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AOTY Icon Interview: TreyLikesBands
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FIRST EDITION: DECEMBER 2020
The AOTY Icon Interview is a new series I am starting where I crowdsource questions from AOTY users for iconic AOTY critics. For the first edition of this series, I was lucky enough to get Trey from TreyLikesBands to work with me. I already have three more critics scheduled for the upcoming months. Anyone can reach out to me via Discord if they're interested in being interviewed. The critic being interviewed for the January 2021 Edition is to be announced early next month! Thank you for checking this out, don't forget to interact if you are enjoying this series. Once again, thank you <3
Treys Biography:
Trey Cardi is 17 years old and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. His nickname, TreyLikesBands, started out as a youtube channel created in 2014, where he would post music-related commentaries and diaries. Trey plays piano, tenor saxophone, and drums. He also started a band with his best friend back in 2018, called Orchid Inc., where he contributes the aforementioned instrumentals alongside rapping and singing vocals. Trey has a type of synesthesia called chromesthesia, where he perceives sounds in color, specifically according to pitch, volume, timbre, and tone. He stumbled upon AOTY in January of 2019 and uses his chromesthesia to provide a new spin on the music reviewing process. He has rated over 3,000 projects and has reviewed over 200 on the site as of January 2021.
TreyLikesBands Page: https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/treylikesbands/
1.
Reed: What would you say to people who are just joining AOTY?
Trey: Hey! I just want you to make sure you stay true to yourself, because there are some people in this community that will judge your taste. Just block them out, and like what you like!!
Trey: Hey! I just want you to make sure you stay true to yourself, because there are some people in this community that will judge your taste. Just block them out, and like what you like!!
2.
Rater: What is your philosophy around 100s and can you distinguish what records you prefer among your 100s?
Trey: Love this question. As somebody who has pondered and pondered upon the significance of one’s 10s, or “perfect” albums, there’s a lot of weight when it comes to whether or not to give an album the almighty number. For me, specifically, my 10s sit upon an emotional pedestal in my mind. These albums have either helped me through great stress, opened me up to a world yet unseen, and/or given me such euphoria at a certain point in time to block out any negativity in my life. And yes, I feel that some 10s are stronger than others; in the end, I will end up enjoying some records more than others. But, I think giving an album a 10 shouldn’t be taken with a pinch of salt, because it’s basically telling others and furthermore solidifying within yourself that this record is truly a pinnacle of the medium altogether.
Trey: Love this question. As somebody who has pondered and pondered upon the significance of one’s 10s, or “perfect” albums, there’s a lot of weight when it comes to whether or not to give an album the almighty number. For me, specifically, my 10s sit upon an emotional pedestal in my mind. These albums have either helped me through great stress, opened me up to a world yet unseen, and/or given me such euphoria at a certain point in time to block out any negativity in my life. And yes, I feel that some 10s are stronger than others; in the end, I will end up enjoying some records more than others. But, I think giving an album a 10 shouldn’t be taken with a pinch of salt, because it’s basically telling others and furthermore solidifying within yourself that this record is truly a pinnacle of the medium altogether.
3.
Riskr: Is there an album you feel greatly more nostalgic about than any other?
Trey: Honestly, I think it’s an understatement to say that nostalgia drives what we enjoy and what we listen to the most. For me, vaporwave is just one of those genres that begs for your memories to come flooding back. Everything is absolutely drenched in this thick layer of reverb, consumerism, and nostalgia. I don’t believe there’s a specific album that gives me the most nostalgia, per se, but I think any of my favorite vaporwave releases would be good candidates!
Trey: Honestly, I think it’s an understatement to say that nostalgia drives what we enjoy and what we listen to the most. For me, vaporwave is just one of those genres that begs for your memories to come flooding back. Everything is absolutely drenched in this thick layer of reverb, consumerism, and nostalgia. I don’t believe there’s a specific album that gives me the most nostalgia, per se, but I think any of my favorite vaporwave releases would be good candidates!
4.
GeMann: Which Weezer album would you like to fuck the most?
Trey: For jokes sake, Raditude (because funy dog, hahaha).
I assume this is possibly another form of the “What’s your favorite Weezer album?” question, so if I’m sticking with that, I’d have to say The White Album. There’s something so special about it, this underdog aura. The beach vibes really do shine on that release. Bias? Definitely, because it contains “L.A. Girlz” (which was the first Weezer song I had ever heard).
Trey: For jokes sake, Raditude (because funy dog, hahaha).
I assume this is possibly another form of the “What’s your favorite Weezer album?” question, so if I’m sticking with that, I’d have to say The White Album. There’s something so special about it, this underdog aura. The beach vibes really do shine on that release. Bias? Definitely, because it contains “L.A. Girlz” (which was the first Weezer song I had ever heard).
6.
Stal: What album is the most responsible for getting you into music?
Trey: I remember listening to “Trilogy” from Emerson, Lake & Palmer one day and just falling in love with almost everything about it. It made me want to listen to more music in general, and with the classical influence on that record, I started out getting into a lot of baroque and romantic music. Then, it just gradually started branching out.
Trey: I remember listening to “Trilogy” from Emerson, Lake & Palmer one day and just falling in love with almost everything about it. It made me want to listen to more music in general, and with the classical influence on that record, I started out getting into a lot of baroque and romantic music. Then, it just gradually started branching out.
7.
Weasel: How do you manage to balance consistently putting out reviews and avoiding burnout?
Trey: Honestly, feeling a burnout is a regular occurrence for me. Putting so much of my time into the site definitely has its flaws, including the times where I feel tired with the whole process.
Trey: Honestly, feeling a burnout is a regular occurrence for me. Putting so much of my time into the site definitely has its flaws, including the times where I feel tired with the whole process.
8.
Jules: What is different about writing a written review and recording a video review, also which is harder, and do you prefer one method over the other?"
Trey: Well, when I’m writing a written review, my actual speaking voice tends to get lost in my writing vocabulary. When I write video reviews, I usually just write my ideas out in bullet points and elaborate more in realtime. I prefer making video reviews, but they do take a lot of time (mostly it’s well-worth that time).
Trey: Well, when I’m writing a written review, my actual speaking voice tends to get lost in my writing vocabulary. When I write video reviews, I usually just write my ideas out in bullet points and elaborate more in realtime. I prefer making video reviews, but they do take a lot of time (mostly it’s well-worth that time).
9.
Joshxxi: What drives you to constantly discover new music and does this pursuit ever have you fearing the potential to develop listener fatigue along the way?
Trey: I really like broadening my taste, and I feel like a great way to do that is with artist binges. I binge a lot of different artists overtime just so I can be as well-versed as I can whenever that artist may come up in conversation. I seldom develop listener fatigue along the way, and when I do I get the sudden urge to keep going regardless.
Trey: I really like broadening my taste, and I feel like a great way to do that is with artist binges. I binge a lot of different artists overtime just so I can be as well-versed as I can whenever that artist may come up in conversation. I seldom develop listener fatigue along the way, and when I do I get the sudden urge to keep going regardless.
10.
EnigmaticSnob: In what way has music inspired or changed your life?
Trey: Where do I even begin? Music has been my favorite thing in the entire world ever since I can remember. It’s something I turn to every second of every single day. Music is just one of those things that I would die without, and I know I’m not alone in saying that. I would be nowhere without this art medium.
Trey: Where do I even begin? Music has been my favorite thing in the entire world ever since I can remember. It’s something I turn to every second of every single day. Music is just one of those things that I would die without, and I know I’m not alone in saying that. I would be nowhere without this art medium.
11.
Gabz: What is your favorite color to listen to?
Trey: Ahhh I love it when people ask me about my chromesthesia! My favorite color to listen to is definitely red! This usually correlates with the keys of Cmaj/min, Dmin, Ebmaj, Fmaj, Gmin, Bbmaj. I don’t know what it is about these keys, but I have an instant bias if a song is red. And I mean INSTANT. It’s also pretty crazy because my favorite color in general is red!
Trey: Ahhh I love it when people ask me about my chromesthesia! My favorite color to listen to is definitely red! This usually correlates with the keys of Cmaj/min, Dmin, Ebmaj, Fmaj, Gmin, Bbmaj. I don’t know what it is about these keys, but I have an instant bias if a song is red. And I mean INSTANT. It’s also pretty crazy because my favorite color in general is red!
12.
Tristan: How do you choose what to review next?
Trey: Whatever I’m feeling in the moment just feels right. Whenever I feel compelled to write something, it just comes out.
Trey: Whatever I’m feeling in the moment just feels right. Whenever I feel compelled to write something, it just comes out.
13.
Nico: What are your favorite instruments to hear in music?
Trey: This is also definitely a personal bias, just because I play tenor saxophone, but whenever I hear horns in a song I go insane!
Trey: This is also definitely a personal bias, just because I play tenor saxophone, but whenever I hear horns in a song I go insane!
14.
Gecpilled: What is the most important aspect of an album to you?
Trey: I take a lot of aspects into account when rating and reviewing albums (for example, lyrics, memorability, cohesiveness, innovation, etc.), but I think the most important thing for me is definitely how fulfilling the entire experience is. When an album is unfulfilling, it just doesn't feel finished or live up to any feeling in the end, but when the opposite occurs, even the slightest degree, something feels alive, something feels real.
Trey: I take a lot of aspects into account when rating and reviewing albums (for example, lyrics, memorability, cohesiveness, innovation, etc.), but I think the most important thing for me is definitely how fulfilling the entire experience is. When an album is unfulfilling, it just doesn't feel finished or live up to any feeling in the end, but when the opposite occurs, even the slightest degree, something feels alive, something feels real.
15.
DoubleZ: Is there a genre or sub-genre of music that you want to explore but haven’t gotten the chance yet?
Trey: One of my most anticipated genres to get into is definitely EAI. While I’ve heard a couple projects here and there, it’s something that seems just so out-there and magical.
Trey: One of my most anticipated genres to get into is definitely EAI. While I’ve heard a couple projects here and there, it’s something that seems just so out-there and magical.
16.
Jase: What makes an album timeless?
Trey: A timeless album depends on the person. For me, a timeless record never gets old, no matter how many times you listen. A timeless album always feels refreshing and new, even if it’s been played numerous times.
Trey: A timeless album depends on the person. For me, a timeless record never gets old, no matter how many times you listen. A timeless album always feels refreshing and new, even if it’s been played numerous times.
17.
slickleg: Can you think of an album that is impactful for you / your life, but to both positive and negative affect?
Trey: Although an interesting question, I don’t think there’s an album that has affected my life both positively and negatively. It’s either one way or the other, even though I’ve never really listened to an album that has made my life miserable. Any recs? Hahaha!
Trey: Although an interesting question, I don’t think there’s an album that has affected my life both positively and negatively. It’s either one way or the other, even though I’ve never really listened to an album that has made my life miserable. Any recs? Hahaha!
18.
BGL13: How does your chromesthesia affect the way you perceive and experience music?
Trey: For those who don’t know, chromesthesia is a type of synesthesia where one has the ability to hear colors. It’s different for everyone, so for me, it depends on the pitch, volume, key, and production style in the music. My chromesthesia gives me a heightened experience of listening to music unlike anything else. It’s like being on LSD, in a way, but not making me feel like I’m high: just the visuals. I’m so grateful to have it, for real.
Trey: For those who don’t know, chromesthesia is a type of synesthesia where one has the ability to hear colors. It’s different for everyone, so for me, it depends on the pitch, volume, key, and production style in the music. My chromesthesia gives me a heightened experience of listening to music unlike anything else. It’s like being on LSD, in a way, but not making me feel like I’m high: just the visuals. I’m so grateful to have it, for real.
20.
Andiov: What do you think your music taste will look like 10 years from now?
Trey: Considering my taste is broadening by the day, I have no clue what it’s going to look like 10 years from now. While I don’t see much of any large genre I enjoy growing off me, all I can really say is that I hope I stay true to my roots.
Trey: Considering my taste is broadening by the day, I have no clue what it’s going to look like 10 years from now. While I don’t see much of any large genre I enjoy growing off me, all I can really say is that I hope I stay true to my roots.
Comments
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3w
great interview, thoughtful questions and thoughtful answers. i'd like to point out that you put your question twice though nico
3w
Great interview! It’s really interesting to learn more about other people on the site. Thanks for including me!
