Travis Barker on His New Music, Car Collection and Building a ‘Batmobile’

At any given time, Travis Barker has loads of irons within the hearth. While best-known because the drummer for the favored rock band, Blink-182, Barker is continually pursuing new concepts and collaborations.

A 12 months in the past, he launched his personal document label––DTA Records––and signed new artist jxdn. Earlier this 12 months, he collaborated with Machine Gun Kelly, and helped produce MGK’s acclaimed new album, Tickets to My Downfall.

Recently, Barker revealed one other profitable collaboration––a customized Polaris Slingshot that appears like a real-life Batmobile. Barker personally designed this tricked-out whip as a part of a build-off competitors––Polaris Slingshot’s Best of the Builders West vs. East––that pitted DUB Publishing and Travis Barker (West) towards The Auto Firm and Teyana Taylor (East).

We lately caught up with Barker to get the inside track on his new experience, what makes the West Coast the very best coast for automotive tradition, and what he’s been as much as within the studio.

MJ: What have you ever been engaged on in 2020? 

At the top of final 12 months, just like the day after Christmas, I bought within the studio with Kels [Machine Gun Kelly] and didn’t actually have a set plan. But we bought in and recorded what was to turn into, Ticket to my Downfall. We wrapped that up proper earlier than quarantine after which simply made movies throughout quarantine.

I primarily spent the vast majority of the 12 months producing and writing music. So yeah, working with everybody from MGK, Iann Dior, POORSTACY and signing my very own artist, Jxdn, to DTA information. So I’ve simply been actually targeted on writing and producing.

MJ: 2020 has been such a troublesome 12 months. But what has it been prefer to largely simply give attention to writing and being within the studio?

I’m actually unhappy for the individuals who have gotten sick and sadly the individuals we’ve misplaced. Thankfully, my household, my youngsters and my pals have been wholesome. But for me being dwelling, I’ve been capable of do issues I’ve by no means been capable of do, as a result of I’ve toured for the final 20 years of my life, each summer time.

So I’ve bought to do issues I’ve by no means dreamed of or imagined, simply from being dwelling. It’s been actually unimaginable. Writing and producing is one thing I’m at all times keen about, however time normally permits me to solely do it with the band I’m taking part in in.

I miss taking part in reveals and identical to, the vitality. But I additionally love the inventive a part of being a musician. Writing music and difficult your self production-wise to make issues sound completely different––that actually retains me going. It strikes me.

MJ: Beyond music, we all know you’re additionally an enormous automotive man and have your individual assortment. Where did this ardour for amassing automobiles come from?

I believe the eagerness got here from my pops. My dad at all times favored to speak about outdated automobiles that he had or reminisce about automobiles he wished. So after I began making a bit of cash, I might purchase lots of old-schools for pretty low-cost and simply repair them up. I assume that’s the place it began.

As time went on, I noticed model new automobiles that I cherished and simply the whole lot from off-road 4×4 automobiles to low riders to luxurious automobiles. I’ve form of had all of them. And it’s undoubtedly one thing that I’m nonetheless actually keen about.

MJ: When you have been requested to customise a Polaris Slingshot for this West v. East Build-Off, how’d you provide you with the idea to your experience?

Right now, I’ve principally targeted on having all black automobiles, for no matter motive. I can’t actually clarify why, it’s simply one thing that got here to me at some point and I used to be like, ‘I don’t need any automotive until it’s black.’ So that’s form of why I did the Polaris all black and murdered out.

I used to be like, how do I make the Slingshot as cool because it may probably be. And I simply suppose murdering one out, however nonetheless having these particulars if you actually rise up on it, like, ‘Oh, cool. I see gun shell print on that. Or I see there’s matte on there, however there’s additionally shiny black.

When I first got here to Myles [Kovacs], who I’ve recognized from DUB and is an expensive pal of mine, he was like, ‘Oh I’m considering we go together with this burgundy/maroon.’ And I used to be like, ‘No man, that’s not me. But we will homicide it out.’

It needed to appear like a villain’s automotive.

MJ: Tell us about a few your favourite options that you simply custom-made in your Slingshot? 

There’s some aftermarket audio system on it and we redid the inside. We shaved components of the physique off and added locations for audio system on the physique. We completed the inside to the place the whole lot wraps round and customised it with my “F” badge (Barker’s clothes model, Famous Stars and Straps). We made it form of luxurious inside.

We additionally put the most important tires and rims we may probably match on there––I believe they’re 22s. And additionally an air experience suspension, simply so you might dump it if you’re parked.

We additionally wished to be inventive with the kind of sample used. I believe I proposed like a cheetah sample and there was one other sample I proposed. But this gun shell print was exhausting and it simply caught out. We’ve by no means seen that on one other car.

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MJ: Is that Slingshot ultimately headed to your automotive assortment?

Yeah, that’s undoubtedly moving into my assortment.

MJ: How giant is your assortment these days?

Right now I’ve eight [cars] however I used to have 16. I had 16 firstly of final 12 months and I used to be simply in a spot the place a few of the automobiles––I felt I already had my time with them. I’ve skilled the whole lot I may with this automotive and I’ve had the best instances, nevertheless it’s time to maneuver on and, you recognize, let another person take pleasure in it.

I don’t actually have what’s known as, trailer queens––the place you simply trailer it to reveals. I drive the whole lot.

MJ: Which is your favourite automotive to drive now?

One automotive that’s lots of enjoyable is the Mercedes G-Wagon 4×4 Squared. They solely made it for 2 years, however individuals come as much as me on a regular basis at gasoline stations like, ‘Whoa, man, what lift kit is that?’ But it’s not truly, it comes inventory from Mercedes. I didn’t do any aftermarket suspension on it myself.

That’s considered one of my favorites and I’ll in all probability by no means hand over. It’s a particular car.

MJ: What does West Coast model, when it comes to automotive tradition, imply to you?

I really feel like West Coast, we get to have a bit of bit extra enjoyable with automobiles. Like I’ve frolicked in New York and lots of people don’t have custom-made automobiles or personal their automobiles in any respect, for that matter. You’re normally pushed round otherwise you take taxis.

Whereas West Coast life-style is low-riders, Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, Jeep’s. You know, we like to drive in Southern California. It doesn’t get so chilly that we may by no means whip out our convertible and go down Sunset with the highest down.

So I simply actually really feel like West Coast is automotive tradition.

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