Travis Shallow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and producer who is best known for his prolific solo career and as a former member of alternative country band A Few Good Liars. In 2012, Shallow left the band and started writing and recording songs that would later be released as his first solo self-titled album. After extensive touring, Shallow, armed with an arsenal of new material, released his follow-up, The Great Divide, in 2017 which gives listeners a glimpse into what makes this NC Native tick via masterful instrumentation, and thoughtful lyrics that flow seamlessly between  Americana, Soul, Rock, and Country. Here, Shallow took the time to answer his Essential 8 where he spoke about Jerry Joseph, songwriting, the story behind The Great Divide, and more.

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
I met a songwriter named Jerry Joseph that’s based out of Portland, Oregon about 13 years ago while he was touring the east coast. He changed how I looked at songwriting & performing 100%. I think he turned into a mentor in my head wether he knew it or not - and at times it was from afar, but I learned a lot from Jerry. He’s taken me out on a few tours since we met and I’ve come to call him a friend. He also got sober about 8 years ago and he became a mentor for me on that regard when I stopped drinking a couple years back. So yea, he’s a mentor on multiple levels for me. We keep in touch, and I actually covered one of his songs on this latest album (which was a first for me). It’s a song called “World Will Turn”. I sent him the finished version before we released the album, and was just hoping he didn’t hate it. He sent me one of the nicest emails I could’ve hope for about our version of his song, I have that one saved. ;)

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
I named the album The Great Divide after I wrote (what would later be) the title track. The Great Divide was the first song I wrote for this album and when I finished the song, I said “This song is the first road post & I need to go in this direction, and I need to follow it and make an album around it” 

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
Mostly from my own life & messups (which is a deep pool) and from being an obsessive observer of the people around me, what I’m reading at the time, and the art that is being put out that moves and inspires me. I try to pay attention.

When/where do you do your best writing?
It used to be really late at night, 3am-5am, but then the last few years it’s changed to 10am with a full pot of coffee. I read a book on Cronotypes, that talk about how most people and especially artists have a time of the day when they are the most “dialed in and in-tune” creatively, and it encourages you to hone in on that & once you find it, organize the rest of your life around that peak time. Harness it and don’t fight it. Most people don’t have that luxury because society’s schedule is pretty fixed, but for creative people that can make those tweeks, I think it’s a huge asset. It was for me.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
Combination of all the above, but every time I try to write non-autobiographical or story based, at the end and I’m looking at the finished work, my ego has woven itself throughout the story every time. It’s always enlightening to see and notice that, cause it’s every time. I don’t think it’s possible to write a song and not have some part of you or projection of you in it to some degree. As long as it comes from an honest place, it will always hold up.

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
“Play every show likes it’s your last, whether your playing for 2 people or 2,000” -Jerry Joseph
And he practices what he preaches. Every night. Look him up.

What’s your favorite venue and why?
We have a little gem of a venue in Wilmington, NC. It’s called Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre. The backdrop is moss hanging trees right on the lake. And when the sun sets and comes through the trees while the band kicks off, it’s special. It’s a 2,000 seater and the sound is always incredible & there's not a bad seat anywhere. Best part, it’s in my backyard. So when I’m home, I try to catch shows there. And I’ve been lucky enough to play that stage a handful of times, & I always look forward to those.
Who would you love to collaborate with?
Dawes or Hiss Golden Messenger. Both bands have incredible songs, their super dynamic live, and I dig their message and the way they deliver it. The albums they put out are on constant repeat in my world too.

Have you met any of your heroes? If so, how did it go?
I’ve been lucky enough to have met a handful of my heroes, but one of the most random one’s that was truly a surprise was Kris Kristofferson. I was playing a local show in Wilmington on a weeknight, years ago. My show was dead. And the venue next to us was closed for the night (which was odd). I get done with the first set and go outside & the owner of the bar (who’s a friend) says “We closed for the night because they’re wrapping up filming the last scene of a movie with Reese Witherspoon and Kris Kristofferson, they just wrapped, wanna meet Kris?” That answer was easy. He took me in, introduced me, and I ended up hanging for the rest of the night with him and the whole film crew as they celebrated wrapping the movie. That was literally the last scene and they celebrated…hard. I won’t forget that night.

Is there a recent release you cannot stop listening to?
Been listening to David Ramirez’s last album, he’s a songwriter out of Austin. A friend turned me onto him. I’m hooked.  Also the latest Hiss Golden Messenger album, “Hallelujah Anyhow”. It’s a gut punch. And a lot of Petty, the news of him passing was a huge blow. Still reveling from that.


Shallow has opened for legendary artists like Gregg Allman, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jerry Joseph, Todd Snider, and fellow native NC  band, American Aquarium. For tour dates and more visit the links below.
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