What do they say about history? It makes us and molds us? Maybe it's a rough paraphrase but there is no truer example of history than Seattle's Graham Travis. The nostalgic sounds of the past are filtered through this resourceful, varied, up-and-coming songwriter and onto his debut album. And Poptek Records is proud to release this "classic" record, Why Don't You Know Me Yet?

"I was raised on music and fish sticks", remembers Travis. "My dad was a musician in the 70's and 80's. He taught me life lessons through the lyrics in songs. He sat me on his knee during band practices and had me sing Crosby, Stills, & Nash harmonies at neighborhood parties. Typical dad loves music sort of thing. That's how I acquired the taste and the nostalgia". And the loves of his past definitely shine through on his debut recording. The Beatles had Lennon's piano. The Beach Boys had the elaborate harmonies. Neil Young has his guitar and his raw attitude. Travis has a bit of it all.

But don't mistake "classic" for derivative, "I think the diversity that I grew up respecting and loving has stuck with me and has definitely made its way into the music I write". Travis continues, "Why Don't You Know Me Yet? has a total personality disorder but it's still me. I just write songs, all kinds of songs."

And also don't mistake "classic" for uninteresting. Travis explains, "I love songs that teeter between sanity and convention. Calculated risks are appreciated. Some people mix all types of stuff together in the name of risk and creativity. But when crap and obliviousness are your starting point, the end result is just smelly any way you slice it. A good songwriter knows how a song is going to be heard."

While classifying himself as a singer/ songwriter, Travis is much more than an out-of-context poet with a guitar and a bad sense of melody. Travis writes songs, pop songs. Once the world hears “Tripped You Up”, the chorus will bounce and dance in the listeners' ears for weeks, at least. Same with “So Wonderful”. The pounding piano line reminisces of the innocence and catchiness of early 60's pop. Yes, Graham Travis writes intelligent lyrics of love, life, friendship and humanity. But songs are more than text. And crafting a melody is the earmark of both pop music and Graham Travis.

Now that Why Don't You Know Me Yet? is available, Travis looks toward the future. "I want my music to make people happy. I want my live shows to be parties, fun gatherings of potential friends. Hopefully it will reflect my values for community and love. In a sense, I'm a typical North American in that I'm in love with love. I write a lot of songs about love, I get inspired by love, which is universal. When I'm inspired I want to have the courage to say the things most people only think of saying. . . I think the world needs voices like that."