Nashville based musician and current touring bassist with multi-platinum country artist Thomas Rhett. Performed with: Nick Jonas, Ashton Kutcher, Niall Horan, Zara Larsson, Jordin Sparks, Miranda Lambert, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, Brett Eldridge, Maren Morris, Dan + Shay, Danielle Bradbury.
I've been playing & listening to music my whole life and I consider it my second language. I've been in small indie bands playing for 10 people at clubs as well as a sideman for major label artists playing for 80,000 people in stadiums. I've been on hundreds of recordings; sometimes as a player, sometimes as a band member, sometimes as a producer. I've done major network television programs including Dick Clark's Rockin New Year's w/Ryan Seacrest in Times Square and the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Game halftime performance. I've also produced or co-produced jingles, TV synch placements, and soundtracks.
I approach every project with an ear for what is not only commercially viable, but also artistically inspiring. The listener always comes first.
I'm an avid collector of music - I've got well over 1000 CD's (I stopped counting), close to 800 vinyl records, and I'm always listening to what's new out there. My tastes are varied & wide, so feel free to throw an obscure reference my way if you hire me.
I use Logic ProX and I'm capable of creating bass lines, percussion loops, synth parts, ambient synth beds, and background vocals.
Send me a note through the contact button above.
Credits
12 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client
Endorse Travis Vance
check_circleVerifiedTravis is an amazing bass player. He recorded three tracks for me within a few days and they sound perfect!! He added so much musicality to my songs. I am so glad I found him on SoundBetter. 100% recommend for your projects!
check_circleVerifiedTravis was a complete pro and knocked out a bass track for us last minute. Great timing, polished sound, and happily worked with our suggestions. Would definitely work with him again in the future!
check_circleVerifiedonce again, travis impressed my with his superb tightness and professionalism. flawless and exceptional communication skills.
no need to look further, he nails every style. !!! so happy to know him- check_circleVerified
TRAVIS NAILED EXACTLY WHAT I WANT! HIS COMMUNICATION IS EXCELLENT AND HAS A SPEEDING TURN AROUND RATE. TALENTED BASS PLAYER!! CANT WAIT TO WORK TOGETHER AGAIN!
Besides being one of the best bass players in Nashville or anywhere else - Travis is the very definition of a pro, from learning the music to doing the gig to hanging on the road. His musical points of reference stretch from Pantera to Coltrane to Prince to Johnny Cash, and he plays all of it with a depth that comes from years of shedding, performing and listening.
Travis is so well rounded when it comes to working together. I use & would recommend him to anyone with any interest in needing someone to play bass on their session. His prior and continued experience is invaluable and only shows with his comments and ideas towards the sessions we’ve done. Great player, better person!
Travis is the consummate professional. Incredible player and even better person. There are no styles of music that I wouldn’t consider using Travis on as a bass player, not to mention his incredible track building skills as well, in a variety of styles and genres. Hire him!
This guy! He's easily one of my favorite bass players in all of space and time. Incredibly versatile, always plays for the song, and one of the most wonderful human beings I've ever worked with. We've worked together on rock, country, Americana, jazz, and even psychedelic space surf projects. Travis can be as melodic or invisible as you want. There's nobody I would recommend before him.
Beyond being a nice guy to work with, and an amazing player (with awesome tone), Travis is very professional. He has played on a few songs of mine, and it couldn't have been easier. I reached out, he replied quickly with a quote and his projected completion time, and then he met those deadlines. No questions asked when I had a tweak, and the music turned out great! He's a high quality musician.
Travis is the most authentic shapeshifter in style and approach of any bass player I have ever worked with. Purely creative, and always puts the song first. That said, when you need someone to take the lead, he can own it as well as he supports. Amazing time, amazing to ideate with, and pure low end genius.
I've been fortunate enough to have Travis contribute both bass and lap steel to a couple of my albums, as well as share the stage with him on countless nights of noise here in Nashville. He brings precision, professionalism, and innovation to anything he's involved in. He'll make both you and your project better.
Travis is one of the best bassists in the biz. His resume proves it. He's a great guy and is dedicated to providing a top level product. Not hiring him is a mistake you don't want to make!
Interview with Travis Vance
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I’m very proud that I was able to produce an EP in Muscle Shoals for a Nashville-based instrumental band called “Whitten” this year. Great musicians, great songs, great studio (Noble Steed), and I’m very happy with the way the project turned out.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Just wrapped up a 2-song project with a legacy German country singer named Linda Füller that I helped produce a live tracking session for. Writing/producing ambient music for an online show. And currently touring with Thomas Rhett thru September 2023.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Too many to list - I live in Nashville 😂
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital. Lower overhead, easier to travel, sounds just as good these days if you’ve got the right plugins and know how to use them.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That you will be happy with what I’ve given you and feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Connecting with different people and having them trust my musical decisions on something meaningful.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Will you give a discount on multiple songs? Yes.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it will take longer than it does.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What (if any) direction can you give me? Does that include references? What key is the song in? If it’s recorded to a click/grid, what is the tempo?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Don’t be afraid to express your expectations of how the song will turn out; don’t micromanage your players, but if you know what you want then feel empowered to share that with the musicians you hire.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Assuming there’s electricity? 😅 Computer Interface Midi controller P Bass U47 Microphone
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Bass lessons at 13. Graduated Berklee College of music in 2003, moved to Nashville the same year. Started an indie rock band in 2004, toured independently and worked on getting label support/distribution until 2010, at which point I became a full-time independent bass contractor. Landed a gif with a then-unknown artist named Thomas Rhett in 2011, and still currently tour with him. I’ve steadily built my recording and touring career within all this, working with Nashville artists in studios as well as remote sessions with musicians all over the world.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Aggressively supportive
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Niall Horan. Great tunes, always catchy basslines and great production - also a super nice guy.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: I use some amount of overdrive on almost every bass track I record in order to add mid-range EQ clarity and harmonic content that sits really well in most mixes.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Country, pop, singer-songwriter, folk, indie rock, ambient, experimental
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Professionalism
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring 30 years of bass playing. I bring ears that have been highly trained by school and professional experience. I bring an amiable demeanor that will put you at ease. I bring a producer’s taste and a mix engineer’s patience. And most importantly I bring a lifelong love of music that stays alive thru collaboration.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Typically I’ll listen to a song twice - the first time I’ll make a detailed chart (listen with the brain), the second time I’ll listen to the emotional aspects of the song (listen with the heart). Then I’ll take 2-3 passes at a song, listen back for any punches I need to fix, then bounce the track and deliver it right away.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: -2021 Mac Mini -UAD Apollo Twin Quad Core Interface -Logic DAW -Several outboard tone options via preamps and DI’s, including a Motown DI, WA1073EQ, EQP-WA Pultec clone, Line 6 Helix, Ampeg SGT-DI, plus many FX pedals - 20+ basses - Over 20 soft synth options for bass synth (able to deliver MIDI and Audio if that’s desired)
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I’ve always loved the classic rock and roll, soul, and pop musicians of the 60’s and 70’s, but I’m influenced by a lot of my peers here in Nashville.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I typically do bass guitar remote sessions for songwriters of all styles.
I was the Bass, Guitar, Steel Guitar, Keys, Drum programming, producer in this production
•1-3 revisions per song •If producing a song with additional Nashville based players we’ll discuss added budget • 24-48 hour turnaround on instrument tracks •
- Logic X (latest version)
- Soundtoys
- Waves Bundle
- Line 6 Helix
- Yamaha
- Fender
- Ibanez
$100 song for bass. Discount on 5 or more songs at once.
