Even with the large variety of local support in Seattle, Trevor Törnquist stands out as one of the truly humble and most dedicated names around. His alias Sunriser has started numerous nights at The Underground and has recently expanded to Ora Nightclub, delighting many factions of dance music in our city.
I’m very proud to call him one of my good friends. Many do not know that without meeting Trevor, I wouldn’t have gone to The Underground until much later. We had been friends on Facebook for a few months through trance circles but hadn’t conversed until December 2016.
As crazy as it sounds, he was having an allergic reaction to Ferrero Rocher, and through that conversation it was established that I’d visit The Underground for Arctic Moon only two weeks later. Thankfully, he was okay, but I don’t think he’ll try to eat another one anytime soon.
In this life of twists, the decision to visit this sanctuary for the first time was one of the biggest turns of my life. I definitely would not be the same person today without the experiences I’ve had and the friendships I’ve made thanks to this place I hold dearly in my heart.
And it’s all thanks to Trevor, biting into that Ferrero Rocher!
I am also very proud to be able to get his name out there again, as his sound is one that deserves more attention. So without further ado, here’s my interview with the local favorite, Sunriser:
Trevor Törnquist
Nic: First of all I want to thank you for convincing me to go to The Underground nearly two years ago to see Arctic Moon. It was absolutely life changing and I’m thankful to have found my home with our community.
Trevor: Probably one of the best decisions ever was bringing you here!
N: When it comes to Arctic Moon tonight, what should we expect from your set and this headliner?
T: Expect lots of progressive trance and vocals from myself. From Arctic Moon, a blend of tech trance, and uplifting, flawlessly put together. His set here last year was one of my favorites.
N: Out of the many performances you’ve had at The Underground, what has been your favorite so far?
T: To date, it’s a tie between my opening sets for Standerwick and Mark Sherry. Those two shows were a total blast to play!
N: It’s great to see you’re moving out of this club to perform sets as well. What other venues have you played at, or will play at in the near future?
T: So far, the only venue I’ve played at outside of The Underground has been Ora. I’m in talks to hopefully get on local support for something at Kremwerk, and I’m always hoping to play more venues. So far, Ora seems to be where I’ll be at when I’m not at The Underground.
N: Are there more clubs around the northwest that you have your sights on to play a show?
T: I’d love to give Foundation and Monkey Loft a try one of these days, but for the meantime, I’m happy wherever I’m booked.
N: Tell us about your decision to switch to darker, harder sounds, like techno. Normally when we think of “sunrise” we think of light and happy, so is this a prequel to those vibes, in a way?
T: The decision really wasn’t that. Sunriser is the project name for stuff that’s played in early hours. Techno, progressive house, deep house, etc. That was the main goal when I switched artist names from TMT, my initials. Playing trance under that name was something that just happened. But it’s at the point that I want to go back to my roots so to speak.
N: What are the top artists you hope to open for in your career?
T: Aly & Fila, John O’Callaghan, and Adam Beyer are definitely on my bucket list!
N: You’re Swedish, and a lot of people know Swedish legends like Avicii, the Swedish House Mafia, Alesso, and the like. What is it about Swedish vibes that makes for talented DJ/Producers? Have you gone to any shows over there?
T: I just like to think were badass! Sweden, like many European countries, has a focus on musical arts for people in school and in society. Swedes are proud people who have crazy imaginations and ideas and I love it!
As for shows, I’ve only been to one there and it was in an old slaughterhouse in Stockholm called Slakthuset. Really dark techno/house venue.
N: Let’s talk about the impact of trance on mental health. Artists like Mat Zo have said trance saved them from depression, and even I myself attribute trance to overcoming mental illnesses. What has your journey been like with trance as your guide?
T: It’s been a big help with my mental health. Its saved me. Safe to say. Always been there for me in the darkest times. My life is definitely much better.
Catch Sunriser tonight at The Underground before Arctic Moon!
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