COLUMBIA — Michael Gutshall creates music with the intention of making his listeners' happy, making them dance and making them forget about the tumult of modern life in quirky, electronic three-minute intervals.
"I just want to make music that is just this catchy danceable stuff," Gutshall said. "No real pretentiousness about it."
His band, Travel Therapy — a synth pop duo that leans melancholy in subject but upbeat in affect — has been around since 2015, but they've only just released their sophomore album, "Sum Notes."
The album comes in just over 30 minutes. It's an uber-electronic collection of wistful tracks amped with synth and driving beats; it's 80's pop meets early MGMT.
Michael Gotshall of Travel Therapy writes, plays and mixes most of the pop duo's music on his own. (Photo from Facebook)
Gutshall did all of the writing, instrumentation, mixing and mastering himself on Travel Therapy's self-titled debut album, but he leaned on his collaborator and best friend, Smith Austin, and several local industry professionals to help with the production on "Sum Notes."
For his part, Gutshall prefers to work in isolation, leaning on the training he's received since age seven as a piano player, and his love of a synthesizer. On "Sum Notes," Gutshall handles vocals, keys, guitar and drums. Austin supports vocals and plays bass and percussion.
"It's great hanging out with your friends making music together," Gutshall said. "It's just the process to getting to a song, getting it finished, it takes a little bit longer."
Gutshall has played in bands for several years, but Travel Therapy has allowed him an outlet to explore his own artistic tastes and goals.
"If I can say anything that music has done for me, it's given me more confidence, more validation," Gutshall said.
"Sum Notes" is the sophomore album from Columbia synth pop duo, Travel Therapy. (Album artwork by Micah Sherwood/Provided)
Gutshall has a full-time job, like many other local musicians. He's not able to gig as much as he wants, but his hope is to incorporate more pop and house music in Columbia's rock-heavy venues. The end goal with all of his music, like with "Sum Notes," is to provide the listener with a good time.
"I want to make stuff where people just forget about the instruments on stage and you're just having a good time," Gutshall said. "But the road to get there is a lot more complicated."
