Today we’d like to introduce you to Trevor Helt.
Hi Trevor, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Eugene, Oregon and started playing guitar when I was thirteen years old. One of the things that first got me hooked was watching my dad perform and asking how he knew what notes to play. When I learned that he was mostly improvising and making it up as he went, I was fascinated by the idea that you could create music on the spot. Not long after, I joined a band before I even knew how to play.
Music quickly became a huge part of my life. I played in bands throughout school, studied music at the University of Oregon, and after graduating in 2012, moved to Austin to see if I could make a living playing guitar.
When I first arrived, I said yes to anything that involved a guitar. I taught lessons, played countless dive bar gigs, worked in recording studios, toured with bands, and learned audio engineering along the way. It wasn’t glamorous, but I was getting to play music every day, and that’s all I really cared about.
Over time, those opportunities led to bigger ones. I had the chance to co-write and record a song for Public Enemy, play thousands of live shows, and slowly build a career as a professional musician.
Today, I perform throughout Texas as a solo guitarist and am currently working on my debut solo record.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The toughest part was learning how to stand out and being okay with being ignored for a while. When I first moved to Austin, it felt like 95% of the booking emails I sent never got a response. Nobody was waiting around for me to arrive, and it was up to me to create opportunities and get the ball rolling.
It also took a lot of patience. For the first few years, progress was pretty gradual. I played a lot of small gigs, taught lessons, worked in studios, and spent countless hours trying to build relationships and find the next opportunity.
I also did a few month-long national tours in the stereotypical band van. As fun as they were, there were definitely moments where being crammed into a van with a group of musicians for weeks at a time could get a little stressful.
Looking back, I wouldn’t say there was one major obstacle. The biggest challenge was simply sticking with it long enough to build momentum. Most of the opportunities I’ve had came from relationships and experiences that took years to develop.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Today I perform as a solo guitarist, using a loop station to build arrangements live on stage. It allows me to record and layer parts in real time, creating the sound of multiple musicians while performing solo.
My style blends Latin music, funk, pop, jazz, and fingerstyle guitar. Rhythm and groove are at the center of everything I do. My music is entirely instrumental, but I want it to feel energetic and fun. I want people to tap their feet, dance, or just have a good time.
What sets me apart is probably the combination of improvisation and versatility. No two performances are exactly the same, and I enjoy finding unexpected ways to connect different styles of music.
I’m most proud of being able to build a career around my own musical voice.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I definitely got lucky a few times. When I first moved to Austin, a friend told me about an apartment complex that catered to musicians and artists. I ended up running a recording studio out of my apartment there and met a ton of great musicians. Looking back, most of my important Austin connections started there. One relationship led to another, and a lot of the opportunities I’ve had can be traced back to that community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trevorhelt.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trevorheltmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trevorheltmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrevorHelt
