- Music
- 04 May 21
Born and raised in Belfast, Travis Gilbert (AKA Travi The Native) burst onto the scene in early 2020 but the talent was making moves as a singer-songwriter long before his alter ego materialised.
Travi The Native has followed up the critical and commercial success of recent single 'LDSAC' with his debut EP, God Only Calls The House Phone.
Shared on April 29th, Hot Press have chosen the EP's powerful track 'TIRED' as our Track of the Day.
Claiming his rightful place at the forefront of the alt-pop scene with his debut, the Belfast cool-kid explores interpersonal relationships and the feeling of exhaustion that often accompanies them on 'TIRED'.
With soaring harmonies, clever lyricism and an infectious piano melody overlapping alt-pop drum beats; the track will be playing non-stop in your head after just one listen.
Over a year in the making, Travi has collaborated with some of Northern Ireland's finest producers and session musicians to make a movement, not just a record. Recent single 'Ivory' with Amerik showcased the creativity of two fresh artist at their best.
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God Only Calls The House Phone is an 8-track body of work, fusing the worlds of contemporary and '80s pop with the soul of his charismatic vocals to deliver a rich, deeply unique sound. Featuring instrumental interludes and anthemic pop singles, the tracks are blended seamlessly by the highly-accomplished production from Daniel Ball.
From the home recordings of those close to him to the exploration of long-distance love, Travi has crafted a truly authentic, vulnerable record.
2020 saw Travi The Native release three stand alone singles that demonstrated his credibility, scope and reluctance to be pigeon-holed. Debut electro-pop single ‘Heavy Love’, ‘Still Hurting’ and ‘COOL’ merge sounds reminiscent of Tom Petty and Talking Heads, with the likes of Maggie Rogers and The 1975.
Soaring single 'Love Doesn't Stand A Chance' amalgamates the progressive spin of electro alt-pop and the emotion of an '80s power ballad.
“This EP is an honest representation of how I think and who I am. I like the idea of people getting to know me as a person through this collection of songs," Travi The Native tells Hot Press.
"It’s not meant to be sad or happy or somewhere in between, I just wanted it to be real. I’ve said what I wanted to say, and touched on topics that I think are important. It’s the record I wanted to make, and I’m really proud of it."
Stream Travi The Native's full God Only Calls The House Phone EP here.
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Listen to 'TIRED' below: