INTERVIEW: Trent-Jean Michel

Meet Trent-Jean Michel, a singer-songwriter/producer and musician who’s also part of the music collective Trent-Jean & The Lovely Bones who performed at the Lucky Cat Cinematheque event in January. We chat to Trent-Jean about his debut single Manchester By The Sea coming out May 1, doing music as a solo artist and as part of a group, and what he’s been up to during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trent-Jean Michel. Photo credit: Nardini Photographix.

Let’s start with your introduction, who are you and what do you do?

Hello, my name is Trent-Jean. I’m a 23 year old singer-songwriter/producer born and based in Perth, Western Australia. For the last 5 years I’ve been performing the pub circuit in Perth, and in 2020 I’ve finally taken the vault into releasing the stories and sounds that I’ve been creating through my pursuits as a working class musician and journey through life.

I noticed that you are a solo artist but also performed as a group (Trent-Jean and The Lovely Bones) at the Lucky Cat Cinematheque event in January. Can you let us know a bit more about doing music as a solo artist and as part of a group?

Yes, I create and release music under my name. During the creative process I like to be as hands on as possible when it comes to the execution of my vision and worlds that I want to manifest through music. Trent-Jean & The Lovely Bones was born from the vision of creating a live project of creatives with the harmonised outlook on music that as creatives, to propel the arts forward, we must embrace the ethos of “Contribution over Competition”. 

There is no competition when your inner focus and drive is to create something unique from within, without being confined to a stylistic mould or image - reeling the world(s) deep from within, in which the listener feels the magical yet strangely familiar. The "competition mindset" (wanting to "one-up" another artist for example) is obliterated when your intention is to create a sonic space in which the listener feels a sense of belonging, hope and familiarity. 

In short, the arts propel forward through wanting to contribute the best art from within, to society - verses the "competition mindset" of competing with the scene (arts community), not cultivating it. 

Having a team that not only embodies those ethos, but a team that defy culture, sex and belief - being a visual reinforcement on how music breaks barriers of prejudice and partiality - that was the driving force behind creating Trent-Jean & The Lovely Bones.

I was blessed to have crossed paths with each incredible individual over the course of the last 3 years - The Lovely Bones consist of: Brontë Leddin on Backing Vox/Guitar, Pavan Kumar Hari on Keys, Kaelah Williams on Violin, Wayan Dana on Bass and Zack Visser on Drums.

Your debut single Manchester By The Sea is coming out 1 May. How did the song come about? What inspired it and what kind of song is it?

Manchester By The Sea’s initial catalyst was meeting a travelling Mancunian (resident of Manchester, England) at a funeral three years ago. We struck a friendship, and during one catch-up, I had a guitar and started playing the chord progression for what would be Manchester By The Sea. It originated in waltz timing and I envisioned a Tim Burton-esque scene of a couple in a mansion in the UK overlooking the ocean in which there was an abstract law that they had to waltz strictly as the clock struck 12AM. There was unrequited love between them, and the man would plead to the woman to dance, “Why won’t you dance with me, Manchester By The Sea”.

About a week after that, I decided I wanted to make it a ‘party banger’. I switched the original waltz timing to common time - 4/4, and the lyrical concept dived into me writing about the personal anxieties I was feeling about the uncertainties of life, and the downfalls of the mind as soon as you compare yourself to your expectations and peers - that feeling where you feel that you’re falling behind or misplaced on where you “should be" to be considered successful. I wanted to take that thought and rise above it with the message that, no matter how “lost” we are or not, where we are “supposed” to be on this journey of life - We are not alone, and that many people of different age, culture and race have those feelings, and that we should collectively celebrate the woes and glory of life together. “We’re all alone why won’t you dance out of sympathy/ We are all lost at sea, Manchester By The Sea” 

Sonically -  being the first release and 'world' from my project - I wanted Manchester By The Sea to not just be a bold statement and climax... but an explosion, to set the path for all the other worlds I am yet to share on this journey. I, with the assistance of my amazing contributors on the record, created a hybridisation of sounds influenced by some of my favourite elements in music: a live kit hip/hop beat, Arctic Monkey’s AM inspired chunky guitars, grooving bass line, curated chaos orchestration, James Brown funk inspired bridge and left of centre sounds - all contained in the melodical parameters of my favourite genre - Pop music. 

I would like to make a very special mention to a Western Australian industry Legend, Rob Grant (Poons Head) who mixed and mastered the record - for breathing life and tremendous character into the sonic entirety of Manchester By The Sea. He really went above and beyond in pursuit to make Manchester into something really special, and I feel we achieved it.

How have you been spending this COVID-19 pandemic as a young artist?

As a young artist, I am using this time to focus on adapting to the change of these strange times, pushing that of which are in my control forward. For example, in my situation, arranging press work for the single so that it can reach as many people in my power, hoping that it brings enjoyment and excitement to those feeling dulled by this strange blot in time. I’m also finishing producing the Lovely Bones EP. Amongst that, I am checking in with my mates across the field. As it is a very mentally trying time for everyone, we need to embrace that support and connection with our loved ones, especially those who need it more than others during these isolated hours. 

Manchester By The Sea comes out next week Friday 1 May. Click here to get a sneak peek of his new song. To keep updated with Trent-Jean’s music check out his website, follow him on Spotify, Instagram and Facebook.

INTERVIEW BY: YOSHIKA KON