Keenan TreVon Comes Home to Headline Cervantes' Other Side

Denver-raised R&B artist Keenan TreVon is making a name for himself in the music industry, one step at a time. With a United States tour under his belt, a love for performing live and a new album ready to release, TreVon is fully immersed in the musician lifestyle.

TreVon's catchy melodies and experimental production create heavily stylized R&B, often pulling elements from pop that keep fans coming back for more. With emotional lyrics and large energy shifts, TreVon is reminiscent of solo acts like Omar Apollo or Dominic Fike, and is on a steady rise to fame.
TreVon began making music at a young age while growing up in Aurora. His family history in music, particularly on his father's side, helped TreVon understand what goes into the music industry. His father played in a band and experimented with starting a record label within the Detroit music scene in the ’90s, while his grandmother recorded background vocals on a Stevie Wonder track during her career as a vocalist. Growing up with a studio in his basement, TreVon has many memories of singing, including watching The Lion King and following along to Simba's songs.

As his interest in music evolved and TreVon developed his artistic persona, he was drawn to the West Coast music scene. "There's a couple of really talented R&B artists here in Denver, but I would like to see the scene grow," he says. Despite having moved away from his hometown, TreVon is dedicated to the Mile High City and his contribution to the local R&B scene.

Now living in San Diego, he makes the trip back to Denver regularly to visit family or work with musicians and members of his team. He's now coming to the Mile High City to perform at Cervantes' Other Side on November 29, with openers AC Yung, ego n friends and Miguel Crandell.

With love for such artists as Frank Ocean and Paramore, TreVon describes his genre inspiration as opportunities to "pull and grab and reinvent." With influences from all over the music industry, he builds his own version of what he finds around him in a deeply personal way. "My music is inspired by things that are happening around me," he adds. "I'm a big observer."

His lyrics also hold strong narratives and emotional themes, he says, and "in some cases, it feels like talking myself through my problems."

TreVon's second full-length album to date, buymeflowers, is set to release November 29 and is a pivotal project for his career. Reflecting a new appreciation for heavier emo and rock genres, the album marks a new era for TreVon that he hopes will expand his listening base.

"Three years ago now, I was going through some major life changes," he says. "Music was getting a little stagnant or boring, so I moved to Florida with some homies. They all were super into punk music, so it was all I listened to while I was there, and I just fell in love with the guitar melodies and the structures of the songs."
This new genre appreciation is an expansive factor in TreVon's music making. With the help of the refresh, he still dives into new projects and finds inspiration all around him. 

"It's been a lot putting it together, so I'm excited to put everything out. It's very handcrafted, and it sounds like me." he explains.

With some singles on the album dating back over a year, this project is a long time coming and holds a lot of meaning.

"I've grabbed a lot of different flowers from different places with this bouquet. It's very introspective and inspired by a lot of things and a lot of different people." says TreVon.

The upcoming show will be an opportunity for TreVon to reveal the project in full to a live audience.

Describing Cervantes' as a "second home," TreVon is more than ready for his first opportunity to headline the venue.
"I'm very excited. I'm excited for people to see the show," he adds.

Following a lengthy tour around the country, TreVon is still itching to get back to the stage. Despite the complexity and moving pieces of touring as a whole, TreVon is passionate about performing and building a relationship with his fans.

"I'm addicted to it," he concludes. "I love being on stage. I feel like it's therapeutic." 

Keenan TreVon with AC Yung, ego n friends and Miguel Crandell, 7 p.m. Friday, November 29, Cervantes' Other Side, 2637 Welton Street. Tickets are $34.