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Trevor Powers

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Trevor Powers
Youth Lagoon at White Oak Music Hall
Youth Lagoon at White Oak Music Hall
Background information
Also known asYouth Lagoon
Born (1989-03-18) March 18, 1989 (age 35)
San Diego, California, U.S.
OriginBoise, Idaho, U.S.
GenresElectronic · experimental · Art pop · Americana · neo-psychedelia · dream pop
Years active2010–present
LabelsBaby Halo, Fat Possum
Websitehttp://www.trevorpowe.rs/

Trevor Powers (born March 18, 1989) is an American musician from Boise, Idaho. Powers was initially active as Youth Lagoon from 2010 to 2016, after which he announced that he was retiring from the project.[1] He returned to music with a self-titled project in May 2018.[2] In 2022, he took Youth Lagoon out of retirement with the announcement of a new album[3] Heaven Is a Junkyard. Powers' music has been described as electronic and experimental with elements of pop.

Career

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As Youth Lagoon

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Powers was initially active as Youth Lagoon from 2010 to 2016,[4] and again starting in 2022. Youth Lagoon's music has been described as neo-psychedelia,[5] and includes elements of Americana music and experimental music.[6]

Youth Lagoon's debut album, The Year of Hibernation, was released on Fat Possum Records on September 27, 2011.[7] Based on minimalism and hypnotic ambience melded with atmospheric and electronic elements, the debut explored themes such as psychological dysphoria and mental distress.[6]

Youth Lagoon's second album, Wondrous Bughouse, was released on March 5, 2013, by Fat Possum.[8] It was spawned from what he described as "becoming more fascinated with the human psyche and where spirituality meets the physical world."[9] During the time he composed the album, Powers became intrigued with metaphysics and he blended those ideas with pop music.[10][11] Youth Lagoon's tour in support of Wondrous Bughouse was cut short due to the death of a close friend of Powers.[12]

On November 12, 2014, Powers announced, via Twitter, that writing for his third album had been finished. Recording started in January 2015. The July 10, 2015, release of "The Knower", a free single-sided 7" single, marked the announcement of his third album, Savage Hills Ballroom, released on September 25, 2015.[13][14] In July 2015, Youth Lagoon announced a US tour in support of Savage Hills Ballroom.[15]

On February 1, 2016, Powers announced on Twitter that his Youth Lagoon project was concluding.[16] On November 10, 2022, Powers announced that he would be releasing a new album as Youth Lagoon.[3]

On February 28, 2023, Powers released the first single, "Idaho Alien", off the new Youth Lagoon album Heaven Is a Junkyard, which was released June 9, 2023, on Fat Possum Records.

Under his own name

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On May 2, 2018, Powers announced his return to music by issuing a personal letter[2] along with the single "Playwright", his first song release since 2015. The letter elaborated on Power's self-titled project, highlighting the project as a new work.

On May 20, 2018, he announced that he would release his first album under his own name, Mulberry Violence, in late 2018.[17] Powers released two more singles from the forthcoming album, "Ache" and "Plaster Saint" with a newly penned letter providing more insight into the project.[18]

On July 29, 2020, Powers surprise-released his second album as Trevor Powers, titled Capricorn, along with limited-edition cassettes and booklet designed by Los Angeles-based designer Collin Fletcher, who also designed the artwork for the album.[19]

Personal life

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In October 2021 after taking an over-the-counter medication, Powers had a severe drug reaction which turned his stomach into a "non-stop geyser of acid," coating his larynx and vocal cords for eight months. "I saw seven doctors and multiple specialists. I lost over thirty pounds. No one could help me," says Powers. By Christmas, he could no longer speak, turning to text messages and a pen and paper as his only ways to communicate. "I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to speak again, let alone sing," he says. "It all felt symbolic in a way," he adds. "I’d been swallowing fear all my life and now here it was coming back up. I used to think God watches people suffer. Now I know God suffers with you. That changed everything.” Trevor's voice slowly came back as he recorded music for Heaven is a Junkyard.[20]

Discography

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As Youth Lagoon

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Studio albums

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Singles

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  • Youth Lagoon 7" (2011, Fat Possum Records)
  • "Mute" promo CD (2013, Fat Possum Records)
  • "The Knower" 7" (2015, Fat Possum Records)
  • "Idaho Alien" digital (2023, Fat Possum Records)
  • "Prizefighter" digital (2023, Fat Possum Records)
  • "The Sling" digital (2023, Fat Possum Records)
  • "Football" digital (2024, Fat Possum Records)
  • "Lucy Takes a Picture" digital (2024, Fat Possum Records)

As Trevor Powers

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Studio albums

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Singles

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  • "Playwright" digital (2018, Baby Halo)
  • "Ache" digital (2018, Baby Halo)
  • "Plaster Saint" digital (2018, Baby Halo)
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References

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  1. ^ "Trevor Powers announces end of Youth Lagoon". Consequence of Sound. February 1, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Trevor Powers (fka Youth Lagoon) returns with solo single, "Playwright": Stream". Consequence of Sound. May 2, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Youth Lagoon on Instagram: "new Youth Lagoon album coming"". Instagram. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  4. ^ "The Pitchfork Guide to Festivals". Pitchfork. April 10, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  5. ^ Gabel, Sue (August 11, 2015). "Youth Lagoon Announces Dates".
  6. ^ a b "Youth Lagoon — Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  7. ^ "Youth Lagoon: The Year of Hibernation | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. September 29, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  8. ^ "Youth Lagoon, 'Wondrous Bughouse' (Fat Possum)". SPIN. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  9. ^ "wondrous bughouse Archives". Indie Music Filter. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  10. ^ "Track Of The Week: "Dropla" by Youth Lagoon". AUX.TV. January 18, 2013. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  11. ^ Carrie Battan, "Youth Lagoon Announces New Album," Pitchfork, January 4, 2013.
  12. ^ Marketti, Anna. "Interview: Trevor Powers of Youth Lagoon". Sound of Boston. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  13. ^ "Youth Lagoon Announces New Album Savage Hills Ballroom | News". Pitchfork. July 10, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  14. ^ Henry, Dusty (September 21, 2015). "Youth Lagoon – Savage Hills Ballroom | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  15. ^ Geslani, Michelle. "Youth Lagoon announces US tour". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  16. ^ Alex Young, "Trevor Powers announces end of Youth Lagoon," Consequence of Sound, February 1, 2016.
  17. ^ "Trevor Powers (fka Youth Lagoon) Announces New Album 'Mulberry Violence'". Spin. May 30, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  18. ^ "Trevor Powers (Youth Lagoon) announces debut solo LP & tour, shares two songs". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  19. ^ Yoo, Noah. "Trevor Powers Surprise-Releases New Album Capricorn". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  20. ^ Martin, Rachel (June 11, 2023). "Losing his voice gave this singer a new appreciation for God — and being alone". NPR. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
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