Today we’d like to introduce you to Skinny Trell.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I truly believe that if my brother did not have the wide pallet for music that he does, I would not be doing what I’m doing. So, to answer your question, it started before I even knew what was taking place. We’re 8 years apart and for a while before he left for college, we shared a same room. I had no choice but to fall in love with the things he liked. From early Kanye, Pharrell, Jamiroquai, House Music, etc., these different sounds were shaping the type of music I like. Kendrick would come while he was in college, he came back one Christmas break talking about him. He told me a story about when Kendrick performed at Michigan State as an opener for another artist when he was first coming up and was receiving boos from the crowd. Then my pops was gifted a J. Cole “Warm Up” burnt CD from a co-worker and that would trickle into me exploring the storytellers of music. I took all those early influences and created my own sound and identity. Started recording myself in my college apartment and now we’re at this point in my journey.
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?
To get to this point in my journey…yeah, I can say it has had its ups and downs. Life can bring discomfort sometimes and that alone can clutter your thoughts. Being an artist is more of a mental game than anything. Worrying about the music, executing the vision, worrying about listeners and viewers sometimes, and worrying about what they may think on top of dealing with everything else can be a task, especially when I first started. I do it for me now though, so a lot of those insecurities don’t phase me anymore. I truly love what I’m doing visually and musically, and I know that there’s people out here that love the same things I enjoy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an artist all around the board. Something that I felt was holding me back was not making my own beats at first because that has always been an interest of mine, and now it’s something that I do. That one step alone has opened my ears to just more realms of creativity and individuality. I think people are expecting “out of the box” material from me now seeing that’s how I came out the gate. I think the thing I am most proud of is that I actually believe in myself because it’s really easier said than done. I see a vision and I execute, and I am thankful for that. And none of that would happen without the people around me to help me execute those visions, so I want to give a very special shout-out to them, I really appreciate them to the fullest. I know that it will never be another Skinny Trell, so I strive for individuality. I make my music that way and my videos that ways, so when you see and hear my work, you’ll understand I’m nothing like no one else.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’ve always been a curious, goofy, humanitarian type of person ever since I can remember. It could be because I am a middle child as well. I would ask a million questions until I understood something and a big risk-taker. Loved sports and video games coming up and still do even now. Also, a very mild-mannered person.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skinnytrell_/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkinnyTrell
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBwUAfZ88NwlUpGR8FHuFgA
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/skinny-trell
Image Credits
Jimel Primm
Conor Foley
Corey McGhee
