The 'lost' Travis Morrison interview

A couple of years ago, I briefly did a bit of writing for a webzine in Manchester. I'd just reviewed Travis Morrison's (singer/guitarist of The Dismemberment Plan) relatively weak solo album and thought I'd try and wangle an email interview out of the guy.

It worked, only the webzine shut down so I never got to publish it. So, in celebration of the impending 'Plan reunion gigs, here it is:


From 7th February 2005

Was there any one person or band that you would describe as a musical hero or heroes during your formative years?

Probably The Beatles. They could do anything.

Can you recall a specific turning point in your life where you realised you wanted to be a musician?

Well... hard to say. I always wanted to be an artist, and a writer. Music is a great place to write and also do other things. I did want to make movies too, I think cinema is the ultimate art form, but music is more social. It seems like you'd really have to be a megalomaniac berzerker to get a movie done. I'm a megalomaniac, for sure, but laid back.

Does being a solo artist feel natural yet or do you still feel maybe a bit naked?

Naked, definitely. It's hard. It's all on me. It's all my responsibility. It kind of always was anyways, but now it's really out there for anyone to bash if they want. But it feels good, as I grow into it.

The general outlook on ‘Travistan’ seems more contented than some of the themes you sang about in Dismemberment Plan. Would you say this reflects the life of Travis Morrison at the moment?

Interesting you say that, as a lot of people found it very discontented and withdrawn. But yeah, I'm having the time of my life.

Are there any plans to release ‘Travistan’ in England or to maybe play a few dates over here?

I wish, but I can't find a label.

As a songwriter what would you say to the school of thought that ‘it’s all been done before’ and ‘there’s nowhere left to go’?

Of course that's all true. But it's never been done YOUR WAY.

Is there a particular point in your musical output that you are most proud of?

Naw. Just hanging in there and trying every day is what I'm most proud of.