“I just want us to live a happy life”: Fiji Blue’s Trevor Dering on love, loss, and his wife’s battle with brain cancer

Fiji Blue, has always been known for its emotionally resonant melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Fronted by the ever-so-talented Trevor Dering, the American musical project skillfully blends the realms of indie, pop, and electronic music. With the release of his new album, Glide, Dering delves even deeper into themes of love, loss, and hope, painting a raw and intimate portrait of his life amidst profound personal challenges.

Earlier this year, however, Trevor revealed to his fans in an Instagram post that his newly wedded wife, Natasha, was battling with brain cancer.

He had to make the tough decision to postpone all of his North American shows to be by his wife’s side as she recovered from her brain surgery.

Now, after two months, Trevor is back on the road and kicked off his Glide tour in Asia with Singapore as his first stop. He held an intimate concert with his fans at Gateway Theatre on Thursday, 21 November. Before his performance, we caught up with the singer himself, where he shared more about how Natasha’s battle with brain cancer has shaped not only his music but his outlook on life and impending fatherhood.

In this moving interview, the singer also opens up about the inspiration behind songs like June, which was a heartfelt tribute to his wife Natasha and their future daughter, and how he hopes Glide becomes a source of comfort for listeners going through their own challenges. For fans around the world, especially in Asia, Fiji Blue’s music is a moving reminder that even in the darkest times, there’s beauty to be found and love to hold onto.

Your music often resonates with listeners on a deeply personal level. How do you balance sharing your personal experiences with creating something universally relatable?

I’m super grateful that people are listening to my music. I feel like for me, the more personal I can get in a song, but keeping it a little vague, is easier for people to connect with. But I do like telling specific stories and things that people can find ways to relate to as well.

I think to make what I love and have something people can connect with is amazing and I’m grateful for that. 

The themes of love and loss are central to ‘Glide.’ Was there a particular song on the album that felt cathartic to write, and why?

For me, Shadow of You was a song that was really honest. It’s that song that kind of talks about, basically about this person that I was really close to that kind of still lingers a little bit emotionally for me, but I’m just trying to do my best to move past and go on and be happy. To me, that was the most cathartic song to write. 

“June” is a beautiful tribute to your wife and future daughter. Can you share how Natasha has influenced your music during this challenging time?

She influences everything I do. She’s been around for a huge part of my musical journey and way before Fiji Blue existed. I’m so grateful for her, without her, I don’t think any of this music would exist. So, to me, June is a really special one, because it’s a homage to my future daughter, and it’s a special song. I feel like my wife has gotten me through a lot and I love her for that.

How has creating ‘Glide’ served as an outlet for processing the emotions surrounding Natasha’s battle with brain cancer?

I wrote the majority of this music prior to a lot of the things that are happening currently. But I definitely listened to this differently now I would say. Beautiful was a song I wrote for her and sang to her at our wedding. And to me, it’s a song I’m looking forward to having everyone hear. But, all of this (new) music was written prior to what’s happening now. So my next album, is going to be heavily influenced by emotions, after finding out about what happened. But I feel like I heard the songs a lot differently now. 

What has been the most challenging and most rewarding part of navigating this period as both a husband and an artist?

Everything’s been put into perspective super quick. I feel like, I’m on the other side of the world as much as I’d love to be by her side, and I’m here doing this because, one, I honestly want to, but I do it as an honour for her, as always. And she’s asleep right now, as I’m about to play an entire set based on my story.

So, the more I get out there, it’s rewarding for myself. And for me, I just do this so that we can live a happy life together because I know she loves seeing me achieve my dreams and it’s been a tough time with everything I will say, but I think we’re finally on the hump of some hopefulness in our life. So it’s feeling better, although it’s definitely not.

Has the anticipation of fatherhood changed how you approach your music or life in general?

I know I have always wanted to be a father with Natasha but it might happen sooner than we know because of the events that are happening, we might do it sooner, which would be a blessing. So, for me, I’m just ready and excited. I’m just taking it one day at a time.

Your sound blends so many genres. How do you go about weaving these influences together to create something so distinctively “Fiji Blue”?

That’s sweet, I feel like I’m grateful it’s viewed as genre-bending of sorts, but I feel like I was going to make music that I love and it could lean a certain spectrum, but I’m grateful that it has its own sound that people can enjoy. I could make a whole country album, I could make a whole R&B album but I’ll just continue making the stuff I love and hopefully, people will love it too.  

What do you hope fans take away from ‘Glide’ when they listen to it?

To me, this album, I feel like I called it Glide, one small story, I don’t like flying. So to me, the essence of this album is almost referencing that moment of arrival, when you’re about to land, you’re just gliding. And for me, it’s always that moment when my head thinks that things are going potentially wrong, but to me now, it’s the opposite spectrum of, you know, the hope that everything’s going to be okay.

So this album was a balance of love, struggles and at the end, knowing that there’ll be some sort of light at the end of the tunnel. I hope that people listen to it and hear the stories that I’m trying to share.

Is there a message you’d like to share with your fans, particularly those in Asia, who have supported you through this journey?

Absolutely. I would not be here, if it weren’t for the love I get from Southeast Asia. It’s unbelievable, this music was made so far away, and the fact that I get to be here tonight, and other nights, thankfully, is amazing. So I just can’t stress enough how much everyone means to me, and I’ll never be properly be able to thank the people thank them enough so I just want to say thank you, I hope I get to come back here as much as possible. 

Fiji Blue will be releasing his new album, Glide, on December 13. Pre-save the album here.