Born and bred in Fremantle Western Australia, Travis made the move to Melbourne in 2011. Quickly establishing himself amongst the strong local scene of singer-songwriters, he made an impressive recording debut with the Open Up Slowly EP (released under the original moniker of Hudson). The first single Against The Grain became a viral sensation with a stop-motion, kaleidoscopic music video starring none other than coloured pencils, racking up close to two million plays on Youtube and Vimeo combined. This led to a plethora of sync opportunities and established a strong following on newly appearing streaming services such as Spotify.
His second EP, The Undertow, was released in 2013. Working with critically acclaimed local producer Nick Huggins, the five track ethereal folk-pop offering further cemented Travis’s place as an artist to watch. Stand out tracks Marble Streets and One & One earned favour with the tastemakers at Triple J, and found sync opportunities in overseas markets.
Inspired by the diverse and dynamic recordings of local producer, Pip Norman, Travis began collaborating with the multi-award winning artist in late 2013. Known for his work with Australian hip-hop pioneers TZU, Urthboy, blues and roots powerhouse Ash Grunwald, and Sparkadia, the combination of analog synths and electronic experimentation layered over a folk-pop foundation makes for a unique sound that has already piqued industry attention. Indulging his passion for music videos that push the traditional boundaries, the new single Frameless is set to launch with a clip starring a blue-furred, impressively-horned beast created by the Sharp FX team (The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings). Directed by the J-Award winning, ARIA nominated team of Darcy Prendergast and Andrew Goldsmith (OH YEAH WOW), the creature conveys the poignant lyrics via AUSLAN sign language, producing a visually striking and engaging clip that is set to impress.
Against The Grain
Hudson and Troop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a race that never ever ends
I'm waiting for a bus that never shows
I'm opening I gotta let it go
I'm searching for a place that *don't exist
Need a map to find the end of my nose
Hanging from my limbs in the swaying breeze
In my life the good and bad they come and go
Highs and lows are often all that show
Now it's time to go against the grain
Or it will kill me down below
To live in comfort and now it's warm embrace
Reminds me only to quicken up the pace
Now it's time to go against the grain
Or it will kill me down below
Singing a song never heard
All of sudden I know every word
And I know there's no direction home
It's right here where all the wild things grow
In my life the good and bad they come and go
Highs and lows are often all that show
Now it's time to go against the grain
Or it will kill me down below
To live in comfort and now it's warm embrace
Reminds me only to quicken up the pace
Now it's time to go against the grain
Or it will kill me down below
The opening lines of Hudson and Troop's song Against the Grain seem to be about the struggles of a person who is experiencing confusion and uncertainty, possibly with regards to their purpose in life. The singer of the song is depicted as someone who is constantly in search of something that eludes them, such as a bus that never arrives or a place that doesn't exist, as if they are lost in life. The repeated questioning suggests that the singer is struggling with the idea of finding a sense of direction, struggling to find out what they really want and where they are heading in life.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of taking a step back from the conventional way of living and choosing one's own path, even if it goes against the norm. The singer acknowledges that there will be highs and lows in life, but it is essential to take risks and to try new things to pursue one's passion. The singer realizes that living a comfortable and safe life might not bring fulfillment and that the only way to avoid desperation and depression is to take a chance and step out of their comfort zone, going against the grain.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm asking questions time and time again
I am constantly questioning and seeking answers.
In a race that never ever ends
I feel like I am always competing and striving, with no end or sense of satisfaction.
I'm waiting for a bus that never shows
I am waiting for something that will never arrive, perhaps a solution or an opportunity.
I'm opening I gotta let it go
I am realizing that I need to let go of my expectations and find acceptance in the present moment.
I'm searching for a place that don't exist
I am searching for something that is unattainable or unrealistic.
Need a map to find the end of my nose
I am feeling lost and directionless, struggling to find my way.
Hanging from my limbs in the swaying breeze
I feel like I am being tossed around by the unpredictable whims of life.
In my life the good and bad they come and go
I acknowledge the ebb and flow of life's challenges and victories.
Highs and lows are often all that show
My experiences and emotions are often either very positive or very negative, with little in between.
Now it's time to go against the grain
I recognize the need to take action and make a change, even if it goes against my usual instincts or what is expected of me.
Or it will kill me down below
If I do not break out of my old patterns and ways of thinking, it will have negative consequences for my well-being and future.
To live in comfort and now it's warm embrace
Finding comfort and stability brings the danger of becoming stagnant and complacent.
Reminds me only to quicken up the pace
The security of familiarity should not hold me back from continuing to grow and change.
Singing a song never heard
I am discovering new ways of expression, creativity, and self-discovery.
All of sudden I know every word
I become aware of my innate connection to my own creativity and unique voice.
And I know there's no direction home
I am aware that the path forward may not always be clear, and that I need to trust my intuition and find my own way.
It's right here where all the wild things grow
It is in the unknown, uncharted territory that I can discover new opportunities, ideas, and ways of being.
Contributed by Avery J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@faellcedaer5034
my art teacher always plays this at the beginning of each year, also Ms.Wyrick if you see this, I say hello.
@needsmorefail
I came for the video, but I stayed for the song. Good show, gentlemen. Good show.
@TheRotgans
This song is summer. Summer is this song.
@omglovethisvideo
I've been listening to this song for 2 years and i still love it just as much as the first time i listened to it
@gingerbowermanpacer3255
I showed this video to my elementary art students a couple weeks ago. They LOVE it so much they are all asking for me to play it again and again. it is now my bribe to get them behaving well. Only if they work hard do they get to see it at the end of class. :) AWESOME work!
@TheHAMization
That's music the radio stations should play.
@Nougatrillettes
I'm not sure you actually realize how stong and moving your song is. You know, for me it's one of the rare song that can change your emotions from the badest to the best.
@MH-sp7te
This song got me through law school, through grad school, and it's getting me through 2022.
@sabrunka
Hudson is the BEST. Don't question it.
@thecoolhatgirl
The song and video combination is absolutely brilliant, can't believe this isn't more well-known!