Trevor Kidd’s “Sunshine” Is a Rock Revival with Star Power and Soul

Trevor Kidd is not here to stay in the background. With a résumé stacked with iconic collaborations and commercial success, the Victoria-based artist returns with his most anthemic release to date. “Sunshine,” featuring Garry Beers of INXS and Jeff Martin from The Tea Party, blends raw energy with heartfelt songwriting in a track that hits with both power and purpose. From the opening riff, “Sunshine” builds with gritty momentum. The guitars growl with intention, and Kidd’s vocals bring a confident edge that commands attention.

There is urgency in the verses and release in the chorus, giving the song a tension that feels both classic and fresh. The production is crisp, but not over-polished. Every sound feels alive and intentional. Garry Beers anchors the track with his signature bass tone, adding a steady pulse beneath the soaring instrumentals.

Jeff Martin’s contributions bring an emotional and atmospheric weight that rounds out the sound perfectly. Their presence never overshadows Kidd’s voice. Instead, it elevates it. Coming off the success of 2022’s “Salvation,” which won 13 international film festival awards and earned a spot on IMDB, Kidd continues to prove he is a creative force worth watching. “Sunshine” leans into a brighter palette, but it still packs the grit and fire that made his previous work stand out. Trevor Kidd has always chosen quality over hype.

He collaborates with artists who bring more than just name recognition. He seeks connection, a shared vision, and musical chemistry. “Sunshine” is the product of that approach, and it shows in every note. This is not a throwback or a trend-chaser. It is a rock anthem built for today. Whether you are discovering Trevor Kidd for the first time or already following his journey, “Sunshine” feels like a moment of clarity in a noisy world.

How did your collaboration with Garry Beers and Jeff Martin come to life for "Sunshine"?

I would say that what made the collaboration with Garry and Jeff come to life is that I am such a fan of their music. Having spent many years listening to and absorbing their creative influence, I was drawn to working with them as artists. My first point of contact with both of them was through management, who passed on my request to work together, along with the demos of the song.

It was then up to Garry and Jeff to decide whether they wanted to reach out directly. I received phone calls from both of them a few weeks later. I can tell you nothing makes you feel like you're in a fever dream more than hearing your rockstar hero's voice on the other end of the phone. I was thrilled just to have the chance to talk to them, and working with them still leaves me on cloud nine in terms of my artist's purpose being fulfilled. 

What inspired the emotional and sonic direction of this single?

I was deeply in love with someone at the time of writing, and lyrically, the song came out live on the mic. I hadn't written the lyrics beforehand, and I usually don't write that way. I often spend weeks slowly crafting lyrics. I suppose I had so much built-up emotion inside from being with her for so many years and experiencing so many different things; the words just came out as if I was pulling them out of the air.

Nothing was edited, and it was an autobiographical account. I first showed her the song acoustically one year ago, while sitting on the balcony of the historic Edgewater Hotel in Seattle. There was a lot of creative energy in that room, thanks to all the iconic heroes of mine, such as Johnny Cash, Kurt Cobain, and Anthony Bourdain, who spent time there. It was a great spot to let that song play publicly for the first time. Unfortunately, just before the song's release, she's no longer in my life, so it's bittersweet that I can't celebrate the completion of the work with her.

I wish her the best wherever she feels the tide is leading her. All I can do is thank her for the inspiration that led me to write the song that allowed me to work with my heroes. 

Sonically, the sound of the music is built around a Nashville-tuned 1965 Gibson Acoustic guitar that was sold to me in pieces by the original owner. It had not played a chord in decades, and I spent 4 months rebuilding the guitar by hand. I wrote the riff, if you can call it that, but it's the signature chord sound on that guitar. It's also documented on the recording. I hadn't been able to write creatively in years, hit a roadblock, and that guitar allowed me to write again. I feel connected with it.

How does "Sunshine" compare creatively to your previous work, like "Salvation"?

Sunshine and Salvation are so very different. When I co-wrote Salvation with Josh Jones, I was listening to a ton of Ozzy and Type O Negative. When I wrote ' Sunshine,' it was a solo venture, and I was listening to Kris Kristoffer and Willie Nel, enjoying the old country style.

I think that influenced the relaxed style of singing I did, where I didn't push my voice as hard as I usually did on my old material. Additionally, it's a soft rock song, but the pedal steel on it evokes the country music I was listening to at the time. But yeah, I feel like two different artists would compare those songs, and they wouldn't show up in the same set.

What was the most rewarding part of producing this track with two legendary musicians?

The most rewarding part of producing this track was working with two musicians who are a significant part of the reason I do what I do in the first place.

Their music means a great deal to me, and having built a friendship and earned their creative respect is an incredible feeling for an aspiring musician. You spend your whole life working at this craft, trying to get better and better every year, and to feel like I've put in enough time to hold my own with my heroes now is very rewarding, but it also comes with a great deal of imposter syndrome.

I will carry this incredible experience with me for the rest of my life, and this song will be a significant part in defining what I do as an artist. Garry and Jeff were both gracious and put a great deal of pride into the work, really uplifting me in the process. I can't possibly thank them enough. 

What can fans expect next as you continue to build this chapter of your career?

Anyone who enjoys listening to my music can expect more collaborations with lots more artists in a producing, songwriting, and performing capacity. I look forward to bringing together as many different artists as possible for collaborations and to building an artistic community around my future works.