Travis Meadows is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has released two albums, as well as writing songs for other country artists. Meadows was born in 1965 in Mississippi, growing up in Jackson.
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» All Singer InterviewsMy story is not one about music, it is a story about life – a narrative on religion, family, addiction, survival, sobriety and freedom with music as the narrator.
Living comfortably under the radar, my long list of cuts include country music icons and rockers alike... Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Jake Owen, Blackberry Smoke, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr., Wynonna Judd and recently Randy Houser. Find more at
Sobriety and songwriting success have brought me on a path to a much brighter future than past. Sharing my story of survival across countries and oceans, you can find me on tour, volunteering in treatment centers or preparing the release of my new record...
Or answering your questions on Reddit - So, shoot.
[Proof]
(https://twitter.com/Travis_Meadows/status/760841663363354624)
**** UPDATE
Thank you for participating in the AMA! I appreciate all the kind comments and great questions. Now, I need to go drive the boy to school. But I will be checkin' in later and answering the rest of them. -TM
I love this question. Glad to see Travis gets respect in the songwriting community.
Thank you
What is one song you wish you would have written but didn't?
The River By Bruce Springsteen. I cry every time.
Do you still drink your coffee black?
Thanks for writing what you've written. Your songs have gotten me through some rough spots.
Yes, having one now.
Big time, he's our Guy Clark for a new generation.
I'm speechless. Thank you.
Hey if you don't mind please hit the orange arrow. That is like the like button on Facebook. Well, if you are enjoying this.
What you do think is your most favourite song written by yourself and why?
I love them all for different reasons, its like trying to pick favorite children.
What has been your biggest regret or do you have any?
Also~ What has been your most valuable lesson that you have learned from all your experiences ya think?
No regerts! My next tattoo!
Where would you like to see your music career go? What would be next if you were able to choose?
I just keep taking tiny steps forward. The joy is in the journey and it never turns out like you think it will. I love surprises.
You've done a lot of cowriting. Are there 2 or 3 names of people you would say are at the top of your list for cowriting? People you would say, definitely want to do that again?
Jeremy Spillman, Connie Harrington, and Eric Church are the first three rather popped in my head.
What's is some advice you would give for someone starting out in music?
Don't do it.
because if you can not do it, it's not in you. if it's "in" you. You will play anywhere anytime. It's like a fire
Besides Bruce, who would you love to share a stage with?
Willie
Killing Uncle Buzzy seems deeply personal. Was it as hard emotionally to write as it seems? Amazing album BTW
Yes, It was my attempt to dig out of a hole. That's never easy.
Do you have any future events with a full band planned?
None as of yet.
If you could give your son only one piece of advice for him to carry with him for the rest of his life, what would it be?
Keep Breathing. Be humble and kind. Be grateful for what you have and mostly keep breathing.
How did you and Whiskey Jack meet?
We met at an event he and his then wife Dianne used to host called Nashville Unleashed. I asked Dianne if i could borrow him for a weekend that was a few years ago. He's mine now.
Do you have a favourite quote?
Never quote quotes.
"Abraham Lincoln"
What is your favorite brand or type of guitar and why?
For live I play Maton guitars. The electronics are second to none. For writing my favorite is a Burchette. It sings. Google him.
Are you and your beautiful
Girlfriend ever gonna marry?
You never know
You've played hundreds if not thousands of gigs, venues small and large. Is there one gig, one night, that stands out in your head as the perfect night or the best one yet?
Every time I play Douglas Corner
By the way the next one is September 3rd at 9:00
What's a favorite song/cd out now by a country artist??!!
Eric Church's new record Mr. Misunderstood is the first record in a very long time, like years that i hit play at the beginning and did not skip one song. Its pretty great.
Of course my Internet went down in the middle of this. I am now on my phone please be patient.
[deleted]
I was minding my own business sitting on the couch and I got a text from Jay Joyce who produced Carrie's record.
He said, what are you doing now?
I said, nothing.
He said, can you come over and play harmonica right now?
I said, yes.
I drove over to the studio, walked in and he handed me a mic. He hit play and I started jamming. He said, that was awesome, do it one more time. So I did. He said, great you're done. I was back on my couch in 45 minutes. I didn't even know who's record it was till after the fact. On a side note, Carrie wanted to learn how to play so I gave her lessons that's a heckuva way to spend a day. She's awesome!
What about a Rachel? It's where you substitute pastrami for the corned beef and coleslaw for kraut. I actually started having them put slaw on my ruebens after having one once. Crazy good.
I'll have one of each
What's your typical songwriting process? Chorus first, verse first, lyrics first, etc.?
As a general rule I have to have a great idea. I've written so many songs a good idea is like gold to me now. The music in the Ryman usually come fairly easy if the idea is solid. There are some rare occasions when I can pick up my guitar and just Lala law to myself and come up with a great melody that inspires me to write something around. But those are rare
Do you have any favorite books?
The Córdoba project. And bull mountain. Anything by Rick Bragg. Anything by Louis l'Amour
Do you still write any christian/spiritual songs?
Have you heard any of my new records? God and spirituality are all over it. It's in the struggle. Hope-
I've watched that video a hundred times. One of the best
Thank you.
Hi Travis, I hear a lot of singer/songwriters that may not have a great singing voice, but their songs and their message is right on with the times we're living in. And they have a great passion for music. What advice would you give to these songwriters attempting to enter the music Industry? Your music has helped me get through some difficult times.
Never quit. Great songs have a way of growing legs and climbing to the top of the pile.
What are your feelings on Reuben sandwiches?
I love them! and...now I'm hungry thanks.
signed-
stuck behind a keyboard for two hours
Hey travis, I'm a songwriter in Nashville right now and you're often mentioned in conversations about proof that good writers with something to say can still get cuts in this town (not to disparage any other songwriters or songs). Do you see the industry shifting at all with writers like yourself making a dent in the industry, possibly making more room for other writers with a story to get attention?
for the sake of sanity I do not pay attention to what "they" are doing. I keep my head down and stay busy.
[deleted]
Not so much. I ran my course with that topic. I needed to talk about the whole of life experiences not just one small part.
First record you ever bought?
That was a long, long time ago in a land far, far away. I seriously don't remember. I almost made something up. I think Honesty is the best policy here.
Jeremy is great!
Amen
Not even one letter?
Not yet, at least.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Habitual liars. That's not true.
Do you ever miss Mississippi? If so what do you miss the most?
For a long time I didn't. So many memories. Too much to process. Over the last couple of years I'm getting softer. I miss the food. Nobody can touch Mississippi eats.
Will Jack ever get a mic?
Nope
Have you ever said NO on a co write offer or for someone to record one of your songs?
Yes. Actually I haven't turned in any songs on the new record to my publisher. I want to record them all first. After that they can have anything they want.
Hey Travis,
Going through the times you did regarding your son what helped get you through and push forward without falling?
Im struggling and you help get me through
Oh I fell, but I kept getting up. That's the main thing. #Riser
Favorite food in In Mississippi😊?
Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans.
Biggest fish you ever caught?
A barracuda off the coast of Marco Island. I also caught a 35 pound grouper in the same place, the same trip. The biggest bass was a nine pounder at midnight on the super moon about three years ago.
Anyone still on your wish list to write with?
Willie Nelson.
When is the new record going to drop?
It's gonna be a while. Sadly. We are still building a team. I've never been on a label. We are gonna try that with this record.
what song was the hardest emotionally and or literally to write?
Good intentions
There's a baseball in the closet, it's still in the box. I meant to send it off the 23rd. I missed my baby's birthday got drunk and just forgot. His mama said he never said a word.
Actually I never missed his birthday but my father missed mine. I was dealing with a lot the day I wrote the one.
Closure-
Are you going to watch any of the Olympics?
The olympics are on?
Is December on the new one?song rips me in half
It was in the short list but didn't make the cut. it will happen one day Too good not to record.
Desert Island 5 must haves for Travis?
Knife, Gun, food, water and a signal mirror for when and if I want to be rescued.
Any topic you avoid writing about?
No, well I did have a cowriter want to write about losing a baby. I just couldn't do it. Imagine that,something too dark for me. It wasn't always that way.
So, yes
If you could CHANGE one thing about the MUSIC industry?
Actually getting paid for streaming would be nice. People are not buying records anymore. I love streaming, it's the new way we listen.
But...
What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Pee
Funniest story of your world travels?
A baby raccoon somehow got his head stuck in a soup can. I had to figure out how to remove the can without getting bit. I success.
But I screamed a little.
Now I'm hungry as shit.
Lunch time!
Ya'll have a great day
What's your thoughts on piracy? I love hearing people in the industry's thoughts on it
It sucks. This is not a hobby for me. I have as much experience as just about any Dr or Lawyer you know. This is my livelihood. It's my sons education. And my retirement. Which basically means of something doesn't change I won't be able to afford a casket when I die.
This is not a hobby to me. It's my livelihood. It's my sons education. And it's my retirement, which basically means I will not be able to afford a casket when I die. Piracy sucks. I have as much experience making music as any doctor or lawyer in their profession and yet somehow people think what I do is not worth paying for
Travis there seems to be a parallel theme between you and Jason Isbell and sobriety being a big part of where you came from. Which was a bigger influence sobriety or lack-of-sobriety-previously that brought you to a place where you had a message to share?
They worked together to make me who I am today. Yin and yang
Just to start, I can't say enough how inspirational you are as a person, and a songwriter. I love following your story, and your music. So, thank you!
Sticking with your "honesty is the best policy" policy, what are your thoughts on the pop country movement, and do you believe that pop country will have a permanent place in country music in the future?
Record companies make records that sell. Theythey cater and market the product to people that buy records. Right now the people that the records are 16-year-old girls. To them at the moneymaking thing nothing personal. That's about as much as I want to say about this
I'm a long time fan, Levi Lowrey turned me on to you. Two questions here.
As someone who has several family members that are addicts, what's the best thing I can do for them? And second, when's your next album coming out?
Love them but do not enable them. It's still going to be a while before the record comes out sadly
Oh Yes - know them all... they are the words in my own head. I remember you saying at a show that you once tried your hand in the Christian Music industry. I guess I am really asking if you still dabble within that specific genre?
These days I write whats burning in my soul.Thank you for listening.