Travis... I“m too Busy Holding up the World

Entrevista com Fran (recente)

TUTS- The new album Ode To J. Smith was recorded in a really short period of time, in 2 weeks, and there are reviews calling it the best Travis record and the album of Travis' career, what do you think about that?

FH- I don't understand how a reviewer who has listened to an album once can call it a bands best album... we live in a time of ridiculous hype... not even we escape it... I think Ode is a solid piece of work. I would remove Get Up from the running order. I was cajoled into including it on the record and should have listened to my instinct. Maybe i'll take it off still.

TUTS- We really like the cover art how did it come about, we read that you designed it?

FH- The cover was stolen from a Penguin book by Roald Dahl. We saw the image and loved it and I spent 3 months chasing it down, finally striking a licencing deal directly with the graphic designer who made it in 1970's... The album is a musical book, so it seems apt.

TUTS- Also during that short period of time you split from your record label and released Ode To J. Smith on your own label Red Telephone Box, were you scared at all to be kind of doing it on your own?

FH- Not scared. We are happy to be on our own. I would not rule out doing it with a label again though... We had to make this record by ourselves. We would never have been allowed to make it had we been with a major label.

TUTS- So there have been a lot of really big new releases this year, Keane, Kaiser Chiefs, Oasis, just to name a few, have you been listening to any of them at all?

FH- I have listened to them. I was disappointed when the Keane record came and went, and The Kaisers who had one of my favourite pop songs of 2008 in Never Miss A Beat. Alot of bands stumbled in the release stampeed at the end of 2008. Only The Kings of Leon have reigned. A well deserved success story.

TUTS- Any new bands that have caught your interest?

FH- My friends Little Joy released an album at the end of 2008 on Rough Trade. It hasn't left my playlist. I heard Band Of Horses today... He has a sumptuous range.

TUTS- You live in Berlin, what's the difference between the German fans and the UK fans?

FH- German fans love the sausage. British fans prefer steak and kidney pie.

TUTS- How does Germany receive your music?

FH- We have been lucky to have had alot of German success. We are recieved like fine bavarian bratwurst.

TUTS- What about american fans, how does the american market react to you?

FH- I think America is my favourite place to tour. Because we never "crossed over" in the states, our fan base is still keen and concentrated from the front row to the back. I also love to sprawl out on the tour bus on long distance drives. I plan at some stage to go across the US in a wini with maybe Andy and play the same kind of show I did at the book store in New York... just take 3 or 4 weeks out and make a road trip out of it... and write an album during the trip too.

TUTS- We've noticed that you go on your message board a lot, and so I asked some people on the message boards if they had any questions and here are a few:

Silvella asked
1. When will be the next Germany tour?

FH- The next german tour is in Feb and is on sale now.

2. Could you imagine to write (sing) some german words in a song, now that Fran lives in Germany?

FH- I had entertained the idea but my friend Wolfgang would never speak to me again (he is german)

TheBoyWithAName
1. Is there any of your own songs that you think arent very good?

FH- There are loads of songs I write which aren't any good... but they never make it on an album... my least favourite that is on a record is Get Up. I really want to remove it.

Akanksha
If you could spend one hour talking to any one musician, who is dead, who would it be?

FH- Ummm...I would talk to Warren zevon. He was a fine song writer, a thoughtful cynic.

Gladsadmad
What are your own personal 3 favourite Travis b-sides of all time, and will a b-side album be out next year after this album is done with please?

FH- No plans for a b side record, this is a matter for our old label. Umm... My 3 favourites would be 20, The Connection, and Me Beside You.

Debbie in France.
Are they much happier now playing more intimate venues rather than the big arena gigs they've done in the past?

FH- I like playing all sizes. I take what I am given and make the most of it. From Busking to Stadiums, there is something cool to be experienced from it all.

Benfilbert
How do songs normally come to you? And how excited are you when you write a new song or discover a new melody?

FH- Songs arrive as little unthought melodies while i play about on my guitar... then they are rolled out...some never get past the initial little melody...some write themselves in 10 minutes...these are the ones that make me feel excited. It feels like you are just notating.

Turtleneck
What makes a show great (or not so great) from the band's perspective?

FH- The fans make shows great or not great. If the room decides they are going to have a good night then it takes off. Sometimes a crowd can be shy... they find it hard to loosen up... We just get up and play through it. Those shows could be compared to playing tennis with a person who doesn't return the ball... However as we have grown as a band I have realised that there are certain things a band can do to relax the room and then build the atmosphere...We have gotten better at this in recent tours.

Minnmess
What do Travis think of us boardies? Do they think we are totally crazy, what with our endless posting, polls, covers, pics, etc?

FH- Yes. Nut jobs the lot of you. But we love you.

Publicado em: http://turnupthesound.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-interview-youve-all-been

Escrito por Veridiana ąs 10h06
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Hoje eu finalmente atualizei os links deste blog. Estavam todos quebrados, já que os respectivos evaporaram!

O primeiro e um dos raros sites que haviam na web lá pelos idos de 2001, o Travis Brasil, saiu do ar há muito tempo. Eu não entendo como até hoje ninguém fez um site brasileiro para a banda?!?! Cadê os fãs meu povo???

Entrem neste blog aí The man Who, é em inglês, mas é bem melhor que o meu :)

Fran: "Tô até tristinho."

Escrito por Veridiana ąs 16h00
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Clip de J. Smith

Música maravilhosa!

Escrito por Veridiana ąs 12h13
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"Normalmente, eu componho várias músicas por ano, e então, nós gravamos cada parte juntos. Mas nesse disco veio de um ímpeto de criatividade de urgência, uma necessidade para gravar, e foi maravilhoso. Talvez seja o porquê do álbum ser mais coeso que nós já fizemos", contou Fran Healy, líder do grupo.