Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis Tench
Hi Travis, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I moved around a bit as a child and kept it up as an adult, spending most of my young-adult years in NYC. I worked as a teacher in Mexico, co-founded an environmental non-profit and farmers market in NYC, worked in a solar startup, did freelance handyman work and built a couple tiny houses, and traveled the world touring with an earth-loving activist choir.
After moving to Knoxville, TN in 2019, it’s been a quick succession of wonderful life changes: my partner and I got married, adopted a dog, bought a house, I started a band and started releasing music I love, started a business producing music and editing audio, and we had a little girl almost a year and a half ago. Of all the jobs and titles I’ve earned and hats I’ve worn, I’m now most proud to be a husband, father, musician and producer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Are there actually any smooth or straight proverbial roads out there? I took a very circuitous path to get to where I am now, but it seems to have been the one I needed to take. I took lots of tangental tracks that all kept leading back to the one I’m on now. And it’s still bumpy at times. I think creatives in any field can attest to that.
I think the biggest hurdle was finally accepting and declaring myself an artist and creative and believing that I could thrive as one. It’s always felt somehow selfish to do work that I really enjoy instead of just what I think the world needs most (hence all my years teaching and working in the nonprofit sector). I’ve finally come around to accept that it’s also good for the world to be doing what I love and to help others do what they love. I’ve battled imposter syndrome a lot and still second guess my work at times, but I often look back to see work I’m proud of and how far I’ve come.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
With my band Tinca Tinca, we write upbeat, ambient, lyrical songs for nature-loving city dwellers and have played a ton of fun shows and festivals.
At my business, Oak Hill Audio, I produce music for other artists, compose custom themes and soundtracks, edit, record, and produce podcasts. My mission is to inspire joy, connection, hope, and progress through creativity and collaboration. I’m currently working on the next four singles that will be part of next year’s album for my band, scoring a short film, producing a political sea shanty for another artist, and editing a podcast created by a music history professor at Pratt Institute.
I’m most proud of being able to help people tell their stories and express their emotions in creative ways, and to help people connect through music.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was mostly a quiet youngest brother trying to be part of what my older brother and his friends were up to growing up. I learned a lot from him, including how to play music with other people. We moved a few times as kids, so we stuck together and spent lots of time together in the woods, exploring caves, fishing, climbing trees, playing baseball as we found new friends in new places. As I got older, I leaned into my gregarious, extroverted side and feel very fortunate to have met so many amazing friends who brought it out of me. I had a lot of wild years. Traveling the world, living abroad and living in big cities in my early adulthood was full of adventure, exploring, and learning. Throughout my childhood (and adulthood) I’ve always loved music and appreciate how much my family fed and supported that fascination.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oakhillaudio.com/ , https://www.tincatincamusic.com/
- Instagram: @tincatincamusic , @oakhillaudio
- Facebook: @tincatincamusic , @oakhillaudio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tincatinca6614
- Other: https://linktr.ee/TincaTinca
