Travis Atreo: Musical Journey Rooted in Filipino Heritage

For Filipino American artists, culture and heritage are much more than background details—they’re a powerful influence that weaves through every note, lyric, and message that they share. In this interview, Travis Atreo explains how his roots have profoundly shaped his music and perspective. How he sees his heritage as a source of strength, inspiration, and a vehicle for community and expression.

“My Filipino roots are a huge part of who I am.”

Born and raised in the heart of the Filipino American community, his art serves as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of his heritage. “My Filipino roots are a huge part of who I am,” Travis started. His grandmother, Lola Cecilia, who was a music teacher, school principal, and an orchestra director, instilled in him a deep love for music. “I always say she was a woman ahead of her time because she really believed in my musical abilities that would lead me to have a full-time career,” he looked back fondly. Growing up in a close-knit Filipino family, he learned the importance of “community, love, and sticking together regardless of what socioeconomic background we come from.” These themes have become integral to his music, where he continuously lives these values in his art and with other artists he works with.

“Never in a million years did I think I'd get an experience like this.”

A defining moment in his career came when he was invited to perform at the White House by Vice President Kamala Harris. Travis defines it as “one of the wildest and most humbling moments” in his life. This extraordinary opportunity not only showcased his talent but also served as a powerful symbol of the progress made by the Filipino American community. He remembered standing there, thinking about all the sacrifices that immigrants make, like his parents and grandparents, and the hopes that they had for their families’ future. “I remembered my Lola Cecilia's hopes and dreams for me, and I knew she was looking down so proud of her grandson to see how far her encouragement had brought me,” he expressed.

For Travis, he is still the same kid locked away in his room making music, a dreamer who never in a million years thought he'd get a chance to get an experience like this. With an honor to share his story on a grand stage, the moment only solidified his commitment to uplifting others and ensuring that diverse stories and perspectives are heard.

“We're helping to redefine success, focusing on building real, lasting communities around your art.”

With this drive, he created a platform to support other aspiring artists—FANDED. His motivation comes from the Filipino concept of bayanihan—to which his friend Miggy Reyes defines as "this general collective emotion or agreement amongst myself and other Filipinos that when one is in need, we help out no matter what."

Travis states that he himself is a witness to this, acknowledging that his career is possible only because of the community that stood behind him. “We’re helping to redefine success, focusing on building real, lasting communities around your art, instead of just charting or going viral,” he explained. He recognizes the obstacles Filipino American artists face today, such as limited access to resources and cultural expectations to pursue “stable” jobs—making it difficult to fully embrace an artistic path. “With Fanded,  it is a platform that allows creatives, athletes, and even small businesses to create financially supportive fan clubs that support their journey.”

“Embracing who you are, where you come from, and your unique stories is what makes you shine.”

As Filipino American History Month is celebrated, Travis Atreo offers a powerful message to aspiring artists: embrace your cultural identity. “Sometimes, it might feel like you have to blend in to fit certain spaces, but trust me, embracing who you are, where you come from, and your unique stories is what makes you shine,” he added. The music and entertainment industry may feel intimidating, but the world is vast, and there’s a place for their unique voices. Let nothing, especially economic pressures, deter you from your dreams.

In finality, he ends with this: “Our culture is packed with history, resilience, and creativity—lean into that. Share your story because there are people out there who need to hear it.”