Banjoist Tray Wellington Blends Genres on Detour to the Moon.

Photo by Rob Laughter

Pushing musical boundaries, the International Bluegrass Music Association Award-winning banjoist Tray Wellington says his latest album, Detour to the Moon, is about evolving as a musician.

His unique take on rapper Kid Cudi’s song “Pursuit of Happiness” proves his ability to adapt banjo to music styles such as hip hop.

“Over the pandemic I started listening to a lot of different music to get inspired and Kid Cudi was actually one of the artists that really helped me out through the tough times,” recalls Tray whose genre blending is causing a buzz.

“The opening track, ‘Moon in Motion’ 1 practically wrote itself,” shares the young North Carolina banjoist. “I wrote the song in twenty minutes.”

Tray, who formed his band, The Tray Wellington band in 2020, says he’s excited about the song’s possibilities. “After the band and I arranged the first one, I thought ‘Man, this was so cool!’ So, I want to have a second and a third part that will be released later.”

The band leader salutes Jazz giant Duke Ellington with his swinging version of the iconic song “Caravan.”

 “I have always loved Duke Ellington. I obviously love the music of Bill Keith as well [who] covered the song back in the 1970s. I decided that it would be cool to do a new version and have my own take on the tune.”

Tray believes the positive reception he has received from music critics and fans for his 2022 release Black Banjo and his latest record Detour to the Moon is due to his unique musical approach.

“I think people are always searching for a new voice in music.”

Tray says he was shaped musically by what he heard as a child. “Growing up I had all the different musical worlds. My grandpa was a classic rock and country fan, and my mom was a big classic hip hop fan.”

Despite music not running in the family, Tray says that his passion to learn instruments kept growing.

“My first instrument was the trombone, and at age 13, I switched to electric guitar,” recalls Tray, who says discovering his grandfather’s Doc Watson CD was a game changer.

“There was a club at my middle school at the time called The Mountain Music Club, where they taught traditional guitar and banjo. I started learning a little bit of flat picking and bluegrass rhythm guitar.”

One day, Tray’s teacher introduced him to a new instrument. “My teacher pulled out a banjo and started playing “Salt Creek” and I thought to myself, ‘Man that sounds so cool!’ That day I decided I wanted to play the banjo!”

Tray describes his banjo playing as having more rhythm.

“I think that is partially a hip-hop influence. Sometimes I put on a song that I like, whether it is hip hop or jazz, and I won’t even play chords. I’ll just do the rhythm on my right hand.”

As a musician, Tray is always looking to learn from other types of music, including prog metal. “It’s about taking these little inspirations from different styles of music and figuring out how they work within your style.

 “I would like to think that I have my own style of banjo playing,” explains Tray when asked how he compares himself to other banjo players. “I think everybody has an individual voice on their instrument. When it comes to Earl or Béla, they both have their unique voices, and I think I’m the same way.”

Besides touring with The Tray Wellington Band, the rising star performs with his all-black string band, New Dangerfield.

“I am super excited for New Dangerfield. Since starting the band, it has been so nice to continue the tradition of black string band music and to put our own twist on the tradition.”

As for plans, the banjoist says he has new projects ahead. “I’m working on a new EP coming out in 2025 and simultaneously working on a solo project,” adding, “I feel very proud about the music I have made over the last few years. I feel inspired to push myself musically and have every album be my voice --yet a different version of that voice!”