Our brand new album, 'L.A. Times' is out now!

Fran Healy considers Travis’ inception, imagining a bay of little sailboats “with all the bands and artists sitting in them, waiting on that freak gust of wind to blow them to fame and fortune.” For some it never comes. For Travis, it would yield a run of hits including modern standards such as Sing, Why Does It Always Rain On Me, Driftwood, and lift them to unimaginable heights. At various points along the trajectory, Travis have sold millions of albums (The Man Who is 9x Platinum certified in the UK alone); secured multiple wins at the BRITs, Ivor Novello and Q Awards; and acclaim from the likes of Paul McCartney, Elton John and Graham Nash – also songwriters whose ability to divine a timeless melody out of thin air has sustained them through decades. 

There’s something powerful about the fact that Travis is made up of the same four musicians who first came to prominence in 1996 with their debut EP ‘All I Want To Do Is Rock’. An unbroken line-up for an unbroken band – Fran Healy (vocals, guitar); Andy Dunlop (guitar); Dougie Payne (bass); and Neil Primrose (drums). By his own account, Travis’ new album, L.A. Times is Fran Healy’s most personal songwriting since ‘The Man Who’. Honouring the unique chemistry that first united the band in Glasgow, 5000 miles away from L.A., if you’ve heard the new single Gaslight, you’ll have been reminded that when the four members of Travis convene to make music, the resulting sound is impossible to mistake for any other band.

Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era, widely regarded as one of the greatest masters of piano music. Born on March 1, 1810, in Żelazowa Wola, Poland, Chopin showed prodigious talent from an early age, performing in Warsaw's salons by the age of seven.

At the age of 20, Chopin left Poland, eventually settling in Paris, which became his creative home. Despite his fragile health, he became a central figure in the city's vibrant artistic circles, forming lasting relationships with luminaries like Franz Liszt, George Sand (his lover and muse), and other leading artists of the time.

Chopin's compositions are celebrated for their lyrical beauty, innovative harmonies, and technical brilliance. His works for solo piano include 21 nocturnes, 24 preludes, 27 études, 4 ballades, and 2 piano concertos, as well as numerous waltzes, polonaises, and mazurkas that reflect his deep connection to Polish folk music. His Études, in particular, revolutionized piano technique and remain a cornerstone of the instrument’s repertoire.

A deeply expressive and introspective artist, Chopin’s music bridges the gap between classical traditions and the emotive Romantic spirit. His compositions are characterized by a delicate balance of virtuosity and poetic depth, earning him the nickname "the poet of the piano."

Chopin's health deteriorated in his later years due to tuberculosis, and he passed away on October 17, 1849, at the age of 39. His legacy endures, influencing generations of composers and pianists. Today, his works remain beloved by audiences worldwide, a tribute to his unparalleled contribution to classical music.

Nico Play is the bilingual project of Nicolás Perea. Born in Mexico City and currently based in Chicago, Nico writes songs in both Spanish and English.

 https://linktr.ee/nicoplay

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