Today we’d like to introduce you to Trent Ingram.
Hi Trent, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
One of my earliest memories is being glued to my parent’s VHS copy of Garth Brooks’ 1992 NBC special “This Is Garth Brooks”. I grew up wanting to sing, play, dress, and perform like Garth. I got my first guitar at 14 and taught myself to play. In high school, I started a band and played everywhere I could from fairs and country dance venues to small farmer’s markets and backyard parties.
After high school, I began to really focus on songwriting. I was playing original songs at a party when I was approached by an old friend of mine who had recently started a production company. He heard my stuff and wanted to produce an album. After recording a few songs and promoting them wherever I could, I realized it was time to take the next step. It had always been a dream of mine to move to Nashville and this gave me the boost I needed to do it. With my wife and 1-year-old daughter, we packed up and drove to Nashville where we live today, and have since had our second baby girl.
I got a job at ASCAP where I met LA Crowder who got me where I am today. She pointed me in the right direction for writer’s nights, set me up with a producer, and introduced me to Ashley Evans with The Sutler Saloon in Nashville. Ashley is the first person to give me a real chance to combine my two passions, original music, and live performance, and gave me an awesome stage to do it on.
I have currently recorded 6 songs, continue to write as much as I can, and perform at The Sutler Saloon as well as anywhere else you can find live, original music in Nashville.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Moving across the country and starting a new life in a relatively young marriage and a young baby was certainly a challenge. Especially since we didn’t have any real connections or jobs when we moved. We could barely scrape by when we first got here and ended up having to sell and pawn things just to pay our bills.
Balancing work, being a father and husband, and pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter has also presented its own challenges. My wife works in the morning and is currently attending cosmetology school at night so our time is already tight making sure we give time to chase our dreams and prioritize our time together and with our children. On top of that, my now 2-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes which caught us completely off guard. I have had to scale back my time at work and with music and my wife had to take a leave from school to get the diabetes under control.
There is always the typical gig where you play in a tiny bar with barely anyone in it and no one reacts when you finish a song. Those moments and all of the things that come with paying your dues are all part of the dream and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a singer-songwriter. I specialize in writing country music that adds a western influence on southern rock.
I am probably known most for my connection with audiences and that is also probably what sets me apart from others.
My passions are songwriting and an energetic live show, and I feel that combining those is the best way to truly express myself and connect with others. I am comfortable on stage when I feel that the audience is comfortable with me. I never want an audience to just sit and watch me play. I want to give them an experience whether it is just me and a guitar on a tiny stage or a full band with a big crowd.
I am most proud of the moments where strangers in the crowd have connected with a song that I wrote and I see them enjoy it or feel it just as much or more than they would a cover song that they already have a connection with. Having someone you have never met and has never heard your music actually feel something from a song you wrote is the greatest feeling in the world.
Any big plans?
I currently have 2 singles available on all streaming platforms and will be releasing brand new music this winter and throughout the next year. I am also currently writing my next album and plan on showcasing it with a band throughout Nashville and touring by the summer of 2023.
Contact Info:
- Email: management@trentingram.com
- Website: www.trentingram.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/trentingrammusic
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/trentingrammusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/countrytrent
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1fl90BayHlcUFD9YXngN6h
Image Credits
Alyssa and Jordan Turner
Flake Fotos Heather Carpenter
Artisan Imagery Nashville
