Rock producer/mixer/drummer (Guided By Voices, Built to Spill, The Men) who becomes a loving collaborator and sometimes a de facto band-member to help you be your best you. 20+ years of great projects and lasting relationships with artists. I work out of my own studio in DUMBO, Brookyln and I also specialize in live band tracking.
Travis Harrison is a drummer, mixer, recording engineer and producer best known for his work with Guided By Voices, Built to Spill, The Men, Dope Body, and many more. Born in 1979 and raised in Blue Point, Long Island, Harrison developed a voracious appetite for records as a teen, collecting and digesting thousands of albums while cutting his teeth in garage bands. After graduating Columbia in 2001 Harrison launched Serious Business Music and embarked on a DIY career recording and mixing.
Working through the 00's underground rock scene in NYC he first developed a reputation as a drummer which led to his participation in the Boredoms' 77BoaDrum event in 2007. Before long an increasing demand for his studio skill-set saw his profile rise as he worked with Fred Armisen, OK Go, and members of Scottish band Travis. From 2010-2020 he recorded and mixed 1100+ live-in-studio sessions at his Serious Business studios for NYC based media company BreakThruRadio. In 2014 Harrison mixed Built to Spill's final Warner Bros. LP Untethered Moon.
Since 2016 Harrison's relationship with Dayton's Robert Pollard and his legendary indie rock band Guided By Voices has brought his production work to world-wide attention. The string of Harrison-produced albums for the band have received praise as proof of the new Golden Age of GBV. His work with the Dayton legends continues into the 20's.
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Credits
Interview with Travis Harrison
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I've produced 19+ albums for my favorite band of all time and the universe's greatest rock band Guided By Voices. I work in close collaboration with the band to manifest their vision on records.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: both. why not?
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: SM7B AEA R88 stereo ribbon mic Great River ME-1NV Waves ubk Fatso EL Distressor
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started as a kid in an aspiring band who wanted to record themselves. When ProTools became easily accessible in early 00s I started recording bands out of our rehearsal space. Over time I built up a studio space and a skill set to attract a client base including Guided By Voices, Built to Spill, Fred Armisen, The Men, Savak, Upper Wilds, OK Go.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Rock forward, hook happy, rhythm conscious and on groove patrol
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: don't get in the way of getting it done
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: heavier rock and indie rock
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I make people feel comfortable.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: For any recording, mixing, drumming or production job my goal is to give a frictionless creative experience. I value preparation to set the stage. Keep momentum going.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I'm set up for live tracking to ProTools and 2" tape and I record a lot of bands in my Brooklyn studio. I have a few iso-booth spaces so I can accommodate a variety of setups. The drums are always miced and ready to go. For mixing I blend analog compression and FX with ProTools workflow.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Questlove, Robert Pollard, Doug Gillard, James Murphy, Cate LeBon, Kurt Ballou, Josh Kaufman, Sam Cohen, Jim O'Rourke, Gabriel Roth, Erik Paparozzi
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: -mixing for remote clients -drumming for remote clients -live full band recording in my DUMBO, Brooklyn studio -full production via in-person and remote collaborations
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $400 per song
- Live drum trackAverage price - $300 per song
- Recording StudioAverage price - $600 per day
- Guided By Voices
