Trevor Hall blends Eastern and Western music with Monsoon Nights Tour

Trevor Hall’s Monsoon Nights Tour brings to life a dream Hall has entertained for quite a while but hasn’t manifested until now: A collaboration between three Indian musicians and members of his own band in a fusion of Western and Eastern sounds.

It all came about after Hall discovered his Hindu teacher had fallen gravely ill. Hinduism first attracted Hall when he was in high school, after his best friend’s family introduced him to the tradition.

“It felt so familiar to me,” he said. “It felt like something that I was looking for. I wanted to learn more about the philosophy … and that led me deeper and deeper into this timeless wisdom and tradition.”

When Hall and his wife couldn’t travel to visit their teacher due to their schedule, he decided to create the Monsoon Nights Tour.

“I thought, ‘What can I do from afar to honor him and that land that has given so much to my life and my music?’ That was the original intention behind the tour,” he said. “It’s just such a beautiful experience, and it’s such a unique show.”

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Hall grew up in a musical family in South Carolina, teaching himself to play guitar from the internet. But formally studying classical guitar in high school at Idyllwild Arts Academy opened up a whole new world for him.

“It gave me a greater respect of what my instrument could do,” he said. “Classical guitar greatly stretched my skills and made my brain work in different ways.”

By 16, he had signed a record deal but quickly discovered it constrained his artistic freedom. In 2017, he began releasing music independently. The move garnered billions of streams and led the now-Colorado resident to sold-out shows at the likes of Red Rocks Amphitheater.

His latest release, 2024’s future-folk “Trevor Hall and the Great In-Between,” was the first in which he controlled every aspect of production, from writing to producing and recording it in his barn, which he had converted into a studio.

“It was really about me feeling my own energy (and) how much I’ve grown artistically,” he said. “I’m so used to leaning on people to help bring things over the finish line, but this was all up to me, and even though it was challenging and I had hurdles, I knew it was necessary for me to take that journey and just see where I was at in my own space.”

He views music and his spiritual path as one in the same in terms of how they influence one another and lead to self-discovery. In addition to communing with deeper parts of himself, he employs music to connect with audiences.

“Everybody really wants the same things — everybody wants to be loved and feel peace and healing, including myself, and I feel like that’s the beautiful thing about art and sharing our expression, is that we can see the interconnectedness of all of us. The only reason I am where I am now is because others have shared their journey and have shared their story,” he said, talking about how fans tell him how his music has helped them move through grief or other difficult situations. “People say, ‘I’m battling anxiety and depression, and there have been some really dark times, and your music has helped me navigate those times.’ That really makes me feel less alone, for somebody — myself — that has battled with anxiety and depression since I was a child. They help me understand that everybody’s just trying their best.”

Like Michael Franti — the second musician to open The Amp’s summer season, and one with whom Hall has toured — he uses music as a way to foster community and share positivity.

“That, in turn, inspires me to keep my own fire burning and use the gifts that I’ve been given for the positive,” he said.

He and his wife also give back through their foundation: Where the Rivers Meet. They launched it humbly, with a donation box at their merchandise table, after traveling to India annually to fill their own cup by immersing themselves in Eastern teachings.

“During my travels, I would always visit our teacher (who) takes care of these orphan children or underprivileged children,” he said, talking about how the donations he collects contribute to the education, clothing and food for children in India and Nepal.

Through the Monsoon Nights Tour, his raw, reflective blend of roots, folk and subtle electronic touches meet the wisdom and unique sounds of the Eastern culture that has shaped him into who he is, both personally and musically.