For most of his life, Trevor Exter has been a professional singer and cellist with his own approach to all aspects of composing, songwriting, producing, performing and touring. He has a couple of bands where he gets to make a spectacle of himself, and some producers like to use him as a secret weapon. He also plays Fender bass.

First-time listeners are sometimes puzzled when Trevor steps on stage, a cello plugged into an amp the way a rocker bears his axe. Trevor has toured with a number of outfits as well as fronting his own projects over the years. Some notable ones include De La Guarda, Steve Kimock Crazy Engine, James McBride’s Good Lord Bird Band, DJ Tasha Blank and his duo with John Kimock, XVSK. He frequently performs solo.

Born in Ithaca, NY and fascinated by the cello at an early age, he moved to Brazil in 1993, hypnotized by the fire and tenderness in its music. He played with young Brazilian musicians who reveled in the Beatles, Coltrane and Ellington as well as their country’s icons: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarque and Hermeto Pascoal.

He makes music for nighthawks and dreamers. Mixing acoustic pop, American soul and restless rock energy with an itinerant vision all his own, his songs travel far and burrow deep. The lyrics, brimming with passion, are delivered by a warm, grainy voice over a subtle and surprisingly deep groove. Regular NYC appearances with his 7-piece wedding band keep him in a good mood.

“Singer and unconventional cellist Trevor Exter plucks and whacks at his big instrument and guides it through multiple climaxes.”
Time Out New York

“…makes you feel like you found something you didn’t even know you were missing… Trevor Exter nails it.”
Ethan Kanat, BreakThruRadio.com