Hello Rockstars! Today were going to be talking about Artist of the Week,
Singer-Songwriter 8th Ward Trent! Here’s his story in his own words, enjoy!
—–VMS xoxox
VMS:
“When did you start writing and performing your music.
What’s your backstory.”
8th Ward Trent:
“Music, I believe, is embedded in all of us so I don’t think it’s something that has a start date. When I was about 4 years old, my grandmother used to have me and my brothers singing The Temptations and Jackson 5 in the living room of her New Orleans apartment— each of us with our own style and personality really made it entertaining when times was tough.
But, I grew up with a mother that saw something more in the attention I put into my music. She would encourage me to keep singing, keep dancing. Life in Louisiana— everyone wants to be some form of artist. So, for a long time I suppressed my gift of rapping and singing and just wrote books.
I would say that COVID is when I decided to truly take the craft seriously because I was alone in an apartment with nothing but my life staring at me and I turned it into songs.”
VMS:
“What artist or bands inspire you and your sound.”
8th Ward Trent:
“I have a lot of influences in music. My top 5, in no particular order would be:
1. Kevin Gates
2. Saint JHN
3. James Brown
4. Trippie Redd
5. Tevin Campbell
I focus a lot on transitioning between hooks and bridges and using mt voice as an instrument. I feel these artists have always shown that diversity in their music.”
VMS:
“What’s your writing process and inspiration for your lyrics.”
8th Ward Trent:
” “Look at the ocean”… randomly throughout the month, I would drive from Vegas to Los Angeles. Being a kid from the country, nothing is more fascinating to me than seeing the water hit the coast. Besides that, I do a lot of self-reflection. Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” So that’s what I do. I examine my life daily— and often times great music has come from it.”
VMS:
“I love your songs: “To the Stars”, “While You Wait” and “Blindsided”. What is the inspiration or story behind these songs.”
8th Ward Trent:
“Thank you so much for listening! I’ll start with the EP, “While You Wait”… There used to be a time where I slept through the day and worked or was up during the night. Nighttime is for lovers and partying— not staying up in your thoughts. Some of my greatest moments came after 10pm— “until the ‘morning”. I’ve fallen in love over night and by morning, we couldn’t stand each other. But, what happened with that rush of emotion? What changes us is our perspective of people in real situations and not fairytales we can sell each other. I guess that’s what inspired those songs.
“Blindsided” comes from a failed relationship where you still love the person. They did some stuff to you that threw you off but you’re already blinded by the things you’ve done with them, the moments you’ve shared, and the hope of them changing….. I don’t really want to speak much on it because it’s my most relevant song to my life to date…
“To the Stars” explains a brief observation of how I see myself as an artist. The promises I’ve told myself since a child that I was gonna be somebody. I’m looking from the outside, in, and giving myself so affirmations that I was supposed to survive long enough to tell my story.”
Listen to 8th Ward Trent’s Music here: https://unitedmasters.com/a/8th-ward-trent
VMS:
“Tell me about your 2024 Album: “Don’t Forget to Write”.
What was the inspiration and process of writing your album. I also know you had music coming out this past July! Tell me what can we expect from that new Album. :-)”
8th Ward Trent:
“I wrote, “Don’t Forget to Write” in the heart of a depression episode. Even “Start it Off”, which is a raunchy song where I’m open about having so much love to give the women in my life. But, the album was written during a time where I really didn’t feel that people wanted to connect with me anymore because of how vocal I was about mental health and where I was in that moment.
It’s shots fired at everyone who doubts me, who looks at mental health like a boy crying wolf, or for loved ones who think I don’t care to reconnect…. I just had to clear the air so I can get to the music I truly want.
I have two projects coming out in the remainder of the year. “8th Ward”, The Album, is going to double my catalog in vulnerable music but open up who I am also as a singer and as a father…. I spent more time working on actually putting my story together. I was born in Baton Rouge, learned the game in New Orleans every summer and a good 2 years of my childhood— and found my true spirit through pain in Vegas. And before I stand in front of the world I just want to clarify that timeline…
“In Case You Miss Me” will be the last album I release unless I get signed by a label or my music takes off independently… and I’ll leave it there until we get there…. Just know it will be magic.”
Listen to “8th Ward” on Spotify:
Listen to “Don’t Forget to Write” on Spotify:
VMS:
“Which local artist would you like to work with and why.”
8th Ward Trent:
“I’ve worked with Reggie.AK— a true pioneer in his own lane that you cannot ignore or escape once you’ve heard him truly speak.
Perry’ae makes the kind of music I listen to as a fan.. so naturally, I didn’t hesitate to make a hit with him that I think Vegas will know and love real soon. He’s on my new album— and fingers crossed we will cross paths on a stage this year.
My engineer for the first project, “Don’t forget to Write” was by King Gas, himself. I am a frat guy, and I look for individuals to work with that have both the ability to turn up— but the discipline to handle business. I knew I needed some structure when I first started laying down this new sound and I couldn’t have done it without him and The Gas Station.
Lastly, but my biased favorite at this point, is my current engineer and consultant Young Illy. He’s changed my life in Vegas. I was having doubt that I belonged on the music scene out here because I’m not the networking, friendly soul I used to be. I don’t know man, just being in the space we create in does something to me. I’m reminded of being back in Baton Rouge, posted up in Sherwood on Tams Drive, trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my life. I love my brother for life!
It’s amazing to have been fortunate to have worked with some greats in Vegas and I’m excited to see who else I can work with.”
VMS:
“What’s your overall theme or message of your music.”
8th Ward Trent:
“Do whatever it takes to stay alive.”
VMS:
“Do you have a favorite song that you like to perform.”
8th Ward Trent:
“I’m ready to perform “Until the Morning” and some of my new songs on the new album, “8th Ward”— but I will always remember my performance of “Oceans, Pt. 2” in Los Angeles… it was my first time on stage in almost a decade and it will be a checkpoint for a while.”
VMS:
“Do you have any crazy or interesting stories from working in the music scene.”
8th Ward Trent:
“Not so much of a story, but a perspective. People listen to your music…they just don’t talk about it because social media has taught us to only acknowledge people who are already popular. So, for any artist reading this, just keep releasing music. They hear you.”
VMS:
“What does the future hold for 8th Ward Trent.“
8th Ward Trent:
“Music is therapy. So, I think I have a lot more music in me. However, I am a writer first and I intend on releasing a few more books and transition into teaching college courses from my current job as a middle school teacher; once I am finished with music for sport.”
VMS:
“What do you want your audience to feel and experience at one of your live shows.”
8th Ward Trent:
“I want my audience to feel my soul in music. I can go toe to toe with ANY rapper — but I don’t want to be known for hundreds of songs just pointing out the stuff I own or the women I’ve been with… I got kids, I come from a mother who has survived life three times over and made something of herself. So all of my music will be music where she can still hear her son.
Thank you so much for giving me this space to introduce myself.”
Vegas Music Scene Thoughts:
What I love about 8th Ward Trent’s Music and what has always stood out is his incredibly insightful lyrics and amazing melodies. He truly speaks from the heart. All the pain or struggles he lays it all out there, unafraid to be raw and real.
In songs like “Toxic Repeat” he’s trapped in an incredibly toxic relationship with a woman who uses his obvious feelings about her against him, it’s a sad and raw song, that makes you feel like your living the horrible experience with him.
I love “To The Stars”, where he’s talking about following his dreams and finally realizing the route his life should be going. It’s a wonderful song about self reflection and trying to find yourself in this incredibly complicated world.
Whether he talks about love, loss, career, and everything in between, what I appreciate about 8th Ward Trent is the clear picture he has for his life and the goals he wants to achieve. He’s always evolving and pushing himself, song after song and album after album. Even this past year I can hear the growth in his writing, and I love that he’s not afraid to always push the boundaries of his artistry.
He’s definitely not an artist to sleep on, I feel he will do wonderful things and I can’t wait to see the continues evolution of his music and his sound. I hope he always exposes that huge heart for his music and keeps it raw and real. He’s a true artist and I’m proud to make him my Artist of the Week.
For More Information about 8th Ward Trent follow him on Instagram:
——–Vegas Music Scene.