Travis Clark - Curious Conversations

Travis Clark is the vocalist of We The Kings — the pop-rock band behind “Check Yes, Juliet,” which held the #1 spot on iTunes for three weeks and became a generational anthem. Travis has also written for Avril Lavigne, and Demi Lovato was featured on their song “We’ll Be a Dream.”

I still remember seeing We The Kings perform at the Warped Tour in 2008 — sunburned, loud, and full of energy. Back then, I never could’ve imagined I’d one day sit across from Travis, not as a fan in the crowd, but as a peer in conversation.

What struck me most was his humility. When we were talking about what destroys most bands, he didn’t hesitate: “Ego.” So I asked, “Is it hard not to fall into it?” He smiled and said, “It’s impossible.”

He talked about meeting his idols — how some encounters make you an even bigger fan, and others can be off-putting. But even then, he said he tries to give them grace. “After the fifth time,” he laughed, “it might be time to take them off the pedestal. But I still give them grace anyway.”

Not once did I hear him curse, complain, or chase attention. He struck me as simply a man who knows what matters most. He spoke with deep love for his wife and their four kids. His hope, he said, is that his career shows his children they can do whatever they dream of — but more than that, he just wants them to grow up to be virtuous human beings.

He’s big on family — and proud of it. He lit up talking about how his parents have stayed together their entire lives, and how the same is true for his wife’s family. You could tell it meant something to him — not as a brag, but as a legacy he wants to continue.

In a world obsessed with image, he reminded me that real greatness isn’t about how loud the applause gets — it’s about who you are when the cameras stop rolling, when you’re sitting in your green room alone, and there’s no one left to impress.

To hang out with him — to see the man behind the microphone — was a dream. And to all the other band members I met on their tour bus — keep living your dream.