SPOTLIGHT: Travis Nyland // Local Producer and General Badass

Travis Nyland // EDM Producer

Columbus, Ohio

After picking up EDM production about 6 years ago, Travis Nyland, also known as Travie LeMac, has been making his mark on the Central Ohio EDM scene with his unique tracks and over the top performances. And when I say over the top, I mean over the top. During his performances, he can be spotted across the room clad in metallic gold and standing above the crowd waiting for the drop. If you haven't seen him already, do it and do it soon. This guy is not one to miss. 

the native soundwaves: How did you get involved in producing EDM? Travis Nyland: I had always wanted to be a musician and I found that I could teach myself how to make music off of an abundance of resources online. It was then that I downloaded a copy of Ableton and spent at least 4 hours a day learning all the ins and outs of music production. I really enjoyed it and just decided to keep going with it.

tns: What do you consider yourself? An artist, producer, DJ, something else? TN: While I do consider myself all of these things, I primarily identify as a producer. I generally avoid the title of DJ just because of the negative stigma that comes along with that. I'd rather be known for the music I've created and put time into rather than just for playing other peoples music at parties, despite how much I do enjoy playing shows.

tns: What is your favorite part of producing? 
TN: Honestly my favorite part is kind of spread throughout. I enjoy getting an "AHA" moment and finding a badass sound that compliments the track. Just tinkering and finding out what sounds best or what doesn't sound good at all is amusing and you end up feeling almost like a sculptor or painter. It's a lot of fun just building a track in and off itself.

tns: Do you have any kind of process when you're producing? TN: Honestly, there's no real organized or consistent process. Every track I've made has started out differently and taken a different amount of time. Sometimes I just build on a sound without any real end goal and it evolves into something crazy I would have never anticipated, or it could be having an idea for exactly how a song should sound and I end up spending weeks carefully working on every little detail to accomplish that. It really is unpredictable! tns: Do you have any influences TN: I mean deadmau5 and daft punk were originally my two favorite artists that I really wanted to emulate, but now unless I specifically like the vibe of a song and want to try to figure out how to replicate it, I usually just try to make what I think would sound cool in my head. I guess out of any sort of influences it would be a combo of emancipator and Woolymammoth. I like the chilled out tunes that emacipator brings along with the crazy percussion or synths that wooly dishes out. I guess if you combined those two it would be along the lines of what I'd like to make. 

tns: Top three favorite artists (at the moment)? TN: Right now I'm really into Too Many Zooz. They're a brass house group from NYC that makes acoustic dance music- really intense and interesting stuff right there. Woolymammoth is another favorite and I think Hudson Mohawke is absolutely badass as well! tns: If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? TN: It would have to be C.S. Lewis. I've really enjoyed his writings and I'd love to get his perspective on alot of things in person. I'm a huge fan of his. For more Travis Nyland, check out his SoundCloud and Instagram, @travie_lemacenstein. He is also available for booking and can be contacted at lemac.production@gmail.com.

xx. Sheridan

My Dad, Jimi Hendrix

Honoring James Marshall Hendrix, one of the greatest guitarists in all of history

November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970

photos courtesy rolling stone, Jim Marshall, and the red list

It feels like almost every time I introduce myself, someone brings up the fact that my last name is Hendrix, usually something along the lines of, "Oh my god, your last name is Hendrix? Like Jimi Hendrix?" And my response is always, "Yeah, he's my dad."

I'm not lying when I say it either. My dad was born James Hendrix, just like the legend, only my dad was born 16 years after Jimi. My grandparents really didn't realize at the time the weight of the decision they'd just made (their intentions were on naming their newborn baby after the brother of Jesus.) Regardless, the name stuck, Jimi rose to fame, and the name game has been passed down to me and my brothers. 

I've always felt a sense of loyalty to Jimi, considering that he's essentially family. I've had countless Jimi Hendrix tee shirts over the years and I treasure my Experience vinyl. It's a great conversation starter, too ("Oh, you like Purple Haze? Yeah, that's my dad.")

Listening to anything by artists who have since died is always a wonderful and weird experience- simultaneously nostalgic and eerie. It's strange to think what could've been. Especially in the case of Jimi, how much more music could he have made? How many more artists could he have inspired? How many more years could he have had? It's all speculation, of course, but it leaves a hole in my heart to think of it. 

Here's to Jimi Hendrix, one of the most influential and talented musicians of all time. Happy 72nd Birthday. Rest easy.

// Castles Made of Sand //

xx. Sheridan

welcome new friends

Sheridan here- co-founder of The Native Soundwaves. Columbus, Ohio born and raised and currently studying at The Ohio State University. I’ve been known to drive eight hours for a good concert and the promise of adventure. I’m passionate about being creative (photography and writing are my first loves), people, languages, God, traveling, soup, Jeopardy trivia, and, of course, music. My secret dream is to be in a 90's girl band, but realistically I’d like to become a photojournalist and use my talents to improve the lives of others. Being a band photographer would be pretty cool, too.

I like to live by the phrase “don’t put me in a box.” It can be applied to pretty much every area of my life, but especially in my music tastes. In other words, I’m not picky. I don’t like to choose favorites, but I do have some artists I find myself going to back to over and over again: The Beatles, Mumford and Sons, One Direction, The 1975, Lorde, Passenger, Ed Sheeran, 5 Seconds of Summer, Ingrid Michaelson, Pentatonix, Wolf Gang, and the Avett Brothers. I grew up listening to my parent’s classic rock (U2, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones,) the Jackson 5 and Green Day, but discovered the worlds of indie, alternative, folk, and singer-songwriter and fell in love. Give me a mix CD and I’m yours.

Last thing you need to know, I am always and unapologetically being myself. I don’t see any use in being anyone but that. I hope that comes across well. Anyways, I’m excited to get to share the beauty that is music with you in this little corner of the internet and I hope you enjoy the adventure.

Here's a little something I've been listening to by Kodaline:


xx. Sheridan

//Is anybody O U T there?//

I thought I'd take a little bit of time to introduce myself, since I am the co-founder of The Native Soundwaves.

First of all - and arguably least important - my name is Angelia. I'm originally from Cleveland, but now I am kicking it at OSU for the next four years. I like music (obviously), black & white photos, pizza, concerts (again, obviously), posters, complaining, storms, creating, and staying up until 4 AM. Starting a band has always been plan A for me, but if that doesn't work out, I'm planning on studying journalism and writing about music for a living.

When it comes to music, I will give everything a try because I am so annoyed with the marginalization that is alive in today's society of genres. And by that I mean, yes, I do like One Direction. Real talk (is that appropriate to say? Of course it is): although my iTunes library is way too large, I do have a few favorite artists that I will defend until the end: twenty one pilots (since we both can call Ohio home, they get precedence), My Chemical Romance, The 1975, Fall Out Boy, Arctic Monkeys, All Time Low, 5 Seconds of Summer, Phillip Phillips, R5, Lorde, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, and the genres of pop punk and classic rock in general. But again, as I mentioned before, I'm just so deeply in love with music that it all excites me.

I cannot guarantee that I will not cut the lights and sounds and start talking philosophically from time to time. I like doing that. That type of chaos keeps me right on the border of sanity and insanity in the end. I hope you all enjoy listening to our little adventures with music from here on out.



Here's a new jam from the lovely Gerard Way to dance to at the inauguration of this blog right now. (The Bureau//Hesitant Alien)

 For always (hopefully), //Angelia//