Trevor Daniel Traces the Distance Between Who He Was and Who He Is Becoming

Read time 2 minutes

Photography by Alicia Stepp.

The chart-topping star reconnects with his former self to examine the narrative threads of the past and weave a vision for the future

In the fast-paced world of fashion, where trends come and go, and styles evolve with the blink of an eye, there exists an artist whose journey is defined by a quest for raw authenticity and uncensored self-discovery. Meet Trevor Daniel, the rising star whose musical prowess and unique sense of style are leaving an indelible mark on the fashion landscape.

Trevor Daniel opens up about his unconventional path to finding inspiration and the role that fashion plays in his journey of self-discovery. For Trevor, fashion is not just about following trends or adhering to societal norms—it’s a means of expressing his truest self and embracing the beauty of individuality.

“I’ve always been drawn to fashion as a form of self-expression,” Trevor reflects. “Growing up, I found solace in experimenting with different styles and pushing the boundaries of what’s considered ‘normal’ or ‘acceptable.’ Fashion allows me to explore different facets of my identity and express myself in ways that words cannot.”

For Trevor, inspiration lies in the stories of real people—individuals who have faced adversity, triumphed over challenges, and embraced their true selves without reservation. “I’m inspired by the courage and resilience of those who dare to be unapologetically themselves,” he explains. “Their stories fuel my creativity and remind me of the power of authenticity.”

From his eclectic stage ensembles to his everyday street style, Trevor’s fashion choices reflect his commitment to authenticity and self-expression. Whether he’s rocking bold patterns and vibrant colors or keeping it simple with classic pieces and subtle accents, Trevor’s sense of style is always uniquely his own.

“I want my fashion choices to reflect who I am as a person—flaws, quirks, and all,” Trevor shares. “Fashion is about embracing imperfection and celebrating the beauty of individuality. It’s not about conforming to a certain standard or fitting into a mold—it’s about standing out and being true to yourself.”

Palace shirt.

DREEDN

Let’s come down from the evening for a moment. How are you feeling after the shoot?

TREVOR

Tonight was beautiful. The shoot went well, and it awakened something in me. It had been a while since I was last in front of a camera, so the experience made me want to create more.

I don’t know whether it was the music, the lights or the atmosphere, but there were moments when I became emotional without understanding why. I had never experienced that on set before. Everything seemed to move naturally, and I allowed myself to move with it. The entire night felt refreshing.

DREEDN

Let’s talk about the new project and the place you occupy within your life now.

TREVOR

The idea had been with me for some time, particularly the title. During lockdown, I wrote something in my journal that I kept repeating to myself: Sad now doesn’t mean sad forever.

It was an unsettling period. My career was moving in an extraordinary direction, but something deeply painful was happening alongside it. Two days after “Falling” reached number one, my father died.

It is still difficult to speak about. I experienced this enormous high followed almost immediately by an extreme loss. The collision of those two moments left me hurt and confused. Somewhere inside myself, I may have begun associating success with my father’s death.

I disappeared from the world for a while because I didn’t know how to process what had happened. It altered my relationship with creativity. For a time, nothing felt particularly important—not even the music.

Photography by Alicia Stepp.

Career-wise and with music things took off during lockdown, I wasn’t able to put faces to all of this, the people enjoying the music and I wasn’t able to see how it was affecting them until I did Lollapalooza and a bunch of other shows right out of lockdown. I was extremely nervous because the biggest shows prior I’d ever done were like 500 people, and I had never had anxiety performing. It was like I wasn’t socializing the same, my anxiety was rough. But as I worked through all of that personally, I was able to start connecting with fans and it made me realize how important music was to other people and also to myself.

I decided to start just exploring myself and figuring out who I wanted to be as an artist because I had always been kind of scared to try things. I didn’t want to offend anyone because people can get offended about literally anything. I didn’t want to step out of the box too much until after I did those shows. I was able to see the impact I was able to bring. It helped a lot with direction and things I wanted to try. It made me realize I can just try things, why not? We are here, not here for a long time.

” Finding some sort of hope, something to be excited about, and passionate about. That kind of process is really enjoyable as long as you’re not skipping steps .”

Photography by Alicia Stepp.

DREEDN

What are you ready to express through that transformation? Where does the music move from here?

TREVOR

I’m excited because the sound has grown as I have. Much of my earlier work lived at a slower tempo. When I performed those songs, I could feel the audience connecting with them, but there was rarely a moment that allowed people to move—to dance, jump or lose themselves in the room.

When I watch someone perform, the moment the beat drops can shift everything. You nod your head, move with your friends and briefly escape whatever you carried into the space. I realized I needed that release, and I knew other people might need it too.

I’ve also been going deeper into certain subjects and giving abstract emotions a voice or character, making them easier to confront. I’m producing much more of the work myself now and allowing myself to disappear completely into the process.

Photography by Alicia Stepp.

DREEDN

What do you hope people carry away from the music?

TREVOR

I hope they hear it during a difficult moment and the songs remind them why it matters to feel alive. This music is the truest version of myself I’ve been able to share. That is what waits on the other side.

There was a period when everything seemed centered around partying. Now, music feels open again—there is space to explore unfamiliar sounds and speak more honestly through the lyrics.

Depression can make it impossible to imagine a way forward. Finding even a small source of hope—something that restores your excitement or gives you a reason to care—can begin to change that. But you cannot skip the process. You have to allow yourself to feel it because emotion is part of what makes us human.

The project is ultimately a reminder that sadness gives happiness its dimension, just as happiness changes the way we understand sadness. We feel these things for a reason. I can finally see something like light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m excited about being alive again.

Sometimes I wake up and realize that I make music every day. That is all I wanted when I was younger. I remember going to one of the many jobs I worked and thinking, One day, we’ll be able to make music for a living.

Now I get to do exactly that. It is easy to become lost in everything happening around you and forget where you began. When I stop long enough to remember, it feels almost impossible—and incredibly beautiful.

Stussy shirt, Asos pants, Golden Goose shoes

DREEDN

Do you feel reconnected to where everything began?

TREVOR

Completely. I feel close again to the person who used to record songs inside a closet. That drive has returned, along with the excitement of not knowing what comes next.

I can enter the studio without knowing what I’m about to make, and that uncertainty no longer feels intimidating. It feels like freedom. I’m not confined by a particular sound, genre or expectation.

I want to share everything I create, whether everyone understands it or not. Somewhere, one person might hear something and feel moved by it. That is still another human being connecting with something I made, and that means everything.

I see life differently now because I’ve lived through difficult things. Even the visual world of the music appears in my mind before it exists. I don’t always know how to explain it. I simply feel better—more present and more awake.

DREEDN

You once saw Los Angeles from a distance. What does living there mean to you now?

TREVOR

Growing up in Houston, I only knew Los Angeles through television. It seemed like this distant place where something was always happening. I imagined what living there might feel like.

Now I’m here, building a career and experiencing that movement firsthand. The city’s constant energy keeps me motivated.

DREEDN

Does Los Angeles enter the music?

TREVOR

It does. Los Angeles gives me permission to experiment without feeling that I have to explain myself. I’ve been able to explore stranger ideas and discover more of who I am through the music.

I’m also surrounded by incredibly talented people who are devoted to the same thing. That proximity pushes you. There is something in the air—the feeling that everyone is reaching toward an idea that does not exist yet.

Being able to live here, make music and remain surrounded by people who share that passion continues to change me.

“Sad Now Doesn’t Mean Sad Forever” — Listen here

Photography by Alicia Stepp. Motion by Kevin Shivers. Styling by Charlotte Holt. Interview by DREEDN. Grooming by Jamie Fawn-Meade. Assistance by Norma Shivers. Creative direction by André Adkins.

Posted
April 26, 2023

August 9, 2018

Art By & Large Discussions Film Philosophy Unique Perspectives

District

Aimé Simone Moves Through the Space Between Sound and Silence

Read time 2 minutes

Posted
July 1, 2023

Courtesy of Aime Simone.

In the dynamic world of music, fresh talents constantly emerge, captivating listeners with their unique voices and compelling stories.

Paris-born artist and producer Aimé Simone creates music that moves between intimacy and urgency. Drawing from soul, folk, pop and electronic music, he shapes personal experience into songs that feel both immediate and quietly expansive.

His story began long before the studio. Raised in a musical family and surrounded by contrasting sounds, Aimé developed an instinct for crossing genres rather than remaining inside them. That instinct followed him to Berlin, where he independently released his debut single, Say Yes, Say No, in July 2020. The project introduced a voice defined by emotional clarity and included “Shining Light,” which went on to surpass 30 million streams.

As his sound evolved, electronic textures began folding into his soulful foundation, opening a space where vulnerability, memory and transformation could coexist. Whether writing about desire, uncertainty or the world shifting around him, Aimé approaches each song from within the feeling rather than from a distance.

Onstage, that interior world becomes physical. His performances move between intensity and intimacy, drawing the audience into the same emotional space that shapes his recordings. With each new release, Aimé Simone continues to expand that world—following sound wherever it leads and allowing every chapter to reveal another side of who he is becoming.

Courtesy of Aime Simone.

KELLY

What is something about you that people might be surprised to learn?

AIMÉ

People are often surprised to discover that I’m French. I’ve lost much of my accent, and I speak almost exclusively in English at home, so it isn’t always immediately apparent.

They might also be surprised that I don’t drink alcohol, smoke or take drugs.

KELLY

What are you working on now, and what do you hope it becomes?

AIMÉ

I’m developing the live show. It’s continually evolving, and I make adjustments based on what I learn at each festival. Every performance reveals another possibility.

I want the experience to feel effortless, powerful and cathartic—for both me and the audience. I want the show to carry you, lift you and release something within you.

KELLY

What would your dream project or collaboration look like?

AIMÉ

I would love to create an album somewhere removed from everything—perhaps a villa in a warm climate. I imagine completely immersing myself in the work, surrounded by the right instruments, tools and people, all bringing the right energy into the space.

To have the freedom to disappear into the creative process for a while—that would be a luxury.

Courtesy of Aime Simone.

KELLY

How do you navigate the space between your public persona and private life? Where do you draw the boundary?

AIMÉ

I’m reaching a point where I have to establish clearer boundaries. Before, I tried to respond to everything personally—every message, every interaction. I always knew that would eventually become difficult, and although I sometimes feel guilty, it simply isn’t possible for things to remain as they were.

I’ve become more selective about where I place my energy. Some listeners offer so much love, and I can feel that their connection to me and the music is genuine. I will always want to be present for them.

But increasingly, there are people who don’t make an effort to understand me. They see the spotlight and want something from it. I have to separate myself from that kind of energy because it can feel empty and deeply draining.

” I just have to believe my intuition. It’s very scary in the industry where everything is built to make you believe that you can’t do it your way, that you have to do things the “right” way or you will fail, be punished, or be abandoned.”

KELLY

If you could invite any historical figure to dinner, who would you choose—and what would you serve?

AIMÉ

I would bring back Salvador Dalí and serve him lobster.

KELLY

If you could keep only one app on your phone, which would it be?

AIMÉ

Probably WhatsApp. Or Instagram.

KELLY

How do you balance the pressure for perfection with the freedom to take risks?

AIMÉ

That is a real challenge, but I try not to overthink it. The answer is always in the action. You cannot force the process—you have to begin.

Do the work. Don’t be lazy. Do it well and take it as far as you can. Then, when the time comes, know how to let it go.

It’s a lesson you encounter repeatedly. I think that is simply the work of being an artist.

Courtesy of Aime Simone.

KELLY

What do you see as the greatest challenge facing music today—and how might the industry begin to address it?

AIMÉ

Our attention spans. We are surrounded by an endless stream of content and constant stimulation, and that environment makes it increasingly difficult for people to form a meaningful connection with music—or with the artist behind it.

The advantage is exposure. More people can encounter your work than ever before. But what is disappearing is the time and attention required to understand an artist’s depth. A song might create a brief sensation before the listener moves immediately to the next thing, rather than entering the artist’s world and remaining there.

I believe people still need that deeper connection to art, but reaching their hearts has become more difficult. Everyone is busy, overstimulated or increasingly apathetic. It raises a larger question about where we are moving as a culture.

We are still physical beings. Our relationship with technology must become symbiotic rather than destructive. There is a healthier balance to be found—we simply haven’t reached it yet.

Courtesy of Aime Simone.

KELLY

How do you remain authentic in an industry so often driven by image and surface?

AIMÉ

I always return to the music. That is the center of everything—the songs, the melodies and the lyrics. As long as they remain true, I’m not afraid of losing myself. The music keeps me grounded in who I am.

KELLY

Can you recall a moment when you had to trust yourself and move in a new direction?

AIMÉ

I’ve had to stop working with certain people. That is always frightening because familiarity creates comfort, particularly when you have worked with someone for a long time. But sometimes change becomes necessary.

Those moments feel like leaps of faith. I have to trust my intuition, even within an industry designed to make you believe there is only one “right” way to succeed—and that choosing your own path will lead to failure, punishment or abandonment.

KELLY

What keeps you creating when the path becomes difficult?

AIMÉ

It is all there is for me to do in this life. I don’t think I could ever give it up. What else would I do?

The challenges are part of the experience. They make me stronger. I think I chose this path because I wanted to grow. Sometimes I feel like giving up, but that feeling is usually directed toward specific parts of the industry rather than the work itself.

I could imagine choosing a more underground path one day. That is where I come from, and perhaps it would feel less difficult. The industry can be deeply uncomfortable, but I also value the competition it creates within me—the pressure to keep challenging myself, even within a harsh environment.

KELLY

If you could return to the beginning of your career, what advice would you give yourself?

AIMÉ

It’s difficult to answer because everything I might change is also part of what brought me here. Every decision, even the difficult ones, shaped the path I’m on now.

TOUR DATES

May 12 — The Great Escape, Brighton
June 4 — We Love Green, Paris
November 6 — La Cigale, Paris
November 27 — Circolo Magnolia, Milan

Oh Glory is out now via Because Music.