With Traveler CS: an interview with the artist of "Adam"

15.07.2021

Traveler CS is the brainchild of Cameron Fitzpatrick, an American musician, composer, and producer from North Carolina. Cameron Fitzpatrick has been active in the music scene from a young age, starting in his early teens. His roots are classical, including piano, violin, and classical vocal training, all of which began when he was a young boy. He began writing in several progressive rock bands, performing all along the eastern United States coast. In Traveler, he is returning to his classical influences while maintaining his progressive desire for experimentation and incorporating vintage and modern synthesizers, percussion, and soundscapes. He released his debut full length, Janus, on Sonder House Records, and self released an EP titled Halcyon in February of 2020. His second full length, Adam, is out via Blue Spiral Records.

Hi Cameron, you are an emerging artist but with different results already achieved, can you tell

us briefly what artist you are?

I am Cameron Fitzpatrick, and I compose under the name Traveler CS. I write music that combines classical and electronic instrumentation to create ambient, modern classical and downtempo music. I like to think of it as attention demanding meditation music, if that is possible!

What are your influences and your musical references?

I have been greatly influenced in recent years by Nils Frahm, as so many have I'm sure, but I also take quite a bit of inspiration from older progressive rock and crossover acts like Tangerine Dream, and modern electronic groups like Boards of Canada. I like to approach the piano as a sequencer, and I think this approach lets me integrate these influences into my more ambient style.

I tend to compose based on how I feel in the moment. The most natural way for me to write is to simply spend some time with my instruments and play them, waiting to see what comes out.

How do you compose? Do you feel a musical theme in your mind or is it more

based on creating from sensations?

I tend to compose based on how I feel in the moment. The most natural way for me to write is to simply spend some time with my instruments and play them, waiting to see what comes out. This will often reflect what music is interesting me at the time and how I'm feeling.

How was your latest album born?

I wanted to write a strictly autobiographical album, but that didn't quite happen. It started out dealing with difficult emotions I had experienced throughout my life, but turned into more of a personal mythology, drawing connections to greater myths and stories, which are referenced in the titles of the tracks (The Garden, The Tree of Life, etc.)

At what time of the day do you like to compose? Is it an expressive urgency due to an inspiration or do you meditate and plan everything with scrupulous criteria?

I love composing during the day! I honestly just don't get much done at night. For some reason, once the sun goes down, I just lose all productivity! I like to meditate on things. I used to try and write everything for a song in one day, let it "fall out of me", I used to say. I think that is really wonderful when it happens naturally, but lately I've been trying to give myself more time to complete things, make small changes slowly, and come to feel like the composition is finished.

What would you answer to those who ask you why you should listen to your music?

I truly believe my music is very unlike most modern classical music (which of course is not to say that other modern classical music is bad, it isn't!). It spends more time with electronics and melody, is a bit more avant-garde and experimental. My music offers many layers to explore on each successive listen.

Music is a huge part of me, present even when I don't want it to be. It sometimes comforts me and sometimes tortures me!

What is the meaning of music for you?

Music is a huge part of me, present even when I don't want it to be. It sometimes comforts me and sometimes tortures me! But it is a permanent and important part of who I am and it drives to me contribute to the world.

Could you kindly anticipate us something about your upcoming projects?

I have a few reworks coming up with other modern classical composers, as well as some more outside the box, progressive rock and retro electronic projects in development. I hope to keep things interesting!