Some say he’s hipster, some think he’s a musical genius, and others think he’s Swedish. As a new student at North this year, 18-year-old senior Travis Dodds has made quite an impression. Before moving to Missouri, Dodds lived in Jonesburg, Arkansas and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“I like the way a lot of foreign people dress,” Dodds said. “When I moved here, people thought I was from Sweden because I didn’t talk much, dressed nice and had blond hair.”

This past summer, he poured his energy into playing music before he knew anybody. Already used to being on stage from playing shows with his former band in Arkansas, Dodds had no problem performing at Frau Fest. He was received well by the audience. Some were shouting “We love you Travis” periodically throughout his songs, but he remains humble and focused on the guitar.

“It’s indescribable,” Dodds said. “Nothing could ever match that. Nothing could ever come between me and playing guitar. I would rather there not be McDonalds than not play the guitar, and I love McDonalds.”

He enjoys progressive rock, jazz, and metal. Minus the Bear, an experimental indie group from Seattle, is his favorite band.

Dodds describes hipsters as people who have occult fascinations with music festivals and art as well as fetishes for thrift stores and coffee shops. Despite his love of the arts, Dodds claims he’s not one of the hipsters.

“I don’t have the personality of a hipster,” Dodds said. “I just dress like one.”

He notices that “being a hipster” is becoming more and more popular.

“I noticed that trend has grown for girls,” Dodds said. “One day they’ll be wearing P.E. clothes and the next day they’ll be wearing a button-up with a leather jacket.”