Risk by Trafton – Spotlight Feature Artist
Trafton has blessed us with another bop called Risk. It came out about a week ago and we couldn’t help but to bring back our ‘Spotlight Artist‘ feature just to declare him the newest inductee! This is our first ever Q&A. We are so intrigued by this artist that we wanted to know a bit more about such an amazing talent!
Q1.) The opening obligatory question…Your music is extremely well written. It’s clear you’ve put a lot of time, energy and care into your music. How long have you been writing music?
Well, thank you so much. I have been writing music for as long as I can remember. My parents brought home an old upright when I was three years old, and apparently I sat right down and started pressing keys. I think I started inventing right then. I’m not sure when it changed from just hitting notes to actual music, but after a few years my parents signed me up for piano lessons, which I hated because I really only wanted to learn by ear or do my own thing. As far as lyrical songs, I have an old notebook with a song written in it from Christmas day when I was nine, called “Fear of Life.” I guess that was probably the first.
Q2.) What would you say is your driving force when it comes to music creation? What moves you?
At the most fundamental level, my songs are manifestations of my feelings. I’ve always used the writing process as both an emotional outlet and a means of processing and understanding the ones that are more complex or difficult to reckon with. The themes tend to revolve around my desires and fears, and I’m moved by the people and places that inspire them. There’s also a lot in my music that comes from inside of my head independently of what’s happening around me, thoughts that I think I’d have regardless of any situation I’m in due to my life, stuff that comes out just because of my personality and the person I was born as. This merge of the external experience with the purely internal one is something that probably shows up a lot in my writing.
Q3.) What artists influence you?
I don’t think I’m influenced very strongly by any artists (in my writing I mean) because I have truthfully been writing the same way, from the same place since I can remember, back when the only popular music I listened to was Hannah Montana. Subconsciously, I’m sure I end up being influenced by a lot of the music I listen to, and with that being said, some of my favorite artists that I always come back to are Banks, Glass Animals, LP, and (of course) Lorde, who is surely a demigod and for me embodies the epitome of everything I love about pop music. I didn’t grow up listening to the classics like a lot of kids did, so all of the acts from older generations that I listen to, I really came to find myself. A few of these are Simon and Garfunkel, Fleetwood Mac, and Pink Floyd. A couple artists that I’ve also been listening to a lot lately are King Princess and SZA.
Q4.) You recently collaborated with Stella Jones on the song ‘Don’t Let Me Sleep‘ Which was amazing as well. Is there anyone else you would like to collaborate or tour with?
Thank you! Stella is a very close friend of mine and a super talented writer. I had a lot of fun doing that song with her. In the future, I’d love to collaborate with any of the artists I listed above, and I’d probably kill to make eye contact with Lorde, let alone write with her. Troye Sivan, Allie X, and Leland have this little power group that some impeccable pop songs have been born from, so someday I’d love to work with them. These are of course all biiggg names, so now, going into the next few months I’m hoping to meet and work with some other New York based writers, artists, and producers!
Q5.) Any advice you want to give to anyone out there pursuing their dreams who may be influenced by you and your music?
Well, as far as putting my music out in the world and really trying to build a career out of it, I am definitely still starting out as well, so I’m not sure I have much wisdom to share quite yet! I would say that I’ve made the decision to really go for it, to “follow my dreams!” It’s a scary decision to make, but I’ve basically realized that far too many people settle in life, and I refuse to. So if you’re out there believing that you have something, whether it’s in your art or your sport or your idea, then don’t hold back because you’re scared or because it’s hard. As my dad says, “if it were easy, everybody would be doing it.”
Q6.) Open mic time – Anything you want to say to the listeners out there? (Upcoming projects/ Random thoughts/ Just “Hello”)
I have lots of music in the works!! Like, years and years worth of music. The goal after releasing a couple more singles this summer is to move towards the creation of a full length album that’s been developing inside me for a long time now. The songs I want to bring to life for this project are extremely meaningful to me, a lot more personal than the ones people are listening to now. I really believe in them and I am so excited, and nervous, to bring them to life and share them!
We’d like to thank Trafton from the bottom of our music loving hearts for taking the time to respond to us. If you’re not following him then you’re missing out. The video for Risk is below so check it out. Follow support and spread the word for this talented artist. You’ll find the likes below!
You may also like
