Growing up in Wisconsin, not exactly a musical hotbed, Travis was influenced early by his dad's classic rock album collection. Moving and growing from those roots, he discovered more blues, bluegrass and classic country. While flat picking guitar players like Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, blues based players like Blind Willie Johnson and Mississippi John Hurt would influence his playing style, it was song craftsmen like Chris Whitley, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt to Hank Williams and Merle Haggard that would shape the song-writer based road he wanted to take.
Starting to play guitar at 14 it was his dad's visit to Fame Music Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL that the writing bug bit.
"I had a revelation at 15 that I should be writing my own songs. During that time The Black Crowes had their first album out, and I just knew that I wanted to do that too! That and I always loved to read, which I think if you're going to write anything of value, you should study the best. For me it could be the Bible to E.L. Masters. Robert Frost to Raymond Carver. So all those writing styles influenced me a lot, and even the artwork of someone like Thomas Hart Benton.That kind of imagery and feeling that he was able to show on a canvas, was something one could reach for in words and music. So I take it all in. But ultimately, I'm always hoping the listener will find themselves in the song somehow, and not just me. My musical approach will always have a more traditional feel. My challenge is to always find little things to throw me off a bit so it will open up something new with the form, which to me, is timeless."
Despite having strong influences, Travis hopes to have his own sound. "I make a lot of little nods to my heroes in my writing. I guess in my own way to just to let them know that I'm really listening. "
