Travis Horn
| Travis Horn | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Theunis Arjan van der Hoorn |
| Also known as | Travis Archibald Horn |
| Origin | Oakland, California, United States |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer, writer, songwriter, and producer. |
| Instruments | Vocals (baritone/baritenor) |
| Years active | since childhood |
| Associated acts |
Curriculum Phillip Mandelbaum |
Theunis Arjan van der Hoorn (born February 17), professionally known as Travis Horn or Travis Archibald Horn, is a South African-American singer, songwriter, producer, actor, and figure skater. Horn launched his career in his childhood by acting in various films and television shows, though he transitioned into doing more theater productions on and off Broadway and in West End London as he grew older. Often receiving ambivalence to his acting and portrayals, Horn became a polarizing but popular Broadway and film star. Horn was also briefly a figure skater until a leg injury made him quit the sport.
In 2012, Horn decided to put his acting career on hold to attempt a music career. In 2013, Horn released his self-titled EP, Travis Horn, which reached #5 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, despite a lack of hit singles.
In 2014, Horn released his debut full-length album Archibald, which was commercially successful in the UK, the United States, and in Dutch-speaking countries though it yielded no singles and received polarizing mixed reviews from critics and fans alike. In 2015, Horn released his second album Wonderful Is Everything which was also commercially successful.
Early life[edit | edit source]
Travis Horn was born Theunis Arjan van der Hoorn to a Dutch father and a Flemish Belgian mother. Horn was born in Durban, South Africa and at the age of five, he and his family moved to the United States, first to Washington, DC and then to Oakland, California, considering the latter his hometown.
After a volatile, violent, and mutually abusive marriage, his parents divorced when Horn was six. However, they reconciled when he was thirteen and got remarried when he was sixteen. Horn's parents' second wedding occurred while he was in Hawaii for three months shooting a film and without his knowledge. Horn was unaware of his parents' renewed relationship and remarriage until he caught them kissing in public at his favorite restaurant. Horn's parents are still happily married.
Horn has four siblings, two older brothers Otto and Aart van der Hoorn, and two younger twin siblings, a brother and sister Yvo and Yvonne. Otto and Aart were sent to be raised by their grandparents in the Netherlands. Otto van der Hoorn is a fashion model and male model; Aart van der Hoorn is a critically praised and successful Hollywood actor; Yvo van der Hoorn is a gold medalist figure skater and gymnast, while Yvonne is a model. Otto and Aart both won Oscars in 2014 for their contribution to the film Hedonism in Austin; Otto won for Best Costume Design and Aart won for Best Supporting Actor. Indie band Curriculum members Wyatt van Cleef and Gregory Preston Olivier are Horn's cousins.
Horn has purposely given conflicting reports about what his age is and as a result, it is truly unknown what year he was born or exactly how old he is. Despite this, many people currently assume he is in his twenties. Horn has remained consistent with the fact that he was born on February 17th.
Early acting career[edit | edit source]
Horn began acting when he was a child in various films and television shows. As he grew older, Horn began doing more plays in theater, mainly on and off Broadway and eventually West End London. Throughout his acting career, Horn often drew ambivalent mixed reaction from audiences and critics regarding his portrayals and acting style. Recognized as a polarizing but popular figure in entertainment, Horn only received one award nomination, which he won, throughout his acting career. Regardless, Horn was seen as very popular Broadway and film star.
In 2012, Horn announced that he was taking an hiatus from acting and would be pursuing a music career instead.
When he began his career, Horn initially went by his real name but then decided to "anglicized" his name to Travis Archibald Horn as he grew older to "make it simple" and because he was tired of people "mangling" his real name. He would be known as Travis Archibald Horn throughout his acting career, though in his music career he is now known simply as Travis Horn.
Music career[edit | edit source]
Travis Horn EP[edit | edit source]
In 2013, Horn released his debut self-titled EP Travis Horn. Prior to its release, three singles, later featured on the EP, were released but all failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, though they did all peak on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and were later "demoted" and considered to be "buzz singles". Though all three tracks failed to appear on the Billboard Hot 100, the Travis Horn EP surprisingly debuted and peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200. The EP has sold 340,000 copies as of 2013.
Archibald: 2014[edit | edit source]
In 2014, Horn announced that he would be targeting to breakthrough to the UK music market by releasing his debut full-length album Archibald there, while also releasing it in the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium, and South Africa. The album was released on March 17, 2014. No singles will be lifted from the album.
Archibald debuted at #3 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 93,257 copies in its first week, becoming a surprise success for Horn. The album also debuted at #4 in the Netherlands, #17 in the Flanders region of Belgium and #29 in the Wallonia region of Belgium. The album charted at #3 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.
Wonderful Is Everything: 2015[edit | edit source]
In 2015, Curriculum member Phillip Mandelbaum released his album Wonderful Is Everything. Horn eventually decided to release his own version which claimed was "the real version that Phillip was supposed to record before he re-wrote the songs and released a sugar-coated version of the album instead". Horn's version of Wonderful Is Everything was released in March 2015, receiving marginally better critical reception from critics and fans than Horn's previous Archibald, though the reviews were still mixed.
Horn's Wonderful Is Everything was commercially successfully reaching the top three in the UK, the US, and Dutch-speaking countries.
Voice and artistry[edit | edit source]
Horn has a voice type and vocal range of baritone, though he considers himself a baritenor. Indeed, Horn's voice is often mistaken as a tenor.
Positive aspects of his voice are that it is "strong", "full", "well-round and clear" while his ability to articulate the pronunciations of his song's lyrics has been praised. Horn is known to have a wide range, complete with the ability to "powerfully" belt notes and to maintain excellent pitch. Horn was often praised for his singing in theater musicals.
Negative aspects of his voice that are pointed are that it "lacks character", is "somewhat plain and boring", "emotionless and soulless", and "too safe". Others have said that his voice is "too well-trained" and is not right for contemporary pop music. Others have complained that Horn can at times (but not very often) go flat, sharp, and shaky on certain notes.
Discography[edit | edit source]
Albums[edit | edit source]
Studio albums[edit | edit source]
| Title | Album details | UK | US | BEL (FL) |
BEL (WA) |
NL | Sales | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archibald |
|
3 | 3 | 17 | 29 | 4 |
|
|
| Wonderful Is Everything |
|
2 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 2 |
|
|
Extended plays[edit | edit source]
| Title | Album details | US | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Horn |
|
5 |
|
Singles[edit | edit source]
Charting songs[edit | edit source]
- Non-official singles that have charted.
| Title | Year | UK Air. |
US | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "From Somewhere To Nowhere" | 2013 | NR | —[A] | Travis Horn |
| "Shatters (Dismantle)" | NR | —[B] | ||
| "I Have My Reasons and Regrets" | NR | —[C] | ||
| "The Confessions of an Arsonist" | 2015 | 30 | — | TBA |
- Notes
A. "From Somewhere To Nowhere" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but peak at #1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart.
B. "Shatters (Dismantle)" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but did peak at #3 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart.
C. "I Have My Reasons and Regrets" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but did peak at #24 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart.
