March 14, 2022 • 43 mins
In this episode of CAN+DID, Hosts Rikki Harris and Will Voss talk with a very accomplished musician. Travis Vance has an extensive professional touring resume with platinum-selling Nashville country artist Thomas Rhett, having performed over 800 international LIVE shows in venues from clubs to sold out football stadiums. Now he’s getting personal and sharing his personal mental health journey with all of you. Join us as we get CAN+DID with Travis Vance.
Travis Vance has a Professional Music degree from Berklee College of Music, and has an extensive professional touring resume with platinum-selling Nashville country artist Thomas Rhett, having performed over 800 international LIVE shows in venues from clubs to football stadiums, and multiple television appearances including Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve w/Ryan Seacrest, CMT Awards, CMA Awards, AMA Awards, Billboard Awards and iHeart Radio Awards. Vance has been playing bass for 27 years, with professional experience in nearly every musical style and setting. Proficient on 4,5 and 6 string basses, as well as fretless and synth bass, but with additional background in piano and low bass instruments. He is also a producer, having had music placements in film and advertising with a wide array of knowledge about recording techniques, gear and synthesizers.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rikki Harris (00:05):
CAN+DID is a podcast of Tennessee voices
about mental health, featuringstories of people who have
overcome mental healthchallenges, as well as those who
have helped people overcomemental health challenges. This
podcast is about authenticity.
And it's intended to give avoice to those who are
passionate about mental wellbeing. We hope that by sharing
(00:25):
stories, listeners understandmental health and just how
important it is in our day today lives, and they will help us
reduce stigma. We want you toknow that so many who have
struggled with mental health canand did overcome their
challenges. And if you arestruggling, you can too. I'm
your host, Ricky Harris, CEO ofTennessee voices and with me is
(00:49):
my favorite co host well boss,CEO of Tennessee voices Welcome
to Our Podcast on let's getcandid.
Brian Sullivan (01:13):
Thank you to our candid sponsors who made this
episode possible. The Omnifamily of services is a
multistate human services agencyserving adults and children
through a trauma competent lens.
They provide a continuum ofcare, including foster care,
family preservation, behavioralhealth, and primary care
services focused on helping kidsfamilies and the communities
(01:36):
they live in strong and healthy.
To learn more about the Omnifamily of services, or to
contact an office near you,there's a link provided in this
podcast description along withthe contact email, if you or
your business would like tosponsor an episode of candid.
Will Voss (02:03):
We are here once again.
Rikki Harris (02:06):
Another episode of this candid podcast and it's
fun. This is This is fun.
Will Voss (02:14):
I think we're getting better each episode. Well,
that's the hope, right? I mean,I hope so. But it's fun for me,
because there's been so manyinteresting, great interviews
with people. And I've learned alot. I just hope anybody
listening feels the same.
Certainly, from the interviewsthat we've done, but man, we're
(02:34):
getting ready to release thisinterview with a person in the
music industry, society, Excel,exciting, you know, Ricky, it
just makes me think about thepower of a story, and how mental
health doesn't discriminate. Soall of these backgrounds of
individuals that we've been ableto bring on to the show,
(02:57):
I think they have been able tomake an impact with at least one
listener who has been tuning inon these podcasts in I mean, the
best is still yet to come. Yeah,it's exciting. Yeah, it is. And
I, I definitely, this particularinterview, interested me because
it was in an industry I knewvery little about from the
(03:22):
inside.
Rikki Harris (03:24):
Right. I'm a huge music connoisseur. I love music.
And so obviously the theconnection to music was there,
but from the inside, never seenthat piece of it. Oh, no, we
were so quick. I mean, ashumans, we're so quick to see
everything on the outside likethey're performing. They're
amazing. They're talented, butwhat's behind the see, and
(03:45):
they're really going to depth.
How are the people behind thissuperstar, for lack of a better
term? Yes. So Travis, Travis,bands, being a bass guitar is
for Thomas red. There we say.
Dare we say who?
Can see Ori his story has somuch to do with his own journey.
(04:12):
Yes, yes. So to be able to hearhis story outside of that. You
think of the question. It's likeeven with us, who are we without
Tennessee voices. So the heretribe is talking about his own
personal experiences and youknow, its upbringing and where
he is now, outside of being abass player for a famous
(04:33):
musician. Right. It's amazing,you know, people struggle trying
to find their own identities anddeal with things that they're
going on throughout life whenthey're in the background per
se. But he's helped so manypeople who may be in the same
positions. Yeah, I think so. Ahighlight in the story for me
definitely was when he sharedwith us how much the pandemic
(04:57):
affected musicians. Youis necessarily as much as or the
in the same way as it affectedthe, I'll say the superstar per
se, but it was the musicians whocouldn't go on tour who couldn't
be there playing the gigs,everything just came to a halt,
and some of them leaving theindustry because they had to
(05:20):
find work elsewhere. When therewere no concerts and no tours,
and no studio time. I justhadn't really thought about
that. No, no, I was right therewith you. And it just it hits
home. It's
Will Voss (05:37):
so many people struggle. So many people
struggle during the pandemic,and many still are. And it's
unfortunate, you know, that wemiss it, we lose sight of, well,
you know, because it's not a jobthat I'm used to doing, this
person was affected as well. Soit really puts things into
reality as far as doesn't matterwhat you do, who you are.
(05:59):
pandemic is affected all of us.
Mm hmm. Another highlight forme, first of all, learning that
Travis is a well trained, I'mnot going to spoil it, because
it was a shocker when I heardhow well trained and were well
trained in his interview, but awell trained musician who has
passion in other genres of musicoutside of out of country music,
(06:24):
and has his own. This is a partidentified with he has his own
little
Rikki Harris (06:35):
writing music that he does for himself that he
doesn't share with the world.
And I related to that, because Iplay the piano that don't even
take that with a grain of salt.
Notes. Now, I took five years ofpiano when I was a kid, and then
(06:55):
pretty much quit after I was incollege. But, um, but I used to
write pieces for myself. And itwas just therapeutic for me.
And I ended up sharing the firstpiece when
actually for my wedding, wrote apiece of just music and this son
(07:17):
the Travis talked about, likejust music, no lyrics,
instrumental pieces, and I wrotea piece in it. My dad, I think,
encouraged me to use it. And itwas played during the seeding of
the mothers in my wedding.
And I remember thinking, I don'tever want to do this again. I
(07:38):
was mortified. Like, it wasnever for anyone else. But me.
And so it just was not. I don'tknow, I don't know, it's not
that I was embarrassed or shy orashamed. It just was like, I
didn't need everyone else tohave that. So that was your own.
That was your personal self careright there at its finest. Yeah,
(08:01):
exactly. If that well, and youyourself have tried to take up
some? Yes, I've tried. I'vetried, I think for me dates back
to the sixth grade, we wereforced to play the violin. And I
cannot read music, I play byear. And then once it was no
(08:22):
longer, this is a requiredsubject. I was done with it. Now
if I can do a mean, Mary Had aLittle Lamb or lean on me.
Will Voss (08:32):
Outside of that, I leave it to the Yes, I leave it
to the masters. It's not in myministry, I leave
your ministry that was that?
Okay. I feel ministry. But youknow, that was something that
the three of us relate to beingable to write music or you know,
am I myself, I don't writemusic. But I definitely love to
(08:55):
write poetry and you think abouthow lyricist are really writing
poems to people. And they'regoing to connect with someone on
a different level, emotionallevel. And I mean, it's self
care, being able to listen tomusic, sometimes something that
you can relate to be able tolook back and say, Oh, my
goodness, this artist issongwriter, they know exactly
(09:15):
what I'm going through rightnow. And music, having the power
to change your feelings orchange your mood, for good or
for bad. It's powerful. It'sreally powerful. That comes up
in the podcast to the power ofmusic and how it connected
Travis in his journey withmental health. So I think for
(09:36):
our listeners, if you're enticedat all into into the music
industry and learning
Rikki Harris (09:45):
listen to this interview. So it was an honor
and pleasure to have him on thispodcast and certainly it's a
it's a pleasure to work with hishis life to every day because
She practices what she preaches.
Will Voss (10:04):
Yes, yes, yes. As I gather he does well, he does as
well, as well. So I'm veryexcited for listeners to to be
able to hear and connect withTravis.
Like we tell everybody, hey,you're helping someone. So I
really think Travis has helped alot of people for those that
(10:26):
tuned in.
Rikki Harris (10:28):
Well, PR huge we've tried to save the world in
about nine minutes. So let's geton with this podcast. Sounds
good. All right, y'all enjoy.
Brian Sullivan (10:39):
Thank you to our candid sponsors who made this
episode possible. Service FirstBank is a full service
commercial bank focused oncommercial and private banking
correspondent banking and cashmanagement, emphasizing
competitive products, state ofthe art technology, and a focus
on quality service. To learnmore about service Firstbank or
(11:00):
to contact an office near you.
There's a link provided in thispodcast description, along with
the contact email, if you oryour business would like to
sponsor an episode of candy.
Rikki Harris (11:20):
So the candid podcast here, Ricky Harris with
my co hosts will Vof Hello. Andwell, he's going to introduce
our guest today super excitedabout this one as we continue to
explore our friends and otherindustries outside of mental
health, which has been reallyfun for us to do so. Well, why
don't you do an intro for thethird Travis I've met this week,
(11:42):
by the way, with the very Travisand this is one of my favorite,
Travis is that I have met TravisVance. Welcome, welcome.
Welcome. Thank you for havingme. So glad to have you here.
You know, as an agency, we talka lot about us being a family.
So I would say you're kind oflike an in law since your wife
is employed with us.
Will Voss (12:04):
Yeah, you've been in brought you've been brought into
the Tennessee voices family. Youhave a great background and from
from over the years getting toknow your especially indirectly
through Kim, there has been somuch that you've been able to do
as far as support with theagency and then advocacy
outside. So for listeners andthose who may be viewing us, who
(12:27):
is Travis dance, tell us aboutyourself, your background. Sure.
So I grew up in Fort Worth,Texas. I left there when I was
18, to go to school and went toschool music school, because a
musician went up to Boston wentto Berklee College of Music up
there, which was pretty wild andincredible experience. Then
(12:50):
after I graduated, I moved toTennessee in 2003 moved to
Nashville to chase the dream,like they all do when they come
here.
Travis Vance (13:01):
Until so I've been here 18 and a half years. And
for the last 1211 or 12. I'vebeen full time professional bass
player. That's what as I like tosay, that's what I tell the
government I do.
So I for the last, yeah, 1112years, I've been like a
(13:24):
freelance bass player doinganything and everything. I've
been in wedding bands, corporatebands, cetera, et cetera. I was
in lots of other musicalsituations before then. But
after I quit my last day job, asthey say, I started just going
wherever the money was, which iswhat you have to do as a
(13:44):
freelancer.
And then because this isNashville, I invariably found
myself playing a lot of countrymusic. And for the last 10
years, 10 years as of November11, it's actually 10 years since
I started playing for a guy whohas now become a bit of an A
Lister named Thomas Rhett. I'vebeen in his band for 10 years.
(14:05):
And it's been really great,really wonderful experience.
Will Voss (14:11):
And so yeah, that's That's me in a nutshell. Yes, in
a nutshell. And, you know, we'regonna we're gonna dig deep. You
know, you talked about music,one of my favorite things,
Ricky's favorite things. Whatled you to wanting to play you
know, I joke with staff oftenabout self care, self care, and
(14:32):
at the beginning of thepandemic, I bought a guitar
because I wanted to learn how toplay well, that was not in my
ministry. The guitar is stillsitting, I think I did more
damage to myself care trying tolisten to myself playing. So
what drove you to music wantingto play the bass? Right?
Travis Vance (14:51):
What my parents always had me in piano lessons
when I was a kid, and there wasalways a decent amount of
encouragement like from them andpiano teachers. They were like,
oh, You've got an ear, you know,that's one of those things, you
either got it or you don't, notto say that. You can't be a
musician, if you don't have agood ear, you just have to work
harder at it, but I justnaturally had a bit of an ear.
(15:12):
So thenI'll give you I'll try and keep
it short.
I was in middle school, or goinginto middle school and the
middle school band teacher at myfifth grade orientation said, We
need a tuba player in the band.
My older sister played saxophonein the band. And so I was like,
Oh, well, they need something,I'll go play what they need. And
(15:32):
that'll that'll help me, youknow, be a cool guy or whatever.
And then I was very good at tubaturns out, which is like the big
you know, sousaphone thing.
I was good at that. Because I'vealways been a little bit bigger.
You can't tell but I'm like,six, two. And I've been this
(15:53):
tall since I was about 14. So itwas like, Oh, I could, you know,
handle it to buddy young age.
And then same band director wasvery encouraging. And seventh
grade came along and she wantedto start a jazz band. And she
was like, well, we need somebodywho played bass in the jazz
band. I was like, well, Ialready read bass clef. You
know, as far as like, writtenmusic is concerned, I'm like, I
(16:13):
already read that. Okay, howhard can it be. And my parents
got me a bass for my 13thbirthday. That means I've been
playing for almost 30 years.
And,and it was really, it kind of
came naturally. Like I had a, Ihad a couple of good teachers
(16:34):
early on bass teachers.
But you know, I had the ear, Ialready liked a lot of music. I
listened to you know, I wassitting there with the bass
learning songs by my favoritebands and all this kind of stuff
and just kept getting more andmore encouragement, as I
realized how much I enjoyed it,you know, so and then it just
(16:54):
kept happening, I just realizedit pretty quick. Like, probably
by the time I was 16, or 17. Iwas like, Okay, this is what I'm
gonna do. I really want to playbass. I don't know how it's
gonna happen. I don't know howany of this works. But this is
what I'm going to do. Andsomehow figured it out. Like,
(17:15):
got lucky. I would say youfigured it out.
Will Voss (17:21):
I think it took a long time, but I figured it out.
Did you did that? That'sawesome. You know, you talked
about learning early on. And itmade me think about some of the
youth that I used to do therapywith Rick, I know you work with
a lot that in the past where youfind out when you're doing
treatment plans, and you'retrying to figure out what what
other avenues of support cannotprovide to someone struggling
(17:44):
with mental health. Music issomething we identify as an
avenue to really help them growand be the best version of
themselves. You know, even withsome youth, they've written
lyrics to songs or poetry reallygetting their emotions and their
feelings on paper. When we thinkabout the correlation with
music, mental health, I mean,there's a lot that we can really
(18:05):
say today. How has mental healthhad an impact on you personally?
Right? Well, first, I wanted tosay, That's awesome that you
guys do that. I think we can getinto it more later. But yeah, I
think that at its core, music isa form of it's it's always been
(18:27):
like going back to probablycaveman times. It's therapy,
right? Like it's therapeutic.
It's, I think all art exists asa form of therapy via self
expression. And that's part ofmental health. But to answer
your question, man,
Travis Vance (18:43):
lots of mental health, or mental health has
always been, I've been aware ofit probably since high school.
Because in high school, I hadclinical depression and anxiety
about a lot of things, not justsort of teenage angst, like it
was it was clinical depression.
And I started seeing a therapistfor the first time when I was
(19:06):
17. And I don't really remembermuch about him or the therapy
itself. I just know, it worked.
It was what you know, it was agreat.
I say great. The the overall orthe the feeling I'm left with
as an adult from that time isthat therapy works. Right. So
that was a good experience forme to have at that age.
(19:30):
But man, I've had, you know,family history of substance
abuse in the family.
You know, I don't know ifAlzheimer's dementia and
Parkinson's qualify as mentalhealth or if those are more
like, you know, neurologicalthat they can ultimately affect
the family. You know, thefamily's mental health. So I've
(19:51):
had all those things in my life,my dad and grandpa Well, my dad
that started therapy late inlife and
has done a lot to work onhimself and realize that he has
some pretty serious personalitydefects that came from his
grandfather, both of whom, youknow, raised me so.
(20:13):
And I see those things as areI'm glad that my dad did that
later in life to realize like,okay, you know, here's all the
ways that I was screwed up, andhere's how this could have
affected you. Which I can thenmoving forward, take into
therapy andmove along with that. But yeah,
I, there's a lot of mentalhealth awareness in my life. I
(20:34):
mean, especially me, you know,my wife works for a mental
health agency. So it's always atopic.
Maybe not necessarily, you know,we don't talk about it all the
time. Like, she's not mytherapist, but she tells me a
lot about the things that shedeals with, and that y'all deal
(20:55):
with. And I don't know, I mentalhealth is a big part of my life.
Rikki Harris (21:01):
I so appreciate that story.
Like well said, I come from amusical family too. But one of
the things that I learned a lotabout growing up as when you
listen to music, it almost feelslike creative people are really
more comfortable with theexpression of their emotions
through music, than the rest ofus who I will include myself as
(21:25):
not a creative person.
And and so we're talking aboutthe strength and the power of
the connection between music andour emotions, or music and our
feelings. And I wonder why thatis? Why creative people feel
more comfortable in thatexpression of their own feelings
versus people who don't havethat outlet. And we tend to hide
(21:45):
behind those difficult feelingsor those challenging feelings.
Do you think it is the power inmusic that gives that voice to
those feelings? I think it'spartly that Yeah. I mean, you
know,
Travis Vance (21:58):
like, I think it's obviously musics highly
subjective, right? Like it comesdown to taste. So, you know, in
the same way that people seecolors slightly differently, and
we taste food slightlydifferently. Like, I know, we
all listen to music differently.
Like, even mean, Kim will listento the same thing. And I'm, you
know, I'm listening a certainway. And she, I listen to music,
kind of almost like a robot.
(22:21):
Like I'm always technicallybreaking things apart, because
it's my job. But I can stillremember like, oh, take a step
back and listen to it from anemotional place.
But the answer your question, Ithink that
at least career professionalartists and musicians and things
(22:42):
like that, people like usrealize, like, if you're gonna
have longevity, like I'm alifer.
One of my therapists pointed outthat for me, music isn't a
vocation, not an occupation. Youknow, like, if I were to just
play in a bar cover band on theweekend, and make a few bucks.
(23:06):
That's an occupation. For me, itis a vocation there is there is
nothing else. It's a call, youknow, so for people like me.
Yeah, we, once you realize that,like, Okay, I'm locking into
this, I, I'm not giving myself aplan B. Like, they always tell
you tothe realization that, especially
(23:27):
from a creative standpoint, youhave to be in touch with your
emotions, the emotions of yourlistener.
And, you know, depending on whatkind of music you make,
obviously, but like party bands,you know, it's it's a more
simple,shallow, but surface emotion
(23:47):
like you just we're all herecelebrating having a good time.
Like, that's, that's viable. Butif you're going to get into like
the, you know, the sensitivesongwriter and lyricist type of
music that speaks to a humancondition, which is a healing
thing for listeners and theartist, you have to be super
dialed in to your ownvulnerabilities your own.
Rikki Harris (24:13):
Just your mental health, I mean, without
necessarily calling it that.
That's kind of what it is.
Absolutely. Yeah, that's exactlywhat I was thinking like, You
got to be really in touch in away that you know, most of us
are challenged to stay that intouch but it made me wonder Do
you participate in writing atall? Do you just do write
Travis Vance (24:34):
you know, I'm not like a words person. Which is
like, I write words down likeI'd but I'm not like a lyricist.
I'm more of like a journal oryou know, like, I like to
occasionally journal and keep mythoughts together in that way.
But I write like instrumentmusic, which isn't necessarily
(24:55):
everyone's favorite. But that'smy thing because I have a jazz
background.
I went to music school andunderstand maybe too much about
music. So I but I writeinstrumental music. And I find
that, you know, it's, it's stillthe same release for me.
And I, I like instrumental musicbecause it doesn't put too fine
(25:17):
a point on things. Which lyricslike a great lyricist doesn't
put a fine point onemotional subject matter, right,
like you're the greatestlyricists are able to
convey a type of emotion in away, you know, so like, Okay,
this is a sad song, or this is asong about loss. And this is, or
(25:40):
this is a song about whatever,you know, but then they leave
the lyrics open ended enoughthat you can listen to a song
about loss, then maybe it'stheir loss, but you can relate
it to your loss of whatever thatmeans to you.
I don't have that very fewpeople do. But I feel like I can
write instrumental music thatconveys these sort of broad,
(26:03):
emotional snapshots. And that'slike, that's my thing. But you
know, I keep it pretty close tothe chest. Also, like I don't, I
don't really put my music outthere. So you write these
instrumental pieces, but wewouldn't necessarily hear them.
No, it's It's,yeah, it's mostly for me.
Rikki Harris (26:24):
Yeah, that sounds like journaling.
Will Voss (26:28):
You know, when you see a jazz and how you write
instrumental music, my mindautomatically went to days
where, alright, my downtime,sitting there listening to jazz
music, relaxing, especiallyduring the holiday season. by
the fireplace. Got my hot cocoaand I will sit there and chill
with some jazz. Yes. Awesome.
Vision.
(26:52):
started making our our kidslisten to jazz at dinner. Yes,
yes. Not like crazy bebop, likeJohn Coltrane, or, you know more
like, alright. Duke Ellingtonsmacks, you know, like dinner,
jazz, is educational educationis, you know, you we talked a
lot about, you know, youmentioned how family has gone
and gotten that support. And youtalk about what you do now and
(27:15):
the journey that you've taken.
One, I want to just tell you,thank you for being vulnerable,
sharing your story yourself withus. It takes a lot to do a lot
of courage. And I hope, youknow, you just help somebody.
Well, thankyou. We want to reach so many
people, you really just helpedsomeone just by telling your
(27:35):
story.
Travis Vance (27:38):
I want to I want to ask you a question. We think
about all right, being in theband, you're working with a list
celebrities, you're on the roadyou're traveling, think about
others who are in the samepredicament, as you, you know,
we talk a lot about the artiststhat have come out with their
mental health struggles and howthey're seeking help. And you
know, we really applaud them forthat. What about those listeners
(28:00):
who are just like you, someonewho's in the band behind a list
celebrity? They're on the road?
They've got their own stuff thatthey're going with? How would
you encourage them to make surethat they're taking care of
their mental health? Right? Andthat's a great question. Because
a lot of times, you know, guyslike me, aren't really
considered much. You know, like,I work for a guy. Well, let me
(28:24):
back up. I've had people who's,you know, the, my mom's next
door neighbor, she's like, Oh,you're famous. I'm like, not
famous. You don't know my name,you know, the name of the guy I
work for. And that's great.
Like, that's fine. I can makethese healthy distinctions. But
especially in Nashville, in themusic industry, there's a lot of
(28:47):
people who wrap up their selfidentity and their self worth
with the person they play for.
It's like, that's not you, man.
Like you are talented. And youdo have worth because this
person keeps you around andkeeps you on their payroll or
whatever. But it's freelancework at the end of the day can
go away, fast. AndI mean, I ran into that. I'm
(29:10):
sorry, I'm all over the maphere, but I love it keep going.
I me and like most everyone inthe music industry.
That was 2020 for us, right?
Like,our arse, especially because
like I said, it's my vocation,not my occupation. I mean, it's
both butyou know, okay, so I couldn't go
(29:33):
on tour. And that's a bummer.
But I don't need to leave townto make music do I know you just
have to be around other people.
You can't be around otherpeople. You are quarantined.
You're at home. All of a sudden,I'm spending more time in one
place than I've spent in 15years. There's some silver
linings to that I spent a lot oftime with my kids. My yard
(29:55):
looked really good. You know,stuff like that.
but not to make too light of it.
It was really hard for a lot ofmusicians. Because
aside, I've learned to distancemyself from my identity as an
artist and a musician from theguy who I work for who I respect
(30:16):
and care for. But I'm still me,I still have what I can do.
You take away my ability tointeract with other musicians on
a real level. And it was reallyhard. And I know a lot of
musicians dealt with that, like,not just the money thing, just
like, okay, yeah, or we're, youknow, living off of our savings,
(30:36):
if we're lucky.
It was more like, I can't do thething that I've spent 30 years
of my life getting really goodat and that I identify with so
much myit taught us all a lot about
ourselves, as far as like, Okay,how much of my happiness is
wrapped up in this? And if itgoes away? How do I cope with
(30:58):
it?
Am I coping with it in a healthyway?
Or not? Because if you've evermet a musician, almost all of us
deal with substance abuseproblems at some point or
another. And, I mean,I didn't see the members, but
everybody heard, you know,there's there was tons of spikes
(31:18):
in od cases last year, aseverybody's just at home,
feeling alone turn into all thewrong things at some point or
another.
Maybe not right away. But youknow, two months turns into six
turns into 10. I mean, I wasvery lucky in that I got to
start playing music again in thespring of this year, but I know
(31:40):
some people who didn't, andthey, a lot of them just quit a
lot of them couldn't manage tojust wait it out. And so they
went into other careers, whichis a bummer.
And, you know, the, thesubstance abuse is, is really
prevalent around but then,you know, Seidman also have,
(32:03):
like inferiority complexes,right? Like, because we're not
the guy up front, like I, again,I've been dealing with mental
health for most of my life. So Imean, I still dealt with it on
my gig. Now, you know, like, myguy started being real famous.
And when he's when I startedwith him, he wasn't super famous
men, he got real famous. Andthere was like, a necessary
(32:26):
boundary that was placed therebetween him and sort of
everybody else has the internetand celebrities, etc, etc.
Keeping your career and yourbrand
intact are really important. SoI dealt with some inferiority
complexes about that. And thena lot of musicians, so
(32:50):
I went to Berkeley, like I said,and I actually took a psychology
course up there with a reallyinteresting guy.
His name was Eddie McGrath, hestarted life as a bricklayer,
his next door neighbor was JoePerry, the guitar player from
Aerosmith, they grew uptogether. And then he decided
later in life, like in his 30s,to go back to school, and ended
(33:11):
up he was working on think histhing, he was working on his
master's thesis in psychologywhen I was taking courses with
him. But he his master's thesiswas that musicians, and really
anyone in a performing scenario,because I mean, that can include
sports figures, and dancers andanybody, but anybody who has to
(33:32):
perform in like a really kind ofhigh level, they tend to, or he
was positive, that they shared alot of the same
characteristics of people withdissociative personality
disorders.
Right. So like, you ask amusician when they're on stage,
(33:56):
like, we don't remember momentto moment, you know, I might
remember a thing that happens.
But afterwards, I just rememberhow it felt about it. I don't
necessarily remember all thedetails of it. And I don't
necessarily feel like myself,when I'm out there, either. I
feel like a different sort ofversion of myself. Like, I
married an introvert, I haveintroverted, you know, type
(34:17):
parts of my personality. Butpart of my job is to go out in
front of lots of people likeright up to the front of the
stage or in front of a cameraand like smile and be very
present for a lot of people.
It's not my personality bydefault. So I dissociate a bit.
And so does everybody. I mean,that goes for sports figures and
all these people I've seen too.
(34:40):
Sothat can be a good thing and a
bad thing. Right? If it's, Irecognize it for what it is, and
I use it, and I'm aware of it.
But there's a lot of musicianswho don't.
Or you don't even know whatdissociative personality
disorder is, you know, it's notsplit brain
personality disorder like in themovies or whatever, it's, it's a
(35:02):
different thing. But we share alot of qualities with them. As
far as when we perform,especially once you get to
higher levels of performance,you have to be a version of
yourself that you can't be thatperson all the time. Like it's
not healthy.
So that's, that's an importantdistinction that I think
(35:24):
a lot of musicians could standto hear more of that could be
talked about more.
I'm a pretty open book, like allthe guys that I throw with, you
know, they don't roll theireyes, but they just they're
like, We got it. And like you,you like to talk about this a
lot. And it's great. And I'm ina very healthy environment on
the road, we are all veryreal close knit group up there.
(35:47):
And there's aI mean, I would say for country
music, in general, we'reone of the more
emotionally and mentallyprogressive groups out there. I
mean, my guy is pretty, Thomasis pretty open about therapy and
how important emotional healthis. I'm very grateful for that.
(36:11):
But not everybody. In fact, veryfew people are in that
situation, there's a lot ofbad and toxic situations on the
road that can just lead to allkinds of, you know, things that
that getlumped into the category of
like, oh, that's just somebodybeing you know, those musicians.
They're crazy. It's like,Well, are we going to put any
(36:35):
finer point on that? Are youjust gonna say, oh, musicians,
they're crazy.
There's, there's, there's a lotof
Will Voss (36:44):
nuance to it, I guess. Yeah, Travis chuckled a
little bit when you said thatwhen you're on the road, a lot
of the other guys will say,alright, man, we get it.
For me, I look at that, asyou're an advocate, you are and
we talk all the time to,especially to our staff, and
even ourselves, you know, we'relike I use your voice, use your
(37:05):
voice to make a difference. Youknow, we've been given platforms
in this world. So how do we usethis platform for something
good? Well, for us, it's talkingabout mental health and how it
has negative impacts, issupporting to continue to
decrease the stigma, and makesure we're providing support to
those who may be struggling. Andyou're utilizing your voice
(37:25):
today. And it seems like always,to let others know that one,
I've been through this, too,you're not alone. And three, you
can reach these goals thatyou've set for yourself, just
continue on that journey. It'snot gonna happen overnight. You
know, what, if we just walkalong this journey, things will
get better? So I think it'sawesome. I'll tell you this.
(37:46):
Next time those guys tell himthat just say, Hey, I'm not
gonna stop using my voice,right? Oh, no, no, I'm
exaggerating a bit, you know, tomake a point.
Travis Vance (37:57):
I probably talk about it more than anybody out
there. But at least all of theband guys, and really most of
our crew, it's really kind ofamazing.
How open a lot of those guys areout there and what a healthy
environment it is for me. Andmaybe it's partly because like,
I've been playing with that guyfor the longest, and everybody
who comes in eventually meets meand they're just like,
(38:18):
I don't know, if you figuredthis out or not, I can talk.
And I'm not scared to talk.
There's very little I'm scaredto talk about.
But yeah, I mean, I, I'm always,I feel like that's the best way
to advocate. Right? It's just totalk about it and share.
And not get too preachy aboutit. You know, like, when I say
(38:42):
talk, I don't mean talk at Imean, talk with, you know, you
have to have a dialogue withwith someone, for them to,
to get anything out of it. Imean, you guys know this, you're
the you're the professionals.
I'm married to one, but, youknow, you have to
involve the other person.
And, I mean, you can't force iton me. If you see somebody with
(39:05):
a problem, and you can recognizeit. It's so easy to start. Just
dive right in, like, let's go,you know, like, let's talk about
your problems. It's like, Yeah,I've been in therapy off and on
for like, 25 years. SoI got no problem talking about
my problems. But it's terrifyingto most people.
(39:28):
And it's really hard to start,you know, which is why so many
people don't do it. They justdon't know where to start.
Rikki Harris (39:35):
Absolutely. Well, I I hope they're musicians
listening because I this hasbeen fascinating conversation to
me and just thinking about theindustry that you're in an
industry we're in and how thosecrossover or blend together
sometimes but also like I wouldjust want to say kudos to you
for like sticking with the dreamand like
(39:57):
coming from a family full onboth sides.
family, my husband's family, allmusicians, people who had dreams
at one point time and decided,well, I gotta go get a, you
know, eight to fiver and be donewith this dream. And that's
hard. I know how hard it is. Sokudos. Second what it sounds
like?
Travis Vance (40:17):
It did. I mean, I had, I mean, I would be lying if
I didn't say that there were.
I mean, I had some privilegesalong the way that allowed me to
keep going, when a lot of peoplemad at other ones quit. I had
some very supportive parents,both emotionally and
financially, as far as like,playing music as a career. They
were like, you know, they verysupportive.
(40:41):
Also, I worked a lot of jobs outof weird, terrible jobs.
Like, like all musicians do atsome point while they're trying
to figure it out.
And then, you know, it's just acombination of privilege,
talent, and luck. It's like 60%luck. It really
Rikki Harris (41:03):
well, before we we end, I have to know what the
worst job you ever had to do, ifyou can. Oh.
Travis Vance (41:13):
Like the worst, it's a tie. I worked at an AMC
movie theater in Boston for awhile, like, right in Fenway,
like right near Fenway stadium,hated that. It was awful. And
then the first job I had inNashville, was at a pier one out
in Hermitage. And I worked Imoved here in like September,
(41:37):
got the job was just trying topay rent. And Black Friday
happened. And I straight up hada panic attack. And it was like,
I guess I don't work retail.
Like, I had to leave like, Imean, full blown clinical panic
attack, and I walked out and waslike, I'm not coming back,
y'all. I'm sorry. Like, I it'sthe only job I've ever just
straight up walked out ofeveryone else. I'd give them two
(41:58):
weeks or more, you know, like Iand I felt terrible about it. I
was like, no, no, I'm having apanic attack. Like I'm seeing
read. I can't breathe. So I'mgoing to leave and never come
back. And
Rikki Harris (42:14):
so that was that was the worst job. I think maybe
ever. Good. That's good. Well,it's Well, it's funny. I can so
relate to that moment. Whenyou're in a you're having a
panic attack. And you're like, Ihave to stop whatever this is.
It has to end right now. So
Travis Vance (42:34):
yeah, and at least it wasn't a life or death job
situation. I wasn't working inan era or something. You know, I
was just like, I'm just fluffingpillows. I gotta get out of
here.
Oh, my goodness. This has beenawesome. Travis. Thanks. Thank
you all so much for having me.
And let me talk my talk yourears off about mental health
(42:55):
with with the musical community,which I mean, I'll, I'll never
stop because I feel like it's soimportant. So if you ever want
to do it again, you know how tofind me. We appreciate it. Thank
you. Thank you so much drivers.
Absolutely. Thank you all.
Rikki Harris (43:13):
Yeah, right.
Erika Lathon (43:19):
Thank you for joining us. If you enjoy today's
program, like subscribe andreview this podcast. If you or
someone you know is in need ofmental health support services,
log on to tn voices.org or call1-800-670-9882. Join us next
(43:39):
time as we get candid
CAN+DID is a podcast of Tennessee voices
about mental health, featuringstories of people who have
overcome mental healthchallenges, as well as those who
have helped people overcomemental health challenges. This
podcast is about authenticity.
And it's intended to give avoice to those who are
passionate about mental wellbeing. We hope that by sharing
(00:25):
stories, listeners understandmental health and just how
important it is in our day today lives, and they will help us
reduce stigma. We want you toknow that so many who have
struggled with mental health canand did overcome their
challenges. And if you arestruggling, you can too. I'm
your host, Ricky Harris, CEO ofTennessee voices and with me is
(00:49):
my favorite co host well boss,CEO of Tennessee voices Welcome
to Our Podcast on let's getcandid.
Brian Sullivan (01:13):
Thank you to our candid sponsors who made this
episode possible. The Omnifamily of services is a
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They provide a continuum ofcare, including foster care,
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Will Voss (02:03):
We are here once again.
Rikki Harris (02:06):
Another episode of this candid podcast and it's
fun. This is This is fun.
Will Voss (02:14):
I think we're getting better each episode. Well,
that's the hope, right? I mean,I hope so. But it's fun for me,
because there's been so manyinteresting, great interviews
with people. And I've learned alot. I just hope anybody
listening feels the same.
Certainly, from the interviewsthat we've done, but man, we're
(02:34):
getting ready to release thisinterview with a person in the
music industry, society, Excel,exciting, you know, Ricky, it
just makes me think about thepower of a story, and how mental
health doesn't discriminate. Soall of these backgrounds of
individuals that we've been ableto bring on to the show,
(02:57):
I think they have been able tomake an impact with at least one
listener who has been tuning inon these podcasts in I mean, the
best is still yet to come. Yeah,it's exciting. Yeah, it is. And
I, I definitely, this particularinterview, interested me because
it was in an industry I knewvery little about from the
(03:22):
inside.
Rikki Harris (03:24):
Right. I'm a huge music connoisseur. I love music.
And so obviously the theconnection to music was there,
but from the inside, never seenthat piece of it. Oh, no, we
were so quick. I mean, ashumans, we're so quick to see
everything on the outside likethey're performing. They're
amazing. They're talented, butwhat's behind the see, and
(03:45):
they're really going to depth.
How are the people behind thissuperstar, for lack of a better
term? Yes. So Travis, Travis,bands, being a bass guitar is
for Thomas red. There we say.
Dare we say who?
Can see Ori his story has somuch to do with his own journey.
(04:12):
Yes, yes. So to be able to hearhis story outside of that. You
think of the question. It's likeeven with us, who are we without
Tennessee voices. So the heretribe is talking about his own
personal experiences and youknow, its upbringing and where
he is now, outside of being abass player for a famous
(04:33):
musician. Right. It's amazing,you know, people struggle trying
to find their own identities anddeal with things that they're
going on throughout life whenthey're in the background per
se. But he's helped so manypeople who may be in the same
positions. Yeah, I think so. Ahighlight in the story for me
definitely was when he sharedwith us how much the pandemic
(04:57):
affected musicians. Youis necessarily as much as or the
in the same way as it affectedthe, I'll say the superstar per
se, but it was the musicians whocouldn't go on tour who couldn't
be there playing the gigs,everything just came to a halt,
and some of them leaving theindustry because they had to
(05:20):
find work elsewhere. When therewere no concerts and no tours,
and no studio time. I justhadn't really thought about
that. No, no, I was right therewith you. And it just it hits
home. It's
Will Voss (05:37):
so many people struggle. So many people
struggle during the pandemic,and many still are. And it's
unfortunate, you know, that wemiss it, we lose sight of, well,
you know, because it's not a jobthat I'm used to doing, this
person was affected as well. Soit really puts things into
reality as far as doesn't matterwhat you do, who you are.
(05:59):
pandemic is affected all of us.
Mm hmm. Another highlight forme, first of all, learning that
Travis is a well trained, I'mnot going to spoil it, because
it was a shocker when I heardhow well trained and were well
trained in his interview, but awell trained musician who has
passion in other genres of musicoutside of out of country music,
(06:24):
and has his own. This is a partidentified with he has his own
little
Rikki Harris (06:35):
writing music that he does for himself that he
doesn't share with the world.
And I related to that, because Iplay the piano that don't even
take that with a grain of salt.
Notes. Now, I took five years ofpiano when I was a kid, and then
(06:55):
pretty much quit after I was incollege. But, um, but I used to
write pieces for myself. And itwas just therapeutic for me.
And I ended up sharing the firstpiece when
actually for my wedding, wrote apiece of just music and this son
(07:17):
the Travis talked about, likejust music, no lyrics,
instrumental pieces, and I wrotea piece in it. My dad, I think,
encouraged me to use it. And itwas played during the seeding of
the mothers in my wedding.
And I remember thinking, I don'tever want to do this again. I
(07:38):
was mortified. Like, it wasnever for anyone else. But me.
And so it just was not. I don'tknow, I don't know, it's not
that I was embarrassed or shy orashamed. It just was like, I
didn't need everyone else tohave that. So that was your own.
That was your personal self careright there at its finest. Yeah,
(08:01):
exactly. If that well, and youyourself have tried to take up
some? Yes, I've tried. I'vetried, I think for me dates back
to the sixth grade, we wereforced to play the violin. And I
cannot read music, I play byear. And then once it was no
(08:22):
longer, this is a requiredsubject. I was done with it. Now
if I can do a mean, Mary Had aLittle Lamb or lean on me.
Will Voss (08:32):
Outside of that, I leave it to the Yes, I leave it
to the masters. It's not in myministry, I leave
your ministry that was that?
Okay. I feel ministry. But youknow, that was something that
the three of us relate to beingable to write music or you know,
am I myself, I don't writemusic. But I definitely love to
(08:55):
write poetry and you think abouthow lyricist are really writing
poems to people. And they'regoing to connect with someone on
a different level, emotionallevel. And I mean, it's self
care, being able to listen tomusic, sometimes something that
you can relate to be able tolook back and say, Oh, my
goodness, this artist issongwriter, they know exactly
(09:15):
what I'm going through rightnow. And music, having the power
to change your feelings orchange your mood, for good or
for bad. It's powerful. It'sreally powerful. That comes up
in the podcast to the power ofmusic and how it connected
Travis in his journey withmental health. So I think for
(09:36):
our listeners, if you're enticedat all into into the music
industry and learning
Rikki Harris (09:45):
listen to this interview. So it was an honor
and pleasure to have him on thispodcast and certainly it's a
it's a pleasure to work with hishis life to every day because
She practices what she preaches.
Will Voss (10:04):
Yes, yes, yes. As I gather he does well, he does as
well, as well. So I'm veryexcited for listeners to to be
able to hear and connect withTravis.
Like we tell everybody, hey,you're helping someone. So I
really think Travis has helped alot of people for those that
(10:26):
tuned in.
Rikki Harris (10:28):
Well, PR huge we've tried to save the world in
about nine minutes. So let's geton with this podcast. Sounds
good. All right, y'all enjoy.
Brian Sullivan (10:39):
Thank you to our candid sponsors who made this
episode possible. Service FirstBank is a full service
commercial bank focused oncommercial and private banking
correspondent banking and cashmanagement, emphasizing
competitive products, state ofthe art technology, and a focus
on quality service. To learnmore about service Firstbank or
(11:00):
to contact an office near you.
There's a link provided in thispodcast description, along with
the contact email, if you oryour business would like to
sponsor an episode of candy.
Rikki Harris (11:20):
So the candid podcast here, Ricky Harris with
my co hosts will Vof Hello. Andwell, he's going to introduce
our guest today super excitedabout this one as we continue to
explore our friends and otherindustries outside of mental
health, which has been reallyfun for us to do so. Well, why
don't you do an intro for thethird Travis I've met this week,
(11:42):
by the way, with the very Travisand this is one of my favorite,
Travis is that I have met TravisVance. Welcome, welcome.
Welcome. Thank you for havingme. So glad to have you here.
You know, as an agency, we talka lot about us being a family.
So I would say you're kind oflike an in law since your wife
is employed with us.
Will Voss (12:04):
Yeah, you've been in brought you've been brought into
the Tennessee voices family. Youhave a great background and from
from over the years getting toknow your especially indirectly
through Kim, there has been somuch that you've been able to do
as far as support with theagency and then advocacy
outside. So for listeners andthose who may be viewing us, who
(12:27):
is Travis dance, tell us aboutyourself, your background. Sure.
So I grew up in Fort Worth,Texas. I left there when I was
18, to go to school and went toschool music school, because a
musician went up to Boston wentto Berklee College of Music up
there, which was pretty wild andincredible experience. Then
(12:50):
after I graduated, I moved toTennessee in 2003 moved to
Nashville to chase the dream,like they all do when they come
here.
Travis Vance (13:01):
Until so I've been here 18 and a half years. And
for the last 1211 or 12. I'vebeen full time professional bass
player. That's what as I like tosay, that's what I tell the
government I do.
So I for the last, yeah, 1112years, I've been like a
(13:24):
freelance bass player doinganything and everything. I've
been in wedding bands, corporatebands, cetera, et cetera. I was
in lots of other musicalsituations before then. But
after I quit my last day job, asthey say, I started just going
wherever the money was, which iswhat you have to do as a
(13:44):
freelancer.
And then because this isNashville, I invariably found
myself playing a lot of countrymusic. And for the last 10
years, 10 years as of November11, it's actually 10 years since
I started playing for a guy whohas now become a bit of an A
Lister named Thomas Rhett. I'vebeen in his band for 10 years.
(14:05):
And it's been really great,really wonderful experience.
Will Voss (14:11):
And so yeah, that's That's me in a nutshell. Yes, in
a nutshell. And, you know, we'regonna we're gonna dig deep. You
know, you talked about music,one of my favorite things,
Ricky's favorite things. Whatled you to wanting to play you
know, I joke with staff oftenabout self care, self care, and
(14:32):
at the beginning of thepandemic, I bought a guitar
because I wanted to learn how toplay well, that was not in my
ministry. The guitar is stillsitting, I think I did more
damage to myself care trying tolisten to myself playing. So
what drove you to music wantingto play the bass? Right?
Travis Vance (14:51):
What my parents always had me in piano lessons
when I was a kid, and there wasalways a decent amount of
encouragement like from them andpiano teachers. They were like,
oh, You've got an ear, you know,that's one of those things, you
either got it or you don't, notto say that. You can't be a
musician, if you don't have agood ear, you just have to work
harder at it, but I justnaturally had a bit of an ear.
(15:12):
So thenI'll give you I'll try and keep
it short.
I was in middle school, or goinginto middle school and the
middle school band teacher at myfifth grade orientation said, We
need a tuba player in the band.
My older sister played saxophonein the band. And so I was like,
Oh, well, they need something,I'll go play what they need. And
(15:32):
that'll that'll help me, youknow, be a cool guy or whatever.
And then I was very good at tubaturns out, which is like the big
you know, sousaphone thing.
I was good at that. Because I'vealways been a little bit bigger.
You can't tell but I'm like,six, two. And I've been this
(15:53):
tall since I was about 14. So itwas like, Oh, I could, you know,
handle it to buddy young age.
And then same band director wasvery encouraging. And seventh
grade came along and she wantedto start a jazz band. And she
was like, well, we need somebodywho played bass in the jazz
band. I was like, well, Ialready read bass clef. You
know, as far as like, writtenmusic is concerned, I'm like, I
(16:13):
already read that. Okay, howhard can it be. And my parents
got me a bass for my 13thbirthday. That means I've been
playing for almost 30 years.
And,and it was really, it kind of
came naturally. Like I had a, Ihad a couple of good teachers
(16:34):
early on bass teachers.
But you know, I had the ear, Ialready liked a lot of music. I
listened to you know, I wassitting there with the bass
learning songs by my favoritebands and all this kind of stuff
and just kept getting more andmore encouragement, as I
realized how much I enjoyed it,you know, so and then it just
(16:54):
kept happening, I just realizedit pretty quick. Like, probably
by the time I was 16, or 17. Iwas like, Okay, this is what I'm
gonna do. I really want to playbass. I don't know how it's
gonna happen. I don't know howany of this works. But this is
what I'm going to do. Andsomehow figured it out. Like,
(17:15):
got lucky. I would say youfigured it out.
Will Voss (17:21):
I think it took a long time, but I figured it out.
Did you did that? That'sawesome. You know, you talked
about learning early on. And itmade me think about some of the
youth that I used to do therapywith Rick, I know you work with
a lot that in the past where youfind out when you're doing
treatment plans, and you'retrying to figure out what what
other avenues of support cannotprovide to someone struggling
(17:44):
with mental health. Music issomething we identify as an
avenue to really help them growand be the best version of
themselves. You know, even withsome youth, they've written
lyrics to songs or poetry reallygetting their emotions and their
feelings on paper. When we thinkabout the correlation with
music, mental health, I mean,there's a lot that we can really
(18:05):
say today. How has mental healthhad an impact on you personally?
Right? Well, first, I wanted tosay, That's awesome that you
guys do that. I think we can getinto it more later. But yeah, I
think that at its core, music isa form of it's it's always been
(18:27):
like going back to probablycaveman times. It's therapy,
right? Like it's therapeutic.
It's, I think all art exists asa form of therapy via self
expression. And that's part ofmental health. But to answer
your question, man,
Travis Vance (18:43):
lots of mental health, or mental health has
always been, I've been aware ofit probably since high school.
Because in high school, I hadclinical depression and anxiety
about a lot of things, not justsort of teenage angst, like it
was it was clinical depression.
And I started seeing a therapistfor the first time when I was
(19:06):
17. And I don't really remembermuch about him or the therapy
itself. I just know, it worked.
It was what you know, it was agreat.
I say great. The the overall orthe the feeling I'm left with
as an adult from that time isthat therapy works. Right. So
that was a good experience forme to have at that age.
(19:30):
But man, I've had, you know,family history of substance
abuse in the family.
You know, I don't know ifAlzheimer's dementia and
Parkinson's qualify as mentalhealth or if those are more
like, you know, neurologicalthat they can ultimately affect
the family. You know, thefamily's mental health. So I've
(19:51):
had all those things in my life,my dad and grandpa Well, my dad
that started therapy late inlife and
has done a lot to work onhimself and realize that he has
some pretty serious personalitydefects that came from his
grandfather, both of whom, youknow, raised me so.
(20:13):
And I see those things as areI'm glad that my dad did that
later in life to realize like,okay, you know, here's all the
ways that I was screwed up, andhere's how this could have
affected you. Which I can thenmoving forward, take into
therapy andmove along with that. But yeah,
I, there's a lot of mentalhealth awareness in my life. I
(20:34):
mean, especially me, you know,my wife works for a mental
health agency. So it's always atopic.
Maybe not necessarily, you know,we don't talk about it all the
time. Like, she's not mytherapist, but she tells me a
lot about the things that shedeals with, and that y'all deal
(20:55):
with. And I don't know, I mentalhealth is a big part of my life.
Rikki Harris (21:01):
I so appreciate that story.
Like well said, I come from amusical family too. But one of
the things that I learned a lotabout growing up as when you
listen to music, it almost feelslike creative people are really
more comfortable with theexpression of their emotions
through music, than the rest ofus who I will include myself as
(21:25):
not a creative person.
And and so we're talking aboutthe strength and the power of
the connection between music andour emotions, or music and our
feelings. And I wonder why thatis? Why creative people feel
more comfortable in thatexpression of their own feelings
versus people who don't havethat outlet. And we tend to hide
(21:45):
behind those difficult feelingsor those challenging feelings.
Do you think it is the power inmusic that gives that voice to
those feelings? I think it'spartly that Yeah. I mean, you
know,
Travis Vance (21:58):
like, I think it's obviously musics highly
subjective, right? Like it comesdown to taste. So, you know, in
the same way that people seecolors slightly differently, and
we taste food slightlydifferently. Like, I know, we
all listen to music differently.
Like, even mean, Kim will listento the same thing. And I'm, you
know, I'm listening a certainway. And she, I listen to music,
kind of almost like a robot.
(22:21):
Like I'm always technicallybreaking things apart, because
it's my job. But I can stillremember like, oh, take a step
back and listen to it from anemotional place.
But the answer your question, Ithink that
at least career professionalartists and musicians and things
(22:42):
like that, people like usrealize, like, if you're gonna
have longevity, like I'm alifer.
One of my therapists pointed outthat for me, music isn't a
vocation, not an occupation. Youknow, like, if I were to just
play in a bar cover band on theweekend, and make a few bucks.
(23:06):
That's an occupation. For me, itis a vocation there is there is
nothing else. It's a call, youknow, so for people like me.
Yeah, we, once you realize that,like, Okay, I'm locking into
this, I, I'm not giving myself aplan B. Like, they always tell
you tothe realization that, especially
(23:27):
from a creative standpoint, youhave to be in touch with your
emotions, the emotions of yourlistener.
And, you know, depending on whatkind of music you make,
obviously, but like party bands,you know, it's it's a more
simple,shallow, but surface emotion
(23:47):
like you just we're all herecelebrating having a good time.
Like, that's, that's viable. Butif you're going to get into like
the, you know, the sensitivesongwriter and lyricist type of
music that speaks to a humancondition, which is a healing
thing for listeners and theartist, you have to be super
dialed in to your ownvulnerabilities your own.
Rikki Harris (24:13):
Just your mental health, I mean, without
necessarily calling it that.
That's kind of what it is.
Absolutely. Yeah, that's exactlywhat I was thinking like, You
got to be really in touch in away that you know, most of us
are challenged to stay that intouch but it made me wonder Do
you participate in writing atall? Do you just do write
Travis Vance (24:34):
you know, I'm not like a words person. Which is
like, I write words down likeI'd but I'm not like a lyricist.
I'm more of like a journal oryou know, like, I like to
occasionally journal and keep mythoughts together in that way.
But I write like instrumentmusic, which isn't necessarily
(24:55):
everyone's favorite. But that'smy thing because I have a jazz
background.
I went to music school andunderstand maybe too much about
music. So I but I writeinstrumental music. And I find
that, you know, it's, it's stillthe same release for me.
And I, I like instrumental musicbecause it doesn't put too fine
(25:17):
a point on things. Which lyricslike a great lyricist doesn't
put a fine point onemotional subject matter, right,
like you're the greatestlyricists are able to
convey a type of emotion in away, you know, so like, Okay,
this is a sad song, or this is asong about loss. And this is, or
(25:40):
this is a song about whatever,you know, but then they leave
the lyrics open ended enoughthat you can listen to a song
about loss, then maybe it'stheir loss, but you can relate
it to your loss of whatever thatmeans to you.
I don't have that very fewpeople do. But I feel like I can
write instrumental music thatconveys these sort of broad,
(26:03):
emotional snapshots. And that'slike, that's my thing. But you
know, I keep it pretty close tothe chest. Also, like I don't, I
don't really put my music outthere. So you write these
instrumental pieces, but wewouldn't necessarily hear them.
No, it's It's,yeah, it's mostly for me.
Rikki Harris (26:24):
Yeah, that sounds like journaling.
Will Voss (26:28):
You know, when you see a jazz and how you write
instrumental music, my mindautomatically went to days
where, alright, my downtime,sitting there listening to jazz
music, relaxing, especiallyduring the holiday season. by
the fireplace. Got my hot cocoaand I will sit there and chill
with some jazz. Yes. Awesome.
Vision.
(26:52):
started making our our kidslisten to jazz at dinner. Yes,
yes. Not like crazy bebop, likeJohn Coltrane, or, you know more
like, alright. Duke Ellingtonsmacks, you know, like dinner,
jazz, is educational educationis, you know, you we talked a
lot about, you know, youmentioned how family has gone
and gotten that support. And youtalk about what you do now and
(27:15):
the journey that you've taken.
One, I want to just tell you,thank you for being vulnerable,
sharing your story yourself withus. It takes a lot to do a lot
of courage. And I hope, youknow, you just help somebody.
Well, thankyou. We want to reach so many
people, you really just helpedsomeone just by telling your
(27:35):
story.
Travis Vance (27:38):
I want to I want to ask you a question. We think
about all right, being in theband, you're working with a list
celebrities, you're on the roadyou're traveling, think about
others who are in the samepredicament, as you, you know,
we talk a lot about the artiststhat have come out with their
mental health struggles and howthey're seeking help. And you
know, we really applaud them forthat. What about those listeners
(28:00):
who are just like you, someonewho's in the band behind a list
celebrity? They're on the road?
They've got their own stuff thatthey're going with? How would
you encourage them to make surethat they're taking care of
their mental health? Right? Andthat's a great question. Because
a lot of times, you know, guyslike me, aren't really
considered much. You know, like,I work for a guy. Well, let me
(28:24):
back up. I've had people who's,you know, the, my mom's next
door neighbor, she's like, Oh,you're famous. I'm like, not
famous. You don't know my name,you know, the name of the guy I
work for. And that's great.
Like, that's fine. I can makethese healthy distinctions. But
especially in Nashville, in themusic industry, there's a lot of
(28:47):
people who wrap up their selfidentity and their self worth
with the person they play for.
It's like, that's not you, man.
Like you are talented. And youdo have worth because this
person keeps you around andkeeps you on their payroll or
whatever. But it's freelancework at the end of the day can
go away, fast. AndI mean, I ran into that. I'm
(29:10):
sorry, I'm all over the maphere, but I love it keep going.
I me and like most everyone inthe music industry.
That was 2020 for us, right?
Like,our arse, especially because
like I said, it's my vocation,not my occupation. I mean, it's
both butyou know, okay, so I couldn't go
(29:33):
on tour. And that's a bummer.
But I don't need to leave townto make music do I know you just
have to be around other people.
You can't be around otherpeople. You are quarantined.
You're at home. All of a sudden,I'm spending more time in one
place than I've spent in 15years. There's some silver
linings to that I spent a lot oftime with my kids. My yard
(29:55):
looked really good. You know,stuff like that.
but not to make too light of it.
It was really hard for a lot ofmusicians. Because
aside, I've learned to distancemyself from my identity as an
artist and a musician from theguy who I work for who I respect
(30:16):
and care for. But I'm still me,I still have what I can do.
You take away my ability tointeract with other musicians on
a real level. And it was reallyhard. And I know a lot of
musicians dealt with that, like,not just the money thing, just
like, okay, yeah, or we're, youknow, living off of our savings,
(30:36):
if we're lucky.
It was more like, I can't do thething that I've spent 30 years
of my life getting really goodat and that I identify with so
much myit taught us all a lot about
ourselves, as far as like, Okay,how much of my happiness is
wrapped up in this? And if itgoes away? How do I cope with
(30:58):
it?
Am I coping with it in a healthyway?
Or not? Because if you've evermet a musician, almost all of us
deal with substance abuseproblems at some point or
another. And, I mean,I didn't see the members, but
everybody heard, you know,there's there was tons of spikes
(31:18):
in od cases last year, aseverybody's just at home,
feeling alone turn into all thewrong things at some point or
another.
Maybe not right away. But youknow, two months turns into six
turns into 10. I mean, I wasvery lucky in that I got to
start playing music again in thespring of this year, but I know
(31:40):
some people who didn't, andthey, a lot of them just quit a
lot of them couldn't manage tojust wait it out. And so they
went into other careers, whichis a bummer.
And, you know, the, thesubstance abuse is, is really
prevalent around but then,you know, Seidman also have,
(32:03):
like inferiority complexes,right? Like, because we're not
the guy up front, like I, again,I've been dealing with mental
health for most of my life. So Imean, I still dealt with it on
my gig. Now, you know, like, myguy started being real famous.
And when he's when I startedwith him, he wasn't super famous
men, he got real famous. Andthere was like, a necessary
(32:26):
boundary that was placed therebetween him and sort of
everybody else has the internetand celebrities, etc, etc.
Keeping your career and yourbrand
intact are really important. SoI dealt with some inferiority
complexes about that. And thena lot of musicians, so
(32:50):
I went to Berkeley, like I said,and I actually took a psychology
course up there with a reallyinteresting guy.
His name was Eddie McGrath, hestarted life as a bricklayer,
his next door neighbor was JoePerry, the guitar player from
Aerosmith, they grew uptogether. And then he decided
later in life, like in his 30s,to go back to school, and ended
(33:11):
up he was working on think histhing, he was working on his
master's thesis in psychologywhen I was taking courses with
him. But he his master's thesiswas that musicians, and really
anyone in a performing scenario,because I mean, that can include
sports figures, and dancers andanybody, but anybody who has to
(33:32):
perform in like a really kind ofhigh level, they tend to, or he
was positive, that they shared alot of the same
characteristics of people withdissociative personality
disorders.
Right. So like, you ask amusician when they're on stage,
(33:56):
like, we don't remember momentto moment, you know, I might
remember a thing that happens.
But afterwards, I just rememberhow it felt about it. I don't
necessarily remember all thedetails of it. And I don't
necessarily feel like myself,when I'm out there, either. I
feel like a different sort ofversion of myself. Like, I
married an introvert, I haveintroverted, you know, type
(34:17):
parts of my personality. Butpart of my job is to go out in
front of lots of people likeright up to the front of the
stage or in front of a cameraand like smile and be very
present for a lot of people.
It's not my personality bydefault. So I dissociate a bit.
And so does everybody. I mean,that goes for sports figures and
all these people I've seen too.
(34:40):
Sothat can be a good thing and a
bad thing. Right? If it's, Irecognize it for what it is, and
I use it, and I'm aware of it.
But there's a lot of musicianswho don't.
Or you don't even know whatdissociative personality
disorder is, you know, it's notsplit brain
personality disorder like in themovies or whatever, it's, it's a
(35:02):
different thing. But we share alot of qualities with them. As
far as when we perform,especially once you get to
higher levels of performance,you have to be a version of
yourself that you can't be thatperson all the time. Like it's
not healthy.
So that's, that's an importantdistinction that I think
(35:24):
a lot of musicians could standto hear more of that could be
talked about more.
I'm a pretty open book, like allthe guys that I throw with, you
know, they don't roll theireyes, but they just they're
like, We got it. And like you,you like to talk about this a
lot. And it's great. And I'm ina very healthy environment on
the road, we are all veryreal close knit group up there.
(35:47):
And there's aI mean, I would say for country
music, in general, we'reone of the more
emotionally and mentallyprogressive groups out there. I
mean, my guy is pretty, Thomasis pretty open about therapy and
how important emotional healthis. I'm very grateful for that.
(36:11):
But not everybody. In fact, veryfew people are in that
situation, there's a lot ofbad and toxic situations on the
road that can just lead to allkinds of, you know, things that
that getlumped into the category of
like, oh, that's just somebodybeing you know, those musicians.
They're crazy. It's like,Well, are we going to put any
(36:35):
finer point on that? Are youjust gonna say, oh, musicians,
they're crazy.
There's, there's, there's a lotof
Will Voss (36:44):
nuance to it, I guess. Yeah, Travis chuckled a
little bit when you said thatwhen you're on the road, a lot
of the other guys will say,alright, man, we get it.
For me, I look at that, asyou're an advocate, you are and
we talk all the time to,especially to our staff, and
even ourselves, you know, we'relike I use your voice, use your
(37:05):
voice to make a difference. Youknow, we've been given platforms
in this world. So how do we usethis platform for something
good? Well, for us, it's talkingabout mental health and how it
has negative impacts, issupporting to continue to
decrease the stigma, and makesure we're providing support to
those who may be struggling. Andyou're utilizing your voice
(37:25):
today. And it seems like always,to let others know that one,
I've been through this, too,you're not alone. And three, you
can reach these goals thatyou've set for yourself, just
continue on that journey. It'snot gonna happen overnight. You
know, what, if we just walkalong this journey, things will
get better? So I think it'sawesome. I'll tell you this.
(37:46):
Next time those guys tell himthat just say, Hey, I'm not
gonna stop using my voice,right? Oh, no, no, I'm
exaggerating a bit, you know, tomake a point.
Travis Vance (37:57):
I probably talk about it more than anybody out
there. But at least all of theband guys, and really most of
our crew, it's really kind ofamazing.
How open a lot of those guys areout there and what a healthy
environment it is for me. Andmaybe it's partly because like,
I've been playing with that guyfor the longest, and everybody
who comes in eventually meets meand they're just like,
(38:18):
I don't know, if you figuredthis out or not, I can talk.
And I'm not scared to talk.
There's very little I'm scaredto talk about.
But yeah, I mean, I, I'm always,I feel like that's the best way
to advocate. Right? It's just totalk about it and share.
And not get too preachy aboutit. You know, like, when I say
(38:42):
talk, I don't mean talk at Imean, talk with, you know, you
have to have a dialogue withwith someone, for them to,
to get anything out of it. Imean, you guys know this, you're
the you're the professionals.
I'm married to one, but, youknow, you have to
involve the other person.
And, I mean, you can't force iton me. If you see somebody with
(39:05):
a problem, and you can recognizeit. It's so easy to start. Just
dive right in, like, let's go,you know, like, let's talk about
your problems. It's like, Yeah,I've been in therapy off and on
for like, 25 years. SoI got no problem talking about
my problems. But it's terrifyingto most people.
(39:28):
And it's really hard to start,you know, which is why so many
people don't do it. They justdon't know where to start.
Rikki Harris (39:35):
Absolutely. Well, I I hope they're musicians
listening because I this hasbeen fascinating conversation to
me and just thinking about theindustry that you're in an
industry we're in and how thosecrossover or blend together
sometimes but also like I wouldjust want to say kudos to you
for like sticking with the dreamand like
(39:57):
coming from a family full onboth sides.
family, my husband's family, allmusicians, people who had dreams
at one point time and decided,well, I gotta go get a, you
know, eight to fiver and be donewith this dream. And that's
hard. I know how hard it is. Sokudos. Second what it sounds
like?
Travis Vance (40:17):
It did. I mean, I had, I mean, I would be lying if
I didn't say that there were.
I mean, I had some privilegesalong the way that allowed me to
keep going, when a lot of peoplemad at other ones quit. I had
some very supportive parents,both emotionally and
financially, as far as like,playing music as a career. They
were like, you know, they verysupportive.
(40:41):
Also, I worked a lot of jobs outof weird, terrible jobs.
Like, like all musicians do atsome point while they're trying
to figure it out.
And then, you know, it's just acombination of privilege,
talent, and luck. It's like 60%luck. It really
Rikki Harris (41:03):
well, before we we end, I have to know what the
worst job you ever had to do, ifyou can. Oh.
Travis Vance (41:13):
Like the worst, it's a tie. I worked at an AMC
movie theater in Boston for awhile, like, right in Fenway,
like right near Fenway stadium,hated that. It was awful. And
then the first job I had inNashville, was at a pier one out
in Hermitage. And I worked Imoved here in like September,
(41:37):
got the job was just trying topay rent. And Black Friday
happened. And I straight up hada panic attack. And it was like,
I guess I don't work retail.
Like, I had to leave like, Imean, full blown clinical panic
attack, and I walked out and waslike, I'm not coming back,
y'all. I'm sorry. Like, I it'sthe only job I've ever just
straight up walked out ofeveryone else. I'd give them two
(41:58):
weeks or more, you know, like Iand I felt terrible about it. I
was like, no, no, I'm having apanic attack. Like I'm seeing
read. I can't breathe. So I'mgoing to leave and never come
back. And
Rikki Harris (42:14):
so that was that was the worst job. I think maybe
ever. Good. That's good. Well,it's Well, it's funny. I can so
relate to that moment. Whenyou're in a you're having a
panic attack. And you're like, Ihave to stop whatever this is.
It has to end right now. So
Travis Vance (42:34):
yeah, and at least it wasn't a life or death job
situation. I wasn't working inan era or something. You know, I
was just like, I'm just fluffingpillows. I gotta get out of
here.
Oh, my goodness. This has beenawesome. Travis. Thanks. Thank
you all so much for having me.
And let me talk my talk yourears off about mental health
(42:55):
with with the musical community,which I mean, I'll, I'll never
stop because I feel like it's soimportant. So if you ever want
to do it again, you know how tofind me. We appreciate it. Thank
you. Thank you so much drivers.
Absolutely. Thank you all.
Rikki Harris (43:13):
Yeah, right.
Erika Lathon (43:19):
Thank you for joining us. If you enjoy today's
program, like subscribe andreview this podcast. If you or
someone you know is in need ofmental health support services,
log on to tn voices.org or call1-800-670-9882. Join us next
(43:39):
time as we get candid
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