In January 2023, singer-songwriter and trombonist Trevor Turla was working on a live album recording for Making Movies—a Kansas City-based Americana rock band—at the Folly Theater. During the session, he met Latin Grammy winner Mireya Ramos, a New York City-based violinist and vocalist.
That introduction soon changed the course of his career.
Turla invited Ramos to join him as a guest artist for an upcoming St. Patrick’s Day show. When she returned to KC a couple months later, their musical chemistry was undeniable.
“The gig was amazing,” Turla says. “We got along great musically and as friends.”
The following month, Ramos came back for another gig. From there, Turla says it was a natural progression, with the two frequently calling each other for gigs.
Over the past year and a half, the collaboration has taken Turla far beyond Kansas City, from New Orleans’ historic jazz venue Preservation Hall to Manhattan’s Arthur’s Tavern. The duo can be heard in action on two of Turla’s singles released last fall: “Walk With Love,” a dreamy track that draws influence from classic soul, and the dynamic, trombone-heavy “Not at All.”
“She’s like my family,” Turla says of Ramos. “I call her my big sister. It’s like she’s walking in the snow and I’m following in her footsteps.”
Recently, Turla has been immersed in writing on Ramos’ forthcoming album, having joined the violinist in Mexico City for 10 days of in-studio writing sessions this past July.
In December, Turla will return to Mexico’s capital city. This time, he’ll be making his international debut as a performer and solo artist.
When it comes to his solo music, Turla has been exploring a more stripped-down sound, moving away from working with loud, heavy bands with electric guitar and drums in favor of acoustic instruments and smaller ensembles. Although he’s still deeply connected to his roots as a trombone player—having spent years with KC brass band Grand Marquis—Turla is now focusing on redefining himself as a singer-songwriter. Audiences can still see him frequently soloing on trombone during his sets, though.
While Turla has big ambitions for the future, including splitting his time between New York and Miami, he has no intention of leaving KC.
“Kansas City will forever be a home base,” Turla says. “I am prioritizing spending time in other places, but my roots are here.”
LISTEN: “Walk With Love” and “Not at All” by Trevor Turla ft. Mireya Ramos are available on all streaming platforms.
