briantravisband

[briantravisband]

This is a hand drawn inked and colored (no AI) re-interpretation of a page from Swamp Thing issue 5. This was an assignment for my digital illustration class at Berkeley City College Spring 2025. It was drawn, inked and colored using Photoshop and a wacom tablet.

[briantravisband]

Amity (Produced Version)

I wrote a beat by beat plot synopsis of the film JAWS. This is the fully produced version.

[briantravisband]

I began writing this one on Halloween 2024. I finished it up a few days later.

[briantravisband]

"Fairy Ring" Digital illustration. Brian Travis Williams

[briantravisband]

I made these stickers. Designed them by hand. No AI!

[briantravisband]

20 years ago my band released an album called "Past The Breakers". It was our first full length album and this song was the second track. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of that album, I've re-recorded a 2023 version of "Temporary" originally written about the suicide of someone I was getting to know at the time. Her suicide was tragic and it moved me to write this song. It's dedicated to Paulina and anyone whose ever lost anyone before they were meant to.

[briantravisband]

In light of the former presidents mugshot being released, I'm posting the song I wrote and recorded shortly after the Jan 6th insurrection. It's called Albatross.

[briantravisband]

I woke up today to a news article about “Rich Men from Richmond” song and read about the guy who wrote it and how it’s now number one on the charts. The song had been weaponized by the MAGA crowd but I don't see it as being any more political than most music out there. I don’t think there’s a songwriter around that hasn't wrote about how hard life is these days, and how much the world is transforming into something unrecognizable from the recent past. This guy picked up the guitar and wrote something that’s struck a chord with listeners worldwide. As a songwriter whose been at it for decades I can attest that it’s lightning in a bottle when that happens.

In light of processing this guys story, I was feeling a little disheartened over breakfast about how challenging it’s been for me to reach new listeners with my own creative musical output. Then at that very moment my phone rang.

It was a musician friend of mine whose musical abilities and songwriting I truly admire and respect. He said, “Hey I’m glad you’re up…look, I’ve been listening to the last two songs you’ve posted nonstop for days and I just had to call you and tell you how great they are.”

Instantly, the doubt I was feeling about my own work dissipated a little...

“A couple of the lines in ‘A Song For Me' really grabbed me and made the back of my skull tingle." he continued, "Your harmonies and guitar playing in 'Before The World Ends' are great and I have a playlist of all the songs you post that I listen to on my long drives to work. Please keep posting your new songs, I love listening to them!"

I stammered a few thank yous and then we spoke about songwriting for a while before he said goodbye.

I think the lesson here is that you shouldn't compare your work to anyone else before you have your morning coffee or else you'll end up in an ego death spiral that results in your own personal existential crisis that can only be avoided if you happen to get a reassuring phone call moments later. lol.

But seriously, no artist should compare their work to work that has become wildly successful in a meteoric way because all art is subjective. Just keep making your art and putting it out there and try not to be concerned about the reactions, positive or negative. Either reaction could color your thinking and it has the potential to negatively affect your next song or your next piece if you over-think things too much.

Just stay in the zone and follow your muse. Work hard and keep going. The accumulation of your creative output will start to speak for itself, and at some point, if you keep at it, it will be impossible for anyone to discount what you have achieved whether it's wild runaway success or a steady, steadfast career of consistency that you are proud of.

[briantravisband]

I put music and words together to make songs. This one is about all of the ways the world could possibly end. It's called "Before The World Ends". I hope you like it.