Date:
8/19/2010
Contact: Kathi Fraze at 575-562-2377
Reporter: Robin Haislett
PORTALES--Eastern New Mexico University instructor of music Travis Erwin will perform his faculty recital on guitar and violin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27 at Buchanan Hall in the newly renovated Music Building on the Portales campus.
The 20-year veteran of songwriting will perform original pieces in the performance he’s calling “Getting Back Up.” Erwin says most of the songs have a common theme of “continuing to get back up after stumbling in life.” The performance is dedicated to Erwin’s brother-in-law who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and anyone who is going through troubles in life.
Many of the songs have been continuous works-in-progress throughout Erwin’s career. “There will be times I don’t write for a month or two and, when I get a song written, it feels like everything is still on track,” he says.
His newest song has only been in existence for a few weeks. The working title is “Beyond the Tidal Pool” and its lyrics were written while on a vacation in San Diego with his family. It centers around the idea of the unknown dangers in the water and how it relates to life in general.
Erwin decided to become a musician because “it was the most ‘real’ thing I wanted to do with my life. Music means something to people and I want to be involved in something that inspires,” he says.
He also enjoys the experience of being a catalyst for others to practice the skill. “People will come up to me and say, ‘I have a guitar. It’s in my closet…,’ which makes me know my performance meant something,” he says.
The folk and jazz artist hopes the audience will be uplifted and able to make a connection to the music. He remembers a Tommy Emmanuel concert in which he felt as if the whole audience was floating “three feet off their chairs” from the performance of the Australian guitarist. “Music isn’t everything, but I want the audience to feel like they can take a vacation from life for awhile.”
The performance is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Kathi Fraze at 575-562-2377.