‘What is Real’ is the latest release by New Jersey musician Trevor B. Power. Mixing blues with funk, country, and soul, Power’s lyrics are entertaining and deep-rooted within current social events, exploring the plight of ordinary people trying to make their way in the world today.
Feeding his early love of music from old blues and opera records he found in his parent’s collection, Power turned that diversity into creativity as he forged his musical career as a performer, player and presenter at radio station WNTI. Around this time, Power also met and befriended musician Bobby Whitlock (Delany and Bonnie, Derek and the Dominos). Through that friendship, Power found the inspiration and support to begin to write and record his own music.
Early highlights include the powered up blues rock social aware ‘World Gone Madd’ and ‘Pandemic 2020’. Both highlight the awareness of Power’s songwriting. Switching tempo, the easy-going country-infused ballads ‘I Am A Fool’, ‘This Old Road’, and ‘I’m Still In’ deal with relationships, longing and self-doubts.
‘Sexy Witch’ with its raw guitars and guest vocals by Danilee Illario is a tongue-in-cheek nod in the direction of the Rolling Stones. Soulful harmonies combine with funky rhythms on the semi-biographical ‘Get Well Johnny’, a cautionary tale inspired by a wayward sibling that features a blistering harmonica solo by Will Wilde. Instantly conjuring up a comparison with the works of Elmore James, the searing slide guitar that runs across ‘Easier Way’ is guaranteed to raise neck hairs.
By interweaving multiple influences into his own unmistakable muscular New Jersey sound on ‘What Is Real’, Power has created an exciting album with a powerful energetic sound that is not only socially aware, but highly entertaining.