County Clare singer Trevor Hansbury has released his new single, Old Spirits Calling On The Wind, from his new album, Adjusting To The Seasons. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
Trevor has played in various styles, from blues, folk, rock, trad, and world music, over his long career and has played with Eoin O'Neill, David Hope, David Honeyboy Edwards, Henry McCullough, and has supported Taste.
Speaking about Old Spirits Calling on the Wind, he says, "I was written one stormy night in a house overlooking the Atlantic ocean in West Clare, the wind was howling down the chimney and it had an almost ghostly voice, which stirred up various images.
"I began to think of our ancestors who lived, worked and shaped the land and who would eventually become a part of it themselves.
"It is about theirs and our relationship with it and the elemental forces that influence it and how if we take time to listen, we will feel appreciate them and our countryside."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
When I was 13, I discovered music after seeing Mark Knopfler on TV playing a beautiful red guitar and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. It was not even so much the music but it just looked and sounded great, so I thought that's what I want to do, and it became the main focus in my life to the detriment of my school work... I have no regrets.
As a young man I got to play with David Honeyboy Edwards, one of the last of the Mississippi Bluesmen and a contemporary and acquaintance of the legendary Robert Johnson. We jammed together in a pub in West Clare of all places.
In my mid-twenties, I was in a near fatal motorbike crash. It was a major upheaval in my life but would give me some food for thought as to how to proceed in the future, my music direction and sound changed and I embraced more folk and Irish traditional style music.
How would you describe your music?
It's a real cocktail of everything I have learnt and been influenced by over the years. The blues is a running theme through everything I play because it was the first music that really spoke to me, but there are elements of traditional Irish, progressive rock, Indian sitar music and even some jazzy elements.
Who are your musical inspirations?
There are so many but I'll give it a shot: As a guitar player first and foremost, I would have to say Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, Steve Howe from Yes and Alex Lifeson from Rush, also Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple, I also love the song writing of Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Woody Guthrie and John Martyn and, of course, there are traditional Irish influences as well, such as Planxty, The Bothy Band and Luke Kelly and The Dubliners.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
It was probably Hubert Sumlin, the guitar player from Howling Wolf's band, he was doing a tour of Ireland with his band and they did a show in my hometown of Ennis Co. Clare. I remember it as a wonderful show.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I think it was a John Lee Hooker collection from a bargain bin in a local record shop. It was cheap but the music on it was priceless and would cast a spell over me.
What's your favourite song right now?
I'm afraid my tastes are still very much rooted in the past. I'm very into Woody Guthrie's Talking Dustbowl Blues at the moment, but people like that have written so many songs, that there is always something new to discover. I suppose I should get with the times . . .
Favourite lyric of all time?
Bob Dylan's It's Alright Ma would be a strong contender, but in reality, there are far too many fantastic lyrics and songs out there to choose from. "Darkness at the break of noon, Shadows even the silver spoon, The handmade blade, the child’s balloon, Eclipses both the sun and moon, To understand you know too soon, There is no sense in trying".
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Well, I would say please don't make me have to make choices like that, but if that was the case, I'd look for something long and epic with lots of changes as it's going to be for the rest of my life, probably something by Tchaikovsky, or a long progressive song like Close to the Edge by Yes. But ideally I would have a large collection of all my influences smuggled away somewhere for emergencies.
Where can people find your music/more information?
I have three albums on Bandcamp. I also have a large volume of videos of original songs, instrumentals, covers and various live performances on my YouTube channel. I'm also on Facebook and Instagram.
Alan Corr
