Graham Travis: Sings Songs
Paula Best: Keyboards
Brian Ward: Guitars, bk vox
Victor Duncan: Bass
Justin Lamb: Drums
Influences
"This cd is track after track of HUGE songs. Spotting the single is like trying to find the proverbial raindrop in the ocean". - Bandoppler
"It's hard to realize this is a debut. If the album title asks why we don't know Travis yet, he can rest assured that we all soon will." - Delusions of Adequacy
"Thank God for people like Graham Travis, who, while forced to work with a standard-issue-sonic palette, chose not to limit the epic scope of his vision of good ol' fashioned pop." - Splendid
"Travis and his backing band freckle tunes with just enough nostalgia and old fashioned rock 'n roll to make "Why Don't You..." the perfect accompaniment for a laid-back summer evening, beers on the porch, or perhaps a long drive to nowhere." - Three Imaginary Girls
"Like the best of his kind, his hooks sink in deep. On "Tripped You Up", and the aforementioned "Clearer than You", they’re absolutely inescapable." - Lost At Sea
"Although Graham Travis is not widely known yet, he definitely has a bright and upcoming future. His Indie-pop music is light, perfectly paced, and palatable which incorporates a variety of genres and sounds amazingly well." - One Times One
What do they say about history? It makes us and molds us? Maybe it's a rough paraphrase but there is no truer example of history than Seattle's Graham Travis. The nostalgic sounds of the past are filtered through this resourceful, varied, up-and-coming songwriter and onto his debut album. Poptek Records is proud to release this "classic" record, Why Don't You Know Me Yet?
"I was raised on music and fish sticks", remembers Travis. "My dad was a musician in the 70's and 80's. He taught me life lessons through the lyrics in songs. He sat me on his knee during band practices and had me sing Crosby, Stills, & Nash harmonies at neighborhood parties. Typical dad loves music sort of thing. That's how I acquired the taste and nostalgia." And the loves of his past definitely shine through on his debut recording. The Beach Boys had the elaborate harmonies, Neil Young has his guitar and his raw attitude. Travis has a bit of it all.
But don't mistake "classic" for derivative. "I think the diversity that I grew up respecting and loving has stuck with me and has definitely made its way into the music I write." Travis continues, "Why Don't You Know Me Yet? has a total personality disorder, but it's still me. I just write songs, all kinds of songs."
Also don't mistake "classic" for uninteresting. Travis explains, "I love songs that teeter between sanity and convention. Calculated risks are appreciated. Some people mix all types of stuff together in the name of risk and creativity. But when crap and obliviousness are your starting points, the end result is just smelly any way you slice it. A good songwriter knows how a song is going to be heard."
While classifying him as a singer/songwriter, Travis is much more than an out-of-context poet with a guitar and a bad sense of melody. Travis writes songs, pop songs. Once the world hears "Tripped You Up", the chorus will bounce and dance in the listeners' ears for weeks, at least. Same with "So Wonderful". The pounding piano line reminisces of the innocence and catchiness of early 60's pop. Yes, Graham Travis writes intelligent lyrics of love, life, friendship, and humanity. But songs are more than text. And crafting a melody is the earmark of both pop music and Graham Travis.
Now that "Why Don't You Know Me Yet? is available, Travis looks toward the future, "I want my music to make people happy, I want my live shows to be parties, fun gatherings of potential friends. Hopefully it will reflect my values for community and love. In a sense I'm a typical North American in that I'm in love with love. I write songs about love. I get inspired by love, which is universal. When I am inspired I want to have the courage to say the things most people only think of saying... I think the world needs voices like that."
we're already "myspace buds" from a while back but I just stumbled across your profile again today and wow, such good stuff. I'm glad you're in Seattle (and hope you'll have some Seattle shows soon...?)
-andrea
hope work is going well budro and bella and the lovely lady of the lake...the pretty lake. assembling scaffolding and siding as we go tomorrow. i hope your nights are tender. miss you. want to see the pictures from our trip soon. its been that whole while.
Yep, I'm still in SF. Are you coming down for a show, or just as a tourist? Let me know when you guys will be here. I'd love to see you and W. Miss you!
hey- it's Tiffany from BCC! i still can't get over the fact that i met you and willow tonight and heard you play in ardmore- too wierd! haha. btw, you probably don't remember, but i was the one studying philosophy- you asked, remember? anyway, just wanted to say hello and thank you and your wife for being so welcoming. i enjoyed getting to know the people tonight and i look forward to visiting bcc on a sunday. God bless!
I'm doing great, too...just waiting for summer like everyone else :) You wouldn't believe how huge Jack has gotten, so here's proof:
Crazy, huh? He'll be 8 next month! Anyway, its good to hear from ya!
Hey Graham! I am just listening to this amazing new CD I got last night and thought I would tell you how much I am enjoying it! :) I too, am looking forward to all the musical memories that lay ahead!
You're fantasic and I love that you're back in the game. I was going to go to the last show but was running late and would have only been there for about 15 min, due to another show. But I'm glad I got to see you guys tonight. I missed it. Great job. Would have said "hi", but my friend was about to pee her pants and we had to leave. Next time...
Haha my science fair project wasn't successful in winning... the judges thought the idea was cool, but my partner and i think they didn't like it because it's going backwards in technology.. the guy who won the most prizes invented a way to enable computers to recognize facial structure!
This last tour sounds great Graham! And you got to go to NYC too. I want to hear about it all in more real detail over a REAL dinner, so let me know when you guys are avail. I've got time next week. Take care.
Hey Graham! I totally remember that:) Sorry. I have great memories of all of us from High School! Hey I hear you go to Bethany with the family I nanny for? Matsumotos:)
hey, just wanted to let you know i enjoyed your music at milkboy yesterday. hopefully i'll get to see you live again- i'm coming out to school in seattle.
hey graham,
i thought of you guys today and am hoping all is well, and you are enjoying music and life.
i'm heading up to seattle end of april...maybe we can hang out?..can i invite myself over for dinner?
