Travis Jones

Album Credits:

[Un]covered

• Deborah Murphy (feat. Sage)

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

• Bittersweet

• Blood On My Hands

• Breaking My Rules

• Closer

• Cut Me Down

• Like Waves

• Love Letter

• Pyro

• Standing On My Own

• Toy With Me

Beneath the Surface

• Sweet Revenge

• Sage

• Fall for Me

• Zu Blues

What instruments do you play?

I play the drums, and any percussion, really. And I like to think that I can play the piano, but I really can’t — I like to mess around on the piano. I used to play the mandolin and still kind of know that as well…

Are you a solo artist, or do you play in a band? Being a drummer, you kind of have to.

Yeah, so currently it’s a band; and I’ve been asked to be in multiple bands so far. Solo… I would say the solo aspect of me is producing; I’m also a producer which is one of the main things I like to do, as of late… That’s really the only “solo” thing I do, per se… Like you said, as a drummer you really can’t do anything solo.

Are they bands here that you just step in for? Or do you have your own, set group?

Yeah, it’s bands here that I kind of just step in for. There’s really no outside people, it’s all people I’ve met here because people who I’ve met outside [of Norco]… don’t even know that I play the drums. I don’t really talk that much or like, show off my talent… Before I came here, nobody even knew I played drums unless they were pretty close to me; it was just something I did up in my room, but it was kind of frustrating because nobody really knew what I could do.

 Tell us about yourself as an artist

I’ve been drumming literally ever since I was five. I stopped for a little bit when I was 10-11, [but] then I picked it back up and realized that this is what I want to do — music in general, not just drumming, because I feel like if you can really hone your craft, then everything else comes. I feel like I’m at a pretty good level of drumming to where I now have an understanding of like, “hey, now I should learn some theory…” and then get into producing, be able to [play] the drums better, lay down a chord progression, and stuff like that. Now, I’m just really trying to be — I’d say versatile would be the one thing that I’d say as an artist. Because I play anything and I like everything… even country. I always say that because people say “oh, I love everything,” and I’m like, “do you love country?” they’re like, “no.” Then you don’t love everything. That’s always [the] thing that I say. I like every genre, I like to think I can play every genre. So I’d say versatile, for sure, would be the one word, if I had to pick one.

Tell us about your time at Norco, in the Norco Music department?

It’s been fairly short. This is my third semester here only and only my second semester in MIS, but I’m already on 4 or 5 songs on the new album coming out, and I was on around 14 songs total last semester in MIS so it was really fun. Like I said, just being able to drum to whatever I can and whatever people need me for. As far as being at Norco… like I said: short, but really impactful in the short time that I have had here so far, and I love the people… Brady is great, all of the head people obviously are great, and all the people—like my classmates—are super dope as well and [there’s] a lot of talent here. People say this a lot, but it’s really a hidden gem that I got lucky that my mom found, so I’m starting out right away. There are people that come in and they’re like 25, you know — not that that’s bad! But they come in and they’re like “I never knew about it!” A lot of students here that are majoring in whatever else still don’t know about it. So, it’s kind of like a hidden gem and I’m really glad I found it, but as far as my time here, yeah, it’s been short, but like I said: a lot of impact so far and a lot of things happening like right out of the gate, ya know.

Is that how you found the program? Through your mom? She kind of just put you up for it?

Yeah, she's an education specialist. She’s a director for a charter school [and] she went to some sort of meeting, and then somebody… some sort of counselor, I think… was talking about it and she [thought], “my son is into music,” and said, “hey, you should look into it,” and now I’m here.

Do you have a favorite memory or experience from being in Norco Music

I mean, it’s been short… I wouldn’t say I have a favorite memory, but I will say that I’ve made really good friends. As far as memories, there’s nothing specific that really sticks out to me… I really don’t have anything honestly, but the people, yeah. I’m gonna miss them for sure when I transfer — which I’m planning on doing… soonish… in the next few semesters so, yeah. The people are great…

What are you doing now as far as school, music, any other professional pursuits?

So, every chance I get, I am trying to produce more and more, as much as I can at home. I’m getting more of the equipment to do that… Kind of a home studio, I guess… So every chance I get, I go home and try to produce literally anything, any genre. Literally just trying to get anything creative out, and then when I’m at school, I’m just drumming and doing whatever people need, and trying to also get more into producing at school… when I can… in the studio and stuff.

Do you have any hobbies outside of music?

Anything creative! I used to be into graphic design, and I used to be super into drawing. When I was little, I would color for literally six hours a day, so I used to be super into art. I used to paint with my dad and stuff, so really anything creative: graphic design, painting, drawing, art in general… Anything that involves making something out of nothing…

Are there any goals that you’ve set for yourself, either short-term or long-term?

Short-term is to develop myself even further as a drummer, as a musician, and producer… Long-term I’d say to be developed, obviously, and to work, I’d say — because I want to be a producer as my main thing, and then drumming is sort of like a secondary, but I’d say doing both would be cool — working with big-time artists is my long-term goal for producing.