While you might not immediately recognize the name Travis Harrison, if you’re a devotee of indie music, you’ve undoubtedly encountered his sonic fingerprints. This versatile musician, engineer, and producer has left his mark on a vast spectrum of indie projects, collaborating with luminaries such as Built to Spill, Guided By Voices, members of Travis, The Boredoms, Fred Armisen, and OK Go. Beyond these high-profile collaborations, Harrison has also recorded and mixed over a thousand artists through the dynamic live-in-the-studio sessions of the BreakThruRadio (BTR) project. For over a decade, Harrison’s dedication and expertise have cemented his position as a pivotal figure in the indie music landscape, particularly for his integral role in shaping the sound of Guided by Voices in the 21st century.
A Career Forged in the Indie Trenches
Hailing from Long Island and a long-time resident of New York City since his Columbia University graduation in 2001, Harrison’s journey in music began as a drummer within the vibrant indie scene. This hands-on experience as a musician provided a crucial foundation for his parallel endeavors in studio work. Simultaneously, he launched Serious Business Music, a studio, production company, and record label, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and multifaceted talents. In 2014, Serious Business Music found its new home in the basement of a historic brick building in Dumbo, Brooklyn, marking a significant chapter in Harrison’s career as a New York City fixture.
Before relocating his studio to Dumbo, Harrison’s path began to intertwine with Robert Pollard, the iconic frontman and creative force behind Guided by Voices. This initial connection blossomed into a profound and ongoing collaboration that has defined much of Harrison’s recent work. He’s not only toured globally, drumming for Pollard’s 2016 project ESP Ohio, but he has also become the indispensable sound engineer, producer, and archivist for Pollard’s seemingly boundless creative output. His deep understanding of Pollard’s artistic vision and his technical prowess have made him an essential partner in the Guided by Voices universe.
Becoming Indispensable to Guided By Voices
Brooklyn Magazine recently engaged in conversation with Travis Harrison to delve into his multifaceted career, exploring his role as what some might call “the George Martin” of Guided by Voices – a crucial behind-the-scenes collaborator for one of indie rock’s most enduring and influential bands. Their discussion illuminated Harrison’s unique methodology for recording and producing Guided by Voices’ albums and various side projects, especially considering the band members are geographically dispersed across four different states.
How have you been navigating things lately?
Things are good! I just emerged from Covid isolation, triggered by my wife’s positive test. Thankfully, it was a mild case. The real challenge was the confinement, being unable to leave the house. Now, I’m back in my element, working from my basement studio in Dumbo.
Dumbo isn’t typically the first neighborhood that comes to mind when thinking about recording studios.
This building in Dumbo, a century-old behemoth spanning an entire city block, houses a diverse community of creatives in its basement – many of us involved in music and related fields. It’s a quintessential Brooklyn experience – a bit rough around the edges, basement-level, but full of creative energy. The neighborhood itself has transformed dramatically since I set up shop here. Brooklyn Bridge Park has brought in huge crowds, making it much more tourist-centric. Navigating the selfie sticks is now part of the daily Dumbo experience.
Your studio is situated in a block that’s almost like a self-contained urban ecosystem, complete with a pizzeria, a taco spot, and even a poetry shop.
Exactly! I often wonder how the poetry shop manages to stay in business! It’s a great place, been around for years, and they host events. I’ve always meant to attend one, I really should.
Is your record label still active in releasing albums?
The label feels like a relic from a past era. I haven’t released any new music through it since 2012. My primary focus is solely on the studio now.
Before the pandemic disrupted things, the BreakThruRadio project was a major part of your studio’s activity. Can you tell us more about that?
BreakThruRadio is a long-standing online content platform, active since around 2006. Their BTR Live Studio concept was a brilliant way to consistently fill the studio schedule. Twice a week, touring bands would come in and record a quick set – four or five songs – followed by an interview. It became a fantastic rhythm for studio bookings and also a great way for me to discover new musicians and experience live music in a controlled setting where I was directly involved. I ran that project from 2010 to 2020, almost exactly ten years. A huge archive of those sessions is available on YouTube, their website, and as podcasts.
And how has the studio been operating since the pandemic began?
I’ve taken on a few projects with familiar collaborators, things that have emerged during this unusual period, but it’s been significantly less activity than before. However, it never truly feels slow because Guided by Voices maintains such an intense pace. We launched “Hot Freaks,” an email-based audio subscription service, which constantly needs new content, and there’s always a flurry of activity around GBV.
How much of your professional time is now dedicated to working with Robert Pollard and the Guided by Voices universe? With initiatives like “Hot Freaks,” you’re essentially an archivist, producer, and curator of both current and historical recordings.
During the Covid period, it’s been something of a blessing, as it’s absorbed about 90 percent of my time. I genuinely love working on Bob’s music. The last few records we’ve created have explored different sonic territories than we might have if the pre-pandemic pace of life was still in effect. It’s been creatively rewarding. I honestly think the newest album, “Styles We Paid For,” is their absolute best yet!
Robert Pollard of Guided by Voices performing live.
How did your collaboration with Robert Pollard and Guided by Voices initially come about?
My first connection was with Doug Gillard, Guided by Voices’ guitarist, around 2009 or 2010. I was a long-time fan, so meeting Doug was definitely a “gush zone” moment. Having my studio, I immediately invited him over to hang out. I knew about Lifeguards, his duo project with Pollard, and casually asked if there was ever going to be another Lifeguards album. Doug replied, “Actually, I was just talking to Bob about that.” The timing was perfect. I ended up producing the Lifeguards record “Waving at the Astronauts” with Doug, which was incredible. Then Bob came to my studio to record his vocals. It was an amazing experience!
And you went on to play drums on “ESP Ohio.” Pollard has even referred to you as “the sixth member of Guided by Voices.”
It’s incredibly generous of Bob to include me in that way. Our working relationship does feel very collaborative. The dynamic is different during live shows, but even then, I’m handling the sound, so I’m still deeply involved. I’m in a unique position to support Bob’s creative vision, and it’s a privilege. They tour without a large crew, so I also assist in various technical aspects on the road.
Circling back to Brooklyn, do you feel that having your studio in Brooklyn has influenced your work or the sonic character of your productions?
Over time, I’ve definitely gravitated towards a closer, tighter sound aesthetic that I associate with New York City. I’m less inclined towards expansive, ambient sounds. Perhaps it’s just my perception, but we’re often working in smaller spaces, basements, with smaller drum kits and amp setups – less about massive stacks and more about compact combo amps. Everything becomes inherently smaller and tighter sonically, and that necessity becomes part of the signature sound.
This close-quarters, energetic, and resourceful approach perfectly encapsulates the spirit of indie music and the dedicated craftsmanship that Travis Harrison brings to his vital role within the world of Guided by Voices and beyond.
