“Keep On Swinging” — Trevor Knight’s Tribute To His Dad
From the dirt roads of Minnesota to the ‘Big Apple’ New York City, singer/songwriter Trevor Knight’s new single, “Keep On Swinging”, was written to inspire and encourage all of us with its positive message.
New year, new release. Can you share the backstory to “Keep On Swinging”?
Baseball is a huge sport in my family, and it really brought my father and I together. He was my coach starting from age 5, and we trained together into my college years. Athletics has taught me so much about work ethic, resilience, delayed gratification, teamwork, success, and failure. I am so happy to have had the chance to learn such valuable lessons alongside a man I admired. “Keep on Swinging” is a tribute to him and to the sport that taught me about bouncing back and never giving up.
The song has such a positive message. Have you considered a fan video showing how impactful it is?
What a great idea! I’m working on a fan campaign right now where people can share life experiences in which they have persevered through difficult times — I’m hoping it will be powerful!
Read Bulls Eye Media teamed with you for the song’s T-shirt to generate a double match contribution to St. Jude Children’s Hospital for each one sold. Can fans still get the T-shirt?
Yes! I’ll be unveiling an online store where customizable “Keep on Swinging” products can be shipped directly to you! You’ll be able to adjust colors, sizes, and use the design on various other products like phone cases and mugs. I’m excited for the message to spread further!
Any clips from your release show for new song at Pianos NYC? What new energy comes from release shows for an artist?
Yes, the release show was a huge success! It’s amazing to get together with people who are excited about your music and have a great time in a welcoming environment. It’s also the best way to stay connected with fans and showcase all the music I’ve written but haven’t recorded yet! I absolutely love performing.
On a side note, with your new song having a baseball reference, what is your take on how MLB is handling sign stealing by the Houston Astros?
Baseball talk! The news of this scandal made me really sad — baseball is such a classic game that has remained largely unchanged for generations, and for a team like Houston who had spent many years in the doldrums of mediocrity to rise to the top was a cool spectacle to watch. When it came out that they had been stealing signs, it tainted everything. It wasn’t the decision of one executive, but rather implied an entire team of players who stood by and let it happen. I am surprised that their World Series title that year was upheld — we’ve seen cases in other sports where this type of violation has led to titles being stripped. Especially with the harsh punishments dealt to those who use performance enhancers, I expected more serious consequences.
How did you come to choose music after baseball was no longer a career option for you? Did you consider a non-playing career in the sport?
A career in music wasn’t an overnight decision for me, but came to fruition over a long time. Every step I took into the world of performing, writing, and recording led me to yearn for more. After a while, it became clear that it was something I absolutely had to take a shot at. I’ll always love baseball and will be a lifelong fan, but I’m happy to spend my days focusing on my music.
Spotify back end for artists — what does it mean for an artist when fans create playlists with your songs? What are the Discover Weekly Playlists?
Discover Weekly is a collection of songs that each Spotify user gets custom-made for them each week by the Spotify algorithm based on their listening preferences. My music has begun to be shown to new listeners through this tool, which is so exciting! I can see how many new listeners and plays my songs get, including when users add my songs to their own playlists. I love to see when people are connecting with my music — that makes everything worth it.
What prompted you to start Stronger Voices episodes with Melinda May on YouTube? How can fans connect? Which networks will carry the biweekly podcast? How do you choose the topics to focus on for the Saturday shows?
We were preparing for a show we played together, and we had gotten to know each other well during that time. Our conversations were always interesting and easy, so we decided to record one of them in a podcast format and see where it went. We enjoyed it so much, and we thought it could be encouraging for people, so we turned it into a regular occurrence and made a podcast out of it! You can find all the episodes on YouTube, and they will be added to all podcast platforms in February. We keep the conversation open and flowing, with a general focus on faith, music, and personal development.
You can connect with us directly at contact@strongervoicespodcast.com!
Can you share more about how you choose artists to spotlight on your Discover Weekly Crushit?
I’m always amazed how the Spotify algorithm understands my taste so well. When I am shown a new song that I connect with strongly, lyrically or melodically, I love to pass it along to my followers to show them what I am listening to and to hopefully give them new tunes they’ll like as well.
You said three weeks into the new year is crunch time for resolutions-what resolutions are on your 2020 list?
I want 2020 to be a year of major growth and development for me. I am focusing on recording and releasing as much high-quality material as possible, growing my presence online and in the live performance scene, and honing my craft in the areas of writing, singing, and playing instruments. I’ve got a great feeling about 2020!
