Trevor Jackson: Self-Analyzing & Self Affirming
Suit TIBI, Talent’s own jewelry throughout.
From our inaugural print issue of Kolor Magazine, our Summer 2024 digital cover star Trevor Jackson talks Grown-ish, music and his love for surfing.
Your upbringing. I heard you say that Los Angeles feels like home, but where is home originally, and why does LA feel like home?
I was born in Indiana and lived there until I was eight years old, and I traveled. I still go back, maybe once a year, but I moved out to LA when I was 11, so I’d say I became a man in LA and built my family and my tribe out there. That's where I feel at home. Anywhere tropical where I can go to the beach, surf, relax, and unplug from everyday life also feels like home. I have to be near water. There are a lot of healing properties. I love LA! If I want to hike, I can. I don't go hiking, but it's an option, and the food's not bad.
Acting and singing. Which one became a passion first?
Well, tapping was the first thing. I was a tap dancer, and because I love tapping so much, I tried to study who I thought was the dopest, coolest guy, and that was Gregory Hines for me. When I saw him on TV, I thought he had to be acting because he was on the screen. He sang too, so it all was at once. I wanted to be the guy that could do everything and it's funny because nowadays that's frowned upon, but I always bring it back to this. When you're watching basketball and somebody who's versatile and can pass, dunk, and shoot, you respect that guy. But when it comes to entertainment, people want you to pick one. For me, I'm just trying to kind of break that mold and do everything I can at the top level I can do it at. I was eight years old in The Lion King and on Broadway for three years. So it all happened at one time, the music and the acting.
You were Simba in The Lion King on Broadway. How was that?
That was amazing. I got to be around the best entertainers in the world. These people studied at the top, prestigious schools, Alvin Ailey, and the most amazing vocalists. I just got to be around greatness all the time.
Would you do Broadway again?
Umm yes.
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Why the hesitancy?
It's a lot on your body and vocals. Life is just as important as work, but I also want to be great. When you're doing Broadway, if you want every show to be perfect you can't do anything else. Do the show, go home, sleep, vocal rest, have an Epsom salt bath, renew, and rejuvenate for the next day. I don't know if I have that in me right now, but I would return to Broadway.
Let's talk about Grown-ish. The show is in its sixth season and final season. You've been a main character since the first season. Let's start right there because that's rare. Characters die or they're written out of the script. How has the entire journey from season one to season six been for you?
It's been amazing, man. I gained family members, the cast, the crew, everybody, and the show itself is so important for the culture and the unity of people. I think the best way to unite people is to give people a chance to understand each other and see a different perspective. Grown-ish does a great job presenting two points, never choosing a side, but always presenting two points and then letting the audience decide. And I think conversations are a road to unity. It does a lot of the heavy lifting for me when I'm feeling human, I'm not doing enough, and I want to change the world because it's messed up, and I want to help. Being on a show like this gives me a little edge. I did 98 episodes, which is unheard of these days. I'm just blessed and grateful to keep being able to do what I love to do.
You play Aaron. He's an athlete, a "woke" guy. Somewhere down the line, he starts teaching. How much does Trevor relate to Aaron?
A lot of regular things, how he moves, that's all me. I didn't do any character work with his body. I just wanted to be myself. But, my favorite part that I find with Aaron and myself is that we're just relentless when it comes to what we feel like we're supposed to be doing or meant to do. No sleep. If I have to get it done, I have to get it done. The world needs me. The hero complex, it's a gift and a curse. You feel like you're chosen to do something, but you have a hard time enjoying life because you're trying so hard to make it better.
What are the biggest lessons you're taking from the Grown-ish set as you move on to other projects?
I think comfort is important when you're acting. If I'm speaking strictly on acting, it's hard to remove the camera. I don't care how long you've been doing it. If there's this giant lens right here, it's like, fuck. So I think I'm desensitized to worrying about the camera, and it's helped me on my own when I'm directing my videos or when I'm directing someone else's videos. I have a little more insight on how I want it to film, and what I want the shots to be.
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Let's get into the music. I know you have several albums out. What is the difference in preparing to create an album versus prepping to portray a character for a show?
On that great question, It's so different. What I will say is it depends on the character. If it's an in-depth character that I need to transform, I'm doing way more preparation. With other characters, I can just jump in there and do it. For an album, I think it depends on what kind of album. I have so many albums that I've written that have been based on survival of pain or depression and then I have to create an album to feel better. That kind of album writes itself. Then there are other albums where I'm making hits. These are all smashes. I'm just trying to make music where people can laugh, you know? But, with all of my music, typically, I start with the melody first and make sure that I can hear it 100 times and not get bored, and then I put words to it.
How do you find time to enjoy life beyond work?
Yeah, I think surfing is huge, for me.
How did you get into that?
When I was doing The Lion King, I was doing the tour and we were in Hawaii for three months. I was already a skateboarder. I started skating when I was seven years old. Then I saw people "skating" on water. I had never seen that before and I wanted to try that, so I did. Then, I didn't surf for about nine or ten years. And this is how it goes in my life. I learn something, and then later in life, people ask, can you do that? And I go and do it and fail miserably. And then I'm like, never again. So that happened, and since then I've been surfing for five years, consistently. I haven't been able to surf for some time, but I can't wait to get back to it.
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You had your playlist going, and you played a wide variety of music. What's inspiring you sonically?
I love country music. My favorite song right now is, "Man Made A Bar" by Morgan Wallin. I hate these questions because they always happen, and two days later, I'm like, oh, I should have said that. I like the Vultures [¥$] album, too, I'm not going to lie, I like that a lot. And I love this Kendrick and Drake beef. It's great for creatives and writing quickly, bars, and stuff. I think it's super inspiring to a lot of artists.
Your family is here with you. How important is family to you?
Family is so important to me. They're the only people I can be completely naked in front of. You know what I mean? Regardless of what I've done and will do in life, I know they're a safety net. That allows me to create from a place of freedom. I think that's the only way to show other people you know how to be free and what freedom looks like, and I think that's our goal, ridding ourselves of society's changes that we put on ourselves.
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What's next for you creatively?
I'm focused on music right now. I'm sitting on four finished albums right now. I'm figuring out how I want to release them. I'm also still auditioning for stuff here and there.
One more! You show me a scar on your ankle? What did you break?
My Achilles! It tore apart and rolled right up into my calf. I was playing basketball with my nephews and cousins, and it was a freak accident. Two days after Christmas, I was like, this is a great Christmas present.
How long were you down?
I was in the boot for around five months. And then now I'm here, and then I have to do physical therapy. I won't be able to backflip until next year.
Did you find yourself doing anything in particular while you were recovering?
Crying, I'm kidding. I think just self-analyzing, you know, I think that's why it happened. A lot of people who know me are like, good. I'm glad. We're glad this happened because you need to sit down. Even when I have time to rest, I'm not resting. I have to work. As I said, that drive is a gift and a curse.
Art Director & Photographer : Ammar Thomas @iam.ammarjamal | Fashion Director & Interview: Nigel Isaiah @nigel_isaiah | Grooming: Miyako J Beauty @miyakojbeauty | Special Thanks: AM PR Group @amprgroup.
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