theaussieword.com’s special interview with Travis Crown.
How and where did it all begin for you? What drew your interest to the music industry? I have been singing and writing songs since I was 9 years old. Music is my safe space. It’s somewhere I can express myself through lyrics and melodies and emotion. Music is so powerful and it impacts people in positive ways. That is what drew my interest towards wanting to work in the music industry, because I want my music to impact millions of people in the same ways that music has impacted me and my life. It has been my strength in my weakest moments and my defense when I am under attack. At the end of the day, I really just want to spread love and good vibes and sing from my heart.
What motivates or influences you in your quest to make great music? I want to leave a legacy. I want to know that before I die that I left this earth with a few great albums and tours and made someone smile or feel empowered and confident in themselves. That is what motivates me to make great music. Also, if you only put in half of the work and effort into your craft, it won’t stand out from the rest. You can tell the difference between a great song, and a not so great song just based off of how much time and money and effort you put into it. Things such as how well written your lyrics are, how strong does your vocals sound, what level of production are you using, etc, these are all things I focus on to make sure my music and content is up to part.
What are some of your biggest goals you hope to accomplish? Some of my biggest goals are to perform on live television whether that is on a talk show or an awards show. Also, collaborating with some of the musical artists who have impacted me throughout my life. Another goal is to really just have my music heard by the world.
What can we expect from you in the coming months? Any plans to tour? This month I dropped my very first album, so the next few months you should be expecting to see more music videos, a small tour, and also a remix to one of my favorite tracks off of the album! I also will be consistently uploading new YouTube videos and content on social media every week.
Tell us a bit about your latest release and how would you best describe your music? My latest release is my debut album that was dropped on April 10th. This project has 14 tracks and a total of 5 music videos (3 unreleased). If I had to describe this album with one word I would say variety. I feel like there are at least a few songs on this album that everyone can relate and connect to. This album speaks about my story, love, pain, and confidence. There are accents of jazz and pop, and a twist of r&b soul and blues. I was also honored to have collaborated with 4 talented artists.
Give us an insight into your creative process. What gets you writing songs? Writing a song can happen in different ways for me. Sometimes it’s therapy for me and a form of release. Other times I just get inspired by something or make up a melody that gets stuck in my head all day. My songs are typically written in quiet places like my bedroom or somewhere that is calm and peaceful outside. I also love writing in groups and in recording sessions to spark my spontaneous side and challenge myself to write in the moment.
Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music? I wouldn’t necessarily say there is a “hidden” meaning in my music, but there are definitely a lot of meaningful messages and stories that I convey clearly in my music. I do like to play around with metaphors and have clever lines, but I like keeping my songs easy to figure out so that no one has to think too hard to uncover the message.
Success, what is the secret to it? I am still learning how to become successful in my career so that secret is still a mystery to me. What I have learned is to be your true authentic self, believe in yourself (even when everyone around you doubts in your ability to achieve your dreams), and also be very consistent with your music. Never stop writing and performing. Also, marketing and creating your brand is very important. Lastly, know your audience. Become personal and down to earth with your fans.
What has been your biggest career highlight so far? Releasing my first album and getting featured on NowThis is probably my biggest highlight during my career. This is only the very beginning.
Which stars of the music industry do you find inspiring? Kehlani, H.E.R., Jhene Aiko, Ella Mai, Ariana Grande, Victoria Monet, Normani, Kim Petras, Doja Cat, Kiana Lede, Big Sean, Tinashe, Lil Nas X, Summer Walker, Troye Sivan, Beyonce, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj are just a few of the stars in this industry that inspire me.
Are there any new projects in the pipeline? Yes, I am already writing songs for my next album and figuring out what I can do better and grow as an artist.
The music industry is constantly changing, where do you see yourself a few years? I see myself climbing the ladder in the industry and really building myself as an artist and building my fanbase. I just really want to keep working on my craft and see how far I can push myself and have my music discovered and listened to by the world.
What is your favourite and least favourite part about this line of work and why? My favorite part about this work is the creative process and watching my music and dreams come to life. Also, I love my fans over everything. Seeing them sing my songs and vibing out and feeling themselves is the best thing anyone could ever ask for. My least favorite part about this line of work is the constant struggle of trying to have your music be heard. Also the business side of things like money and lawyers and contracts is never fun and can take away from the creative aspect of things.
Name a few of your favourite Australian artists. Some of my favorite Australian artists are Troye Sivan, Sia, and Iggy Azalea.
The shape of the music industry has changed significantly over the years, including the use of social media, how do you feel about the industry as a whole and what does it mean to you in getting your records out into the public eye? I feel like the music industry has definitely changed. CDs and buying an album is slowly transitioning out and streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music are taking its place. Social media has become a great tool for you to get discovered online, but at the same time, new content is being uploaded every day and the internet is so crowded and populated by other singers who all are all begging for the same attention. Follow me, like and subscribe, comment down below, stream my new single, etc etc etc. So to even give your music a chance you have to find ways to promote your music and brand in other ways that are effective.
How will you continue appealing to the international market? I try to appeal to the international market by having different styles and genres on my album so that everyone can find a song that suits their taste. Also, I write about a lot of topics that people can relate to regardless of your background. In the future, I want to have my music translated in other languages so that everyone can enjoy and have a chance to hear my music.
Do you collaborate with others? Who is on your wish-list? Yes! I love collaborating with other artists. I have collaborated with Porsia Camille, Nico Franc, Willis, and Mayila on this album. I also have another feature on a remix that I will be releasing soon. My top three dream collaborations would probably be Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and Troye Sivan.
What advice do you give for other artists wanting to follow in your footsteps? My advice to anyone who wants to become an artist is to always have your priorities straight. If you value your music career over everything, put it over everything. Put in the work and the effort and it will show. Also, Network! Get out of your comfort zone and talk with the right people. This is your dream, so fight for it.
A message for your fans. How do you best interact and respond with your followers and fans? Message for my fans:
You are worth it. No matter what people tell you, don’t let anyone depict your future. The only person in control of your future is YOU! You are valuable and loved. Do what makes you feel happy, because your happiness is the only thing that really matters at the end of the day. Also, thank you. Because of all of you I found my purpose.
How do you interact with your followers and fans? I respond to everything. Comments, DMs, Tweets, etc. Interacting with my fans is so important to me because without them I couldn’t do everything I am doing now. Also I am figuring out where most of my fans are located to help plan a tour so that I can interact with them and engage with them in person.
Any last words? Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I can’t wait to keep releasing more music and keep doing what I love most.
Website: traviscrown.com
Facebook: facebook.com/TravisCrown
Twitter: twitter.com/traviscrown
Instagram: instagram.com/traviscrown
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