Travis Demetri Brings That Bronx Attitude

Stemming from the Bronx, actor, artist, and influencer Travis Demetri knows how to grab the attention in the room. Going by pseudonyms like “TD” and “The Kidd,” reinvention is nothing new for this N.Y. queer. From Broadway to reality TV, to repping as a brand ambassador to writing and recording his own original music, Demetri can do it all. As we are all learning how to adapt reinvent ourselves during the pandemic and social uprisings worldwide, it’s a good thing for his art and his income that Demetri can switch it up in a moment’s notice.

The world is relying on social media and streaming options as a way of getting their entertainment, which is creating an oddly off-balance abundance of content creators. Being able to stand out amid all the noise requires persistence, dedication, talent, and drive; all attributes in which Demetri is overflowing with. In addition, the artist isn’t afraid of being vocal about being queer and the need for queer POC content creators. If you need examples, just check out the reality YouTube series “The Circle NYC” about a group of guys who identify as LGBTQ.

Having recently released his second single, “Do I Ever,” the entertainer hopped on a call with OUT FRONT while making his way through the Big Apple. On a mission to purchase face wash, Demetri was not deterred to proclaim the necessity of self-care amid these crazy times as we discussed the pandemic, the need for art to heal from loss, and how he explores queer themes in everything he creates.

How are you doing during this time of quarantine?
Honestly, it’s rough because I have family members who have been affected and my friend committed suicide, so the past like six, seven months of the year has been a mess. But I’m just staying grounded and focusing on what I have to do.

What have you been working on during this time?
I released my second single, it’s called, “Do I Ever.” The song is about a breakup, you know about a personal experience in the past. It’s out on all platforms and I’m just trying to get people to see my new song, because my first song was called “Rock With Me” and it did pretty well. It’s just different, you know, I came out with my first single last year; I was performing festivals and all this, appearances and stuff, and now it’s all virtual things. We all are learning about how to become techies at this point.

You also have an IGTV show, is that right? 
Yeah, I do an IGTV series called Typically Travis, an unapologetic conversation. It’s me and I have a conversation with my best friend about like real life topics, you know, straight, no chaser kind of deal. We interact, engage with the audience, the people who follow me, to keep busy. We all got to reinvent ourselves and constantly think about outside the box, while everybody’s in the same box at this point.

What kind of things are you talking about on Typically Travis?
For example, tonight is going to be about suicide awareness, you know, like how often do you check on your friends. That’s a big question. Just because I have a friend who died from suicide, and yes COVID is going on, there’s like a whole bunch of other things. So, I like to talk about stuff that usually aren’t talked about and people are used to me being vocal anyway, so it fits right in. It’s like self-help topics, but not anything too depressing because I like to have fun.

Do you talk about queer themes and identity in the series as well?
That’s definitely on my list cause I am involved in all that; I just did two digital LGBT reality shows. One is called The Boys Next Door, New York and The Circuit, New York, so I’m in that LGBT circuit so I definitely want to focus on thing like that. I’m big on anti-bullying and talking about that because I’ve been bullied so just taking my experiences and saying, ‘Hey, this is my story.’ I’d like to have a conversation, not a lecture.

What was your coming out experience like?
I mean, the whole experience was, in the beginning, rocky. Growing up and as you’re growing, when people think a certain way and something changes, people don’t know how to deal with it. When people find out, like when you hear something, you’re going to have a reaction to all that stuff. Timing is everything to me and it’s about experiencing, so, things have definitely gotten better, of course, throughout the years but unfortunately it is never easy. So, in my identity I have to be comfortable with myself, that’s what it comes down to.

Do you feel as as an artist with a platform that it’s necessary to be out and vocal with your audience?
I don’t think it’s necessary, however, if it’s who you are it will definitely show in the things you do. With me personally, I do LGBT shows and that’s not all I do but it’s not something I shy away from. I like to get involved in a way that makes sense, but in the end, it’s whatever works for the person. So if you’d like to be more private, everyone’s different, but for me, I don’t want to say, ‘Hey, I’m here!’ but I’m here.

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You’ve said that you have wanted to be a performer since you were really young.
Yes, I always love Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, I always loved watching award shows. In the Bronx, you know the staircase in the old-school apartments, I’d use that as my stage growing up. I always liked to make people laugh, that was my main thing cause laughing is from the heart; I always stuck with liking people to laugh. If it’s either making a complete ass of myself or listening to my record, I like to make people feel a way.

Growing up and still living in the Bronx, how do you feel that has impacted your music?
The Bronx is a very creative place and I don’t think that’s really shown a lot. With music, my father growing up had his own independent record label, my godfather was a producer, my uncle is a producer, so I was always around it. It was a hip hop and I grew up watching it, so I do bring some of that into my music, but also with a little flair.

How would you say that has woven into your music?
I would say like my sharp tongue, that’s like the Bronx, you know, say it how it is. But then there’s the guy with the theater background so I like to bring that vocal aspect. And then different sounds, I love instruments. So like a mix of all that, but then I still say what I gotta say within the words so that’s like the Bronx touch.

How do find you a balance between saying it like it is and then being too vulnerable with your personal experiences?
When it comes to my songs, every song is based off of experience that when it happened, I immediately felt the need to write about it. I’m a private person, believe it or not, so when I’m writing music I do think about getting my point across without saying too much. But for the most part with music, I’m vulnerable; people or family members will hear a song and be like, ‘Who’s this about?’ because people don’t see me as someone who’s in love… people see you in a different way. My music is very straightforward and it’s definitely vulnerable, yeah, without being vulgar.

How much of your style is incorporated in your music and stage presence?
All the time. I don’t care when it comes my fashion; I look through it I show out. I always like to look good, and of course when I went on the stage, I have to look good, I can’t look like a bum. To me, first impression and appearances is not everything, but (Demetri) has it together. On a stage, I like to wear pieces that stand out. I used to have my hair braids, or blonde, you know, swag it up. I definitely think fashion is important.

When it comes to how you were presented on reality TV, do you feel that was an accurate representation of who you are?
That was a different moment in my life when I was dealing with stuff that came with the acting world and all that. I can’t say I was misrepresented because I made the decision to do whatever for me to be represented that way.

Often times, though, things are left on the cutting room floor to portray you in a certain way. Do you feel that was something that happened to you and caused some misrepresentation?
Yes, that is true. My sense of reality was really mix-y because clearly the producer had an outlook on something that I did that I wasn’t in on. It’s different when it’s one-sided, so I’ve learned; I had my battles, issues, and conflicts however I learned it’s a business and if you can’t handle what comes with that, then don’t do it.

Is there anything you would do differently if you could? 
Yeah, I would be more grounded and think before reacting. We’re used to being in the moment so much, and that’s what makes reality TV. It’s real when it’s happening, but it wouldn’t be real if you weren’t doing the project.

Follow Travis Demetri on his social channels and website to keep up to date with the latest projects and new music releases.