Meet Trevor Burman | Entrepreneur, Paint Contractor & Alternative Hip-Hop Artist/Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Trevor Burman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Trevor, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Before music I started a Painting Business. When I got out of Rehab at 18 I was taught by a local Painter how to properly Paint houses and I saw the freedom he had in the winters to ski and do what he wanted. Shortly after that I worked for a much bigger company and wasn’t treated very well and the work hours were grueling. Plus I didn’t feel appreciated for the hard work I was doing for someone else. I also quickly picked up how much more attention to detail I have then others and made the decision to branch out on my own. Since this business has worked so well since I started it in 2011, I have gained a well known reputation for high end work. Lately it has been my main focus to get my music out to the world. Financial freedom is my goal and would love to be able to jus focus on the music. Since April 2023 I started putting my music out on all streaming platforms and have been gaining quite the following. I started making music in 2008 after a severe overdose (heart stopped 3 times) and the following next months spent in rehab. This wasn’t the first, but one of many life altering events for myself. I now feel it is my calling to get the music out to others who have experienced so much trauma, pain and heartbreak throughout their lives. Come join my journey! Follow me, Trevor Burman, on your preferred music streaming service!!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art stems from all the pain Ive been handed on this long windy road. I have gotten to where I’m at by never giving up on something I started. If it wasn’t for my paint career getting me to where I am, I would not have the freedom to do what I choose with my days. But, let’s bring it back, I first learned my independence and determination from skateboarding. Which I still do to this do day, I’ll be doing hardflips at 65 (haha)!! It taught me to always pick myself back up after falling and, that no one really has your back but you. So from an early age I learned to rely on myself for many things. My first job was at 14 in food establishments and I didn’t get much from my parents but snowboarding and an amazing work ethic. So I started hustling at 15 to provide food and cloths for myself cuz $8 dollars an hour after taxes ain’t sh’t. From early on I’ve always had a hustlers mentality and the drive to be someone!! When I was 16 My stepdad passed away in my arms and it turned everything around. Thats really when I had to wake up and start providing for myself. That caused my mom to go bankrupt and made it so I later illegally emancipated from my dad. I just ran away (who you think I got that from) I graduated high school living in a Trap house (white schoolhouse) outside of town. My mom kicked me out at 17. This turned into a crazy drug problem and I ending up overdosing so many times I had to go to rehab at 18. October 8th 2008 my heart stopped a few times and I was court ordered to rehab. When I got out is when I first decided to start making music and taking it seriously. A month after rehab is when CHONGO died from the things I was in rehab for, so that was a huge eye opener. That was also when I was taught how to paint so that is a very important part to when I took this path of who I am now. It all leads to my independence!! I think my art is different then others because I’ve actually lived through everything I talk about and I don’t make anything up to get attention or views. It’s all created by me and no one has control over it but myself. I feel like at this point I’ve lived 5 different lives so they need to be documented!! Many people tell me they listen to my music when they feel down or mentally off and it helps them cope with the pain. I have not created an alter-ego like many artists do (aka slim shady). I make music for myself, its like therapy for me, when I learned it does the same for others I decided I’ve found my calling. When a friend saves your life, then takes his own a couple years later it really makes you wonder…..Main thing I want the world to know is I speak my pain and my truth into my lyrics. It was not easy getting to where I am. Ive lost many friends, money, relationships, mentors, days, thoughts, sleep, etc. The list goes on. Life’s been tough, lets make it easier for each other!! Share your art with the world even if you’re scared!!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in the small town of HAYDEN, Colorado. It’s 25 minutes outside of Steamboat Springs, CO. I am an avid backcountry snowmobiler, snowboarder, pow-surfer, skateboarder and wake-surfer. I do a lot more than your average musician. So if you come visit be ready to do something active in the mountains, in the water or on some concrete at one of the local skateparks (hayden has a brand new park as of now) Late night in steamboat is good for some music at the historic OLD TOWN PUB which is also managed by my younger brother so there is a small family element in town for myself still. I have packed this place out before and can’t wait to do it again!! Would also have to stop in to URBANE for your skate goods and lifestyle clothing to meet the lovely Trent and Mel and make sure to ask for Shelly. He’s the brain behind DEAD MANS PARTY. (One of my local sponsors). They have supported me since day one. I also would bring you through POWDERTOOLS to meet my other shred family and the legendary Bernie Tomasetti. They sponsored me at 13 and i am still on the shred team to this day so I’m well known around the community. I don’t drink anymore so you wont catch me late night at a bar unless I’m performing or celebrating something for a friend. Let’s go do something active and not be hungover!!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wanna shoutout to my parents first. This is hard to write out, I am thankful for all the hardships I was put through at a young age to create this character I have turned into. I first dealt with heartbreak at 7 years old when my mom ran away from us at the house my dad built when we all moved to Colorado together in 1994. Then sometime later the cops came and picked my brother and I up at the only place we felt safe at that time in life, but I didn’t understand what this does to one until experiencing it again at 34 years of age, from the person I was convinced I’d spend the rest of my life with. So thanks to that lost girl for doing what you did, you made me grow into this thriving person! It’s made me realize how much strength I’ve gained from all the pain I’ve endured. Shoutout to my little Brother Ande Burman for always believing in my music and following a lot of my paths, also leading many I haven’t, then figuring out how to be better than me at my own passion!!! Love you BRO!! Shoutout to the few friends I still have on this earth that will always be behind me no matter what!! Shoutout to Chris Dassaro for helping me develop in my early music days!! ALL THE STEAMBOAT HOMIES!!! I LOVE YOU!! Lastly SHOUTOUT to all the homies looking down from the clouds. Darby and CHONGO you two especially. You opened my eyes to two of the hardest pains I’ve felt yet. Since those early days I have been able to help others with pain that mostly resides deep inside people and pull myself out of the darkness many times. As Benjamin Todd stated it best, many don’t come back from living in the darkness, those that do need to spread their message and tell their stories!! We don’t all get to comeback from these dark days. Another shoutout goes to the LIGHT that has been created from all this darkness….I also get inspiration from those like the late Mac Miller, Chris Webby, Upchurch, NU breed and Jesse Howard, Benjamin Todd as I already mentioned. Anyone doing what they love and spreading their art to this world deserves a shout so give yourself some credit if your doing what you believe in!!

Website: https://linktr.ee/tburman

Instagram: Trevor_burman_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burms/

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@BurmanProductionsMusic

Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/trevor-burman/1679423401

Image Credits
I took most of these

Snowmobile pics cred @ Matt Beiv with DFP footbed’s.