Why isn’t Mushkat more talked about? Even in our tiny pond, overrun with schools of singer-songwriters, Bill Travis stands out. With a Ben Lee-like voice, Travis effortlessly moves from traditional singer-songwriter pop to perfect bossa nova, smoky cool jazz and quiet folk. The lyrics tend toward didactic, with environmental themes that can be a bit much. But the lessons are worth taking for gritty and saucy tracks like “It’s Good to Be in Love.” More than just the Alamo, with his latest, Travis defends his place among Halifax’s top singer-songwriters.
This article appears in Jan 7-13, 2010.
I just recently heard Mushkat for the first time at the Wick Pub/Union Street Café in Berwick. It was an open mic night and we didn’t know who’d be playing in advance. Mushkat took up the stage, and immediately I was caught up in Bill Travis’ marvellous voice. What a wonderful surprise it was to hear Mushkat for the first time that night. I picked up a cd and have been enjoying Travis’ voice ever since. He truly is a treasure, one that the East Coast should be proud of.