experiences and feelings often translate into songs. Every note, every lick and every chorus is a picture of the world as I see it, and I truly hope my songs resonate with people and can bring happiness and understanding to others. If I can positively impact one life with my words and melodies, then that is a career I will gladly hang my cowboy hat on.
Trey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Trey Calloway, and I’m a country singer and songwriter from the great State of North Carolina. I am many things: Son to Frank and Angie, father to Cash, brother, partner, friend, and lover of music. I grew up singing in church, and as a teen was inspired by the storytelling and passion of country music and the joy it brought me. At that time, around age 15, I began writing and performing country music professionally, fronting multiple bands in North Carolina before moving to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2016 where I formed The Trey Calloway Band. I’ve been playing the eastern tour circuit ever since and, after moving to Nashville in 2022, I’ve been a regularly featured act at the legendary Alan Jackson’s Good Time Bar.
As a professional musician, I’m a lead vocalist and play the guitar, banjo, and harmonica. I’m a self-taught musician and play music by ear. I’m passionate about energizing and inspiring audiences with live musical performances and have played thousands of shows and venues including Whiskey Jam, the Charlotte Speed Street NASCAR Festival, The Tennessee State Fair and The House of Blues. I enjoy the intimacy of playing acoustic shows on my own, but I really love playing in a band sharing the experience with talented and diverse musicians. While country music is, and will always be, my first love, I also play gospel music, rock-n-roll, bluegrass, blues, and even the occasional hip-hop song. I’d like to think of myself and my music as a unique mix of traditional country and contemporary influences. I’ve opened shows for notable musicians such as Joe Diffie, Tracy Lawrence, Pat Green, Edwin McCain, Trent Tomlinson and most recently Craig Campbell and am committed to supporting worthy causes through music including VetFest Carolinas, Shriners’ events, Matthew 25 Ministries and most recently Project K-9 Hero. A few upcoming performances that I’m looking forward to are playing again as a featured artist at the Tennessee State Fair in August 2023 and playing in April 2024 at the inaugural Project K-9 Hero benefit in the Myrtle Beach area.
I’m most proud of the original music I’ve been able to bring to life, currently consisting of 30 song releases available on music platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. I’ve been in the recording studio this past month working on a new album of 10 songs and have many single releases planned over the next year! I also maintain a large portfolio of unreleased original songs and can’t wait to share them one day. These songs are like children to me. They are tiny pieces of my heart captured on tape and a snapshot of who I was and what I was feeling in those moments. Songwriting is my passion and enables me to share my perspective on the world and own love of music with others. I truly hope my songs can bring joy and meaning to listeners in the same way they’ve given purpose to my life. For these efforts, I was honored by the Nashville Songwriter Association International as “One to Watch” in 2022 and 2023, and I’m currently nominated for 2 Song of the Year awards for “Drip” and “Worth A Shot” and 2 Songwriter Achievement awards for unreleased music at the 2023 Josie Music Awards (JMA), which are the largest independent music awards in the world held at the Grand Ole Opry House in October.
In the past couple years, I created my first ever music video for my song “Heal This Family” in a garage in North Myrtle Beach on a small budget. With the help of band members, friends and family who volunteered to help convey the song’s timely message of love and unity, I was able to share this vision with the world. In 2021, “Heal This Family” was named as JMA Social Impact Music Video of the Year. Since then, I’ve created three additional music videos available on YouTube, the most recent being “When You Walk In,” which was also created with the help of Carolina friends and family and is currently airing on The Country Network. My music video for “Worth A Shot” is the 2023 World Songwriting Award winner for Outlaw Music Video and Outlaw Song, and “Redneck’s Guide” is nominated as a 2023 JMA Music Video of the Year. I’m also honored to be nominated by the JMA as 2023 Modern Country Artist of the Year, Modern Country Vocalist of the Year and Best Performer in a Music Video.
Whether live or recorded or through song or video, the music I make is for everyone, and I hope to bring others together through music. This is my life’s work and a way to share a piece of my heart and hopefully to make a difference. I’ve put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into my songs, and while it’s not always been easy, I’ve loved every minute of it. My music is not about the destination, but the journey, and my artistic journey is defined by so many wonderful people who have inspired, encouraged, and helped me along the way. The support and understanding of fans, friends and family is priceless, and I will forever be grateful to everyone for taking this journey with me. I know in my heart that you know who you are, and I truly hope that I’m making you proud. To my existing fans and to potential new fans, thank you for letting me keep doing what I love!
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I would have moved to Nashville sooner because the vibrant music scene and talented musicians here inspire daily creativity and raise the bar for songwriting and performing. There’s a sense of belonging and community of like-minded artists with the same passions and dreams that many musicians may not find in their own hometowns. My younger self may have struggled more so not getting caught up in the rowdy Broadway party scene or being in a new town starting out alone, so there’s a balance between making the move as soon as possible and being mature and disciplined enough to navigate these challenges. Despite wishing I had moved to Nashville sooner, with the pendulum now swinging back in the direction of a classic country sound, it’s a good time for me to be here because my music is inspired from traditional country roots.
Short of moving to Nashville, I wish I had known about the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) earlier in my career. NSAI chapters are located across the country and many services are available online, so it’s not necessary to live in Nashville to be a participating member. NSAI offers one-on-one mentoring with industry leaders, song pitch sessions with publishing houses, song evaluation services, co-write opportunities, meeting space for writing, and weekly workshops about creative and business topics. I’ve met some great songwriters and industry experts through NSAI opportunities, and everyone at NSAI is supportive of the creative journey and knowledgeable about the music business.
Have you ever had to pivot?
The first time I tried to move to Nashville, I sold everything and arrived in January 2020 with nothing but my van. I was fortunate to land a regular gig playing at Alan Jackson’s Good Time Bar and was working hard getting quickly established in a new town. However, when the Nashville music scene locked down in March 2020 due to the pandemic, professional musicians, like me, who rely on live performances and crowded venues to earn a living faced unprecedented challenges finding work. After only a few months in Nashville, I found myself struggling and disappointed with no choice but to head home to North Carolina to find work. I began working a construction job with my dad through spring 2020, which is the only time in my life I couldn’t support my family playing music.
Nevertheless, I continued to write original music, and one day on the construction site while in my head songwriting, I remember staring off into the sun wondering why I was out there silently writing songs in my head that nobody would ever hear. No matter what challenges and struggles I faced at the time or what I was doing in life, I couldn’t turn the music off and I believe I had an epiphany of sorts that day realizing that my music is inherent and is my life’s passion. Shortly thereafter, I reached deep to find outdoor venues and small, private gatherings where I could transition back to playing music for a living. I found the resolve and a greater determination than I ever had before to create music and to make my music career work.
At that point, I moved again from North Carolina to South Carolina, which provided extensive live music and outdoor venue opportunities that were not readily available for musicians in many areas of the country. I was able to book shows throughout the pandemic in the Myrtle Beach area, formed one of the best bands I’ve ever had, and created personal and professional relationships that flourished during a time when many were out of work and feeling isolated. My musical creativity and work ethic were fueled by these challenges, and I wrote and recorded 12 new songs during this period, including “One Tough Job” in 2020 about my dad and tough jobs like his after having experienced it myself for a short time. I pushed to find new ways to build a successful music business, including completing a Kickstarter campaign in 2021 to fund the release of my 3-song “Karaoke Cowboy” EP. Again, I owe many thanks to loyal fans, friends, and family for all their support and belief in me that keep me going every step of the way, and I know I could have never accomplished any of this alone.
As fate would have it, I also met my fiancé in Myrtle Beach in July 2020 right after both of us had moved there. She had just graduated from Ohio State and moved to the beach for her new job, and I had returned to earn a living playing outdoor venues in South Carolina. My series of pandemic-triggered moves were life changing, and a year later in 2021, I was thriving personally and professionally, had purchased a new home in Myrtle Beach, and was extremely happy and content with life and my career. Nevertheless, I had always wanted to be part of the country music community in Nashville and was disappointed by my first short experience from January to March 2020. I took a big risk, and made another pivot in January 2022, leaving behind a stable career, friends, band members and family to move once again to Nashville. I found myself alone in a small apartment with no band or steady income, committed to maintaining long-distance relationships with my fiancé and son, and again looking for work and a new band in a competitive Nashville market. This forced me out of my comfort zone, and I relied on the resilience, passion and work ethic developed during the pandemic to quickly take advantage of the opportunities that Nashville has to offer. After a short time, Alan Jackson’s Good Time Bar welcomed me back and provided steady work, and I met new band members and songwriters who’ve become great friends. I came through this period of change even stronger with enduring personal and professional relationships, more appreciative of live music opportunities, and focused on songwriting and original music.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://treycallowaymusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treycallowaymusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treycallowaymusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwkuwhMIj-wXYv53xdxw71Q
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2fGDZGiDyQfDq5J9XPtz8s
- Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/trey-calloway/1163336961
Image Credits
Logen Christopher, Stormlight Pictures