When I listen to Travis Meadow’s “Pray for Jungleland” a dramatic screenplay runs through my mind. It gets personal for me, harking back to a time before Spotify when life’s longings even included what we’d hope to hear on the car radio. Like Springsteen’s best, it’s a tough and tender song reminiscing about adolescence. Many other well-written songs like it come from this man whom Rolling Stone magazine called “Nashville’s most badass songwriter.”

Meadows has been dealt more bad hands in life than anyone could ever possibly bear. His resounding strength through them has resulted in some of the best recent country songs to come out of Music City. Travis has had “cuts” with over a dozen or so of country’s biggest names including “Riser,” a top-ten hit for Dierks Bentley that he wrote with fellow Nashvililian Steve Moakler.

Thankfully, the world now has three Travis Meadow’s records to hear, including last year’s “First Cigarette.”  He has a strong gritty voice on the country side of Americana, and you can get a taste of Meadow’s music in a free sampler on NoiseTrade.

If you prefer a serious dose of life’s realities in your country music, Travis Meadows is for you. If you want dumb songs about the mud flaps on your pickup truck or smashing beer cans on your head, I suggest you go somewhere else. Thanks TM for taking the time with the 11 Questions.

Where are you from originally, when did you move to Nashville and why?

I was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. I moved to Nashville in 2002 to be a writer.

What are the first and the last records you bought, and where did you buy them? Were they CD, vinyl or digital?

I don’t remember the first record I bought for sure, but I think it may have been Gary Wright’s The Dream Weaver. The last record I bought was Rod Stewart’s A Night on the Town; it was a gift. Vinyl.

First and last live concerts that you’ve seen?

My first concert was Dr. John at the Coliseum in Jackson. It was a love-in. Blankets and weed smoke. The last concert was Anderson East at 3rd & Lindsley.

Whose star should be added to the Music City Walk of Fame?

Merle Haggard should be on every walk of fame.

Where do you go in Nashville for coffee and pizza?

Coffee: Ugly Mugs. Pizza: Steak & Pizza on Gallatin Road.

What’s your favorite record to ever come out of Nashville?

There’s no way I can answer that.

Where’s the best place to eat late night after a show?

Hermitage Cafe

The Bluebird calls and asks you to host an “In the Round.” Pick three local songwriters to join you. Tony Lane, Brandy Clark, Jeffrey Steele

What are your favorite music venues to play in town?

Douglas Corner, Bluebird, 3rd & Lindsley

Name a musician who you’d like to see move here?

They are all here, aren’t they?

Finally, what’s in your musical future?

A music video, hopefully a documentary, another record and touring like a banshee.