First up, can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
Hey! Thank you so much for having me. My name is Trinity Hunt and I’m a 16-year-old indie folk-rock singer-songwriter from Torquay. Music is my main outlet where I get a chance to be completely creative, venting whatever is on my mind at the time. I’m currently studying at Belmont High and on the side, I run an arts and culture magazine called Alter Ego, host quarterly gigs at the Courthouse with Superfuzz Music Festival and gig as frequently as possible. Plus, I’m always writing new material for my solo shows and/or with my band Nurse Ratchet.
Describe your journey into music, what first inspired you to play?
Music has always been a huge part of my life. I was (and still am) raised in a house bursting with great music, a lot of which I’ve found a new appreciation for in the last few years. Both my parents love music too, making this pathway so accessible to me. At about three years old, I picked up mums acoustic guitar belting out John Butler or Johnny Cash, my two favourites of that time or often my own made up songs. For my fifth birthday, I was given a half size pale pink fender squire – my first guitar. When we moved to Victoria I started piano lessons which really set motion to my music journey. It encouraged me to write my first song at seven about a sunset from my trampoline. I only picked up the guitar properly three years ago and have just started gigging regularly in the last 14 months.
With music spanning folk-rock originals and covers, who are some of your greatest influences?
My influences are varied. I mentioned Johnny Cash and John Butler already which have both had an influence from the start. Overall, Patti Smith, Jeff Buckley, Courtney Barnett, Cat Power, and Tash Sultana are my greatest inspirations on all levels – vocals, lyrics, and music. As a singer, in particular, Joss Stone, early Adele and Lana Del Ray have shaped my sound. As a songwriter, Sylvia Plath, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Kurt Cobain have all impacted my lyrics and way of writing. A lot of smaller, local artists inspire me greatly too.
What do you love about performing and the music scene in Geelong?
Performing always leaves me feeling more satisfied. Even though nerves are uncomfortable at times, there is something in music that I find completely comforting. It’s exposing sharing your own songs with strangers, kind of like “hi I haven’t met you before but I guess now you know me better than I do”. But in that also lies performances most amazing quality — being able to share what you have to offer and for people to receive it and hopefully resonate or take something positive away from it. The Geelong music scene is really amazing. The more you search the more you discover.
What are your upcoming plans and suppose where do you hope to take your music?
At the moment I’m in the midst of writing new material with more experimental and intriguing instrumental parts. I get bored easily, so I want to write music that I can enjoy playing and listening to. I guess next on the cards is more gigging in new places around Geelong and then recording an EP. Of course, music will stay with me forever, but ultimately I would love for it to take me traveling one way or another.
Any last words?
I just wanted to say how amazing having a platform like Forte is for the music scene. It’s a great stimulant and outlet for musicians, bands and venues alike to advertise, socialise and make their works known.
When & Where:
Courthouse Youth Arts (Geelong After Dark) – May 3
Warralily Cockatoo, Armstrong Creek – May 12
The Barking Dog, Geelong – May 19.