From the heart of Morgantown, a unique voice is breaking through. Trevor Cooke, a sonic alchemist who blends the raw energy of hip-hop with the soulful depth of folk and the timeless swagger of rock ‘n’ roll, has just unleashed his new album, “Love Language.” This isn’t just music; it’s a journey through the human experience, a raw and honest exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of life set against the background of an Appalachian upbringing.
We talked with Trevor about what stirs his creativity and the new album.
BB: Trevor, ‘Love Language’ seamlessly blends pop hooks with hip-hop rhythms and folk storytelling. Living in West Virginia, how does your environment and its culture seep into your songwriting, and how did it influence this particular album?”
West Virginia—specifically Morgantown—has been very kind to me as a musician in that it has allowed me to experiment. I think the people here who listen to my music connect with me through the art I make, rather than just the art itself. So when I try something new, they’re right there with me.
Beyond that, the storytelling traditions of Appalachia certainly inform my approach to lyrics on songs like “Making It Work” and “Dreaming.”
BB: The album title, ‘Love Language,’ suggests a deep dive into human connection. Can you unpack the central themes of the album? Is it a personal exploration of your own experiences, or are you reflecting on broader societal narratives?
The idea of the album comes from a limiting aspect of the English language: that we only have one word for “love.” A lot of different kinds of affection—for family, for friends, romantic connections, admiration, etc.—all get roped into that one word. So, each song on the record embodies a different part of a different kind of love.
The lyrical content of the album draws heavily on my own experiences, but I think some songs are more directly reflective of my own life than others. Songs like “Rescue Me” tell a direct story from my life, whereas Softly explores my emotions in a more general way.
BB: You’re mixing genres that, on the surface, might seem disparate. How do you approach the production process? Are there specific artists or producers, past or present, that you drew inspiration from when crafting the sound of ‘Love Language’?
I don’t think about genre while I’m making music—I use it as a marketing tool rather than a songwriting tool. Often I find myself starting with a four or eight bar phrase that I really like. Sometimes that’s chords, sometimes it’s drums, or maybe a bassline. Then, I build vertically before horizontally; I add layers of sound on to make it as full as I can, before structuring those layers out into a song.
The only specific sonic influence I can cite on Love Language is Fall Out Boy, whose sound influenced parts of Rescue Me. Sonically, the rest of the record is the sum of all the music I listen to, filtered through my own tastes and creativity.
BB: In a digital age where music consumption is so fragmented, what do you hope listeners take away from a full listen of ‘Love Language’? Do you see it as a cohesive narrative, or a collection of individual stories?
The album doesn’t have a narrative arc necessarily, but I did make it to be listened to front to back. There’s certain little things, like the transitions between songs, that don’t work if the record is on shuffle. But, even if someone doesn’t listen to the album in order, my hope is that they find some of their own love reflected in it somewhere.
BB: What aspects of contemporary society, if any, are you trying to address or challenge with your music, and specifically with ‘Love Language’?”
That’s not something I’m intentionally doing with my work right now; I’m just trying to make music that I want to listen to. I think I have to tell my own story first before I can tell that of somebody else, y’know?
BB: Who are some West Virginia artists you’re listening to?
Monstalung is always in rotation. He’s one of if not the best Hip-Hop artists making music in WV now, without question. I’m listening to Grace Campbell, too, I always have either “Blue Eyed Boy” or “Juliette Rose” stuck in my head. Oh, and I did wake up with DETH JAM by Stereophonic stick in my head the other day; I think that’s one of my favorite tracks of theirs.
BB: What is something you want people to know about you?
I want people to know that I really love what I do. That’s one of the nicest things I’ve had someone say to me—that it shows onstage and through my work that I love making music. I think if people know that my work comes from a place of loving and respecting the craft of music, that’ll help them understand a lot about me.
I figure the idea behind this question was to let your readers know more about me in a context outside of music, but music is genuinely most of who I am. I just make music and love my partner and my family and my friends and that’s it—that’s Trevor.
Check out another favorite of ours from Love Language: “Put The Shovel Down”
