'The mystery of art has been lost because the veil has been lifted' - Trent Dabbs Interview

MIA: My favourite song by you is Better Off Now; how did you come up with it?

TRENT DABBS: A lot of times i’ll just think of a title and then imagine it’s a conversation that i’m having with someone. I believe the guitar part came first on this song and then I brought it to a writer friend of mine Barry Dean & the rest just came together in the matter of a few hours. 

M: You have achieved millions and millions of listens on spotify alone - what does that feel like?  

TD: It feels like “luck” because algorithms have stripped away the feeling of true connection. Most of the “feels” happen in the creation process and then you cross your fingers that someone actually hears what you have put your heart and soul into. 

M: What fuelled you to go into music professionally? 

TD: Someone believing in me (my spouse), and having the true fearlessness to think I could actually create for a living 

M: You've written with some incredible names such as Noah Cyrus, Stephen Sanchez, etc. What has achieving that, independently, felt like for you?

TD: That’s a great question because achieving success independently comes at such a high risk and it equally comes with high reward because you realize how hard this business can be and it’s much harder without the help of a major. 

M: Is there an artist (alive) you haven't worked with that you'd love to work with?

TD: Yes, I have a list of artists that I have yet to work with and I’m getting closer by the day :) 

I’d love to work with people ranging from Mark Ronson to Neil Young. 

M: I imagine writing with others and by yourself is a different experience; what's your usual process with either? 

TD: It’s all the same, it’s just more fun to write with people who are ahead of you creatively because being inspired is everything. 

M: How do you feel the music industry has changed over the last twenty years you've been in it? 

TD: The mystery of art has been lost because the veil has been lifted. It seems more important now to be better at posting about the work rather working hard to get best creative result. 

M: What do you hope to see in the future in the music industry? 

TD: I am truly an optimist, however I would hope that social media outlets collapse and true relationship begins again. That would change everything for the better. 

M: What's coming up next for you?

TD: I’m spending more time with less artists…so more projects and less musical blind dating haha. I have several bands that will be releasing our records and i’m looking forward to watching all of them play the Ryman while I am watching side stage. 

M: I like to end on a fun one; if you could write with an artist that's no longer alive, who would it be and why?

TD: Jeff Buckley because I remember the way I felt the very first time I ever heard his music and I realized that I would do anything to try to be a “wave” on that ocean…like I would die trying to make someone feel what I felt when hearing him for the first time…so i guess I'm still trying to do that :)