The trick to the irresistibly organic, pure pop sound is that the music, and even the lead singer, take a back seat to the real star: the songs. As the principal songwriter and singer for nationally acclaimed alt-rock trio The Push Stars, Chris Trapper is equally sure-footed in his solo career. When on hiatus from The Push Stars, Chris writes, records and tours in support of his solo CD’s.

His words and music can best be described as an interesting blend of 1950’s pop, 1990’s rock and old-timey jazz with the ever-present under story of Chris'; distinctive barite nor. It’s intricate power-pop with a compelling knack for telling everyday stories.

For Trapper, it all traces back to those first, halting, joyful songs, when he found another language in music–a deeper language – that connected him to others in a way more profound than ordinary conversation.

“Especially when I was a kid, but it’s still true–I’m kind of desperate to get thoughts out in a complete way. Songs do that for me, so I know how much they can mean. It’s important to me to be inclusive, rather than perceived as intellectual or clever or so creative that people don’t get it. I really want to reach people and do it in a way that makes them feel part of what I’m trying to say. Because, like I said, I know how much songs can mean.”

His ability to craft songs that are both elegant and accessible is evident on each collection. His organic understanding of classic pop melody is infectious. There is a smart, honest quality to the lyrics that never panders.

Trapper writes songs that at first listen are greeted as old, familiar friends. His musical stories are accessible but never trivial, smart but never snobbish, honest but never pandering. He writes about real folks coping with real lives–people whose far-flung People Magazine dreams never pan out–laced with a properly jaded sense of humor and the essential survival tool of not taking yourself too seriously.

Trapper’s talent as a singer and storyteller stems from what some might call an eclectic apprenticeship. A native of Buffalo, New York, by grade 9 Chris had found his voice, and his older brother’s guitar.

“I’m a stutterer,” he says, “and I used to get picked on a lot in school. One day, after I’d been called on to answer a question and just couldn’t spit it out at all, and the whole class was laughing at me, I went home and picked up my brother’s guitar and started writing this kind of whiny song about how everyone picked on me. It wasn’t a very good song, but I’d found this incredible outlet to express how I felt. So that’s how it began, just a couple of chords and a bad day.”

High school was something to be endured but the time spent in a barbershop quartet would prove to be musically invaluable. As a college student Trapper’s passion was his first band, ‘Awake and Dreaming’. They quickly became a Fredonia phenomenon. Once introduced to the life of a singer and performer, opportunities conspired and Chris found his way from the embrace of campus-fame to the anonymity of life in a big city. Trapper’s songwriting flourished within the boundless energy of Boston’s lush musical community. His unique style and original voice had found a home. It wasn’t long before Trapper discovered his musical soul-mates and in February of 1996, with bassist Dan McLoughlin and drummer Ryan MacMillan, formed the alt-rock trio The Push Stars.

Trapper recalls: “There were about seven people at the first-ever Push Stars concert at the Middle East Bakery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The stage was so small that we had to adjust our “rock moves” in order to let people get by to use the restrooms. We got paid about fifty dollars, some falafel and a few Pabst Blue Ribbons. It was terrific."

After building a strong following in Boston and self-releasing their 1997 debut CD “Meet Me at the Fair”, The Push Stars found themselves in a major label bidding war and quickly signed a two-album deal with Capitol Records. The 1999 sophomore CD “After the Party” gave Chris and the band a national audience, prompted the New York Times to call them “classic pop perfection” and yielded the tongue-in-cheek radio hit “Drunk Is Better Than Dead”.

The year 2000 got off to an auspicious start with the sudden departure of their mentor and A&R guy Gary Gersh (Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Counting Crows). The band was about to become a major-label ghost. Anxious to maintain momentum The Push Stars parted ways with Capitol Records and returned to the world of indie musician. They released their third – and most popular – CD “Opening Time” during the spring of 2001. Trapper’s indie work ethic was evident and the touring was relentless. Push Stars fans were devoted, loyal, growing exponentially and most importantly, organically. “Opening Time” is secure in its place as the band’s most successful release.

“Opening Time is not only the Push Stars' best collection of songs to date, but it’s also their sonic zenith…there’s no denying the sheer depth of talent and beauty contained on these twelve tracks.” CMJ Music Magazine

The Greg Collins- (No Doubt, Matchbox Twenty, Jewel) produced CD “Paint The Town” was released early 2004 on indie-workhorse 33rd Street Records. Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty took notice, met with Chris and the band and subsequently invited The Push Stars to join Matchbox Twenty on tour. The Push Stars embraced the opportunity and successfully won over thousands of stadium fans across North America.

“The Push Stars are that rare type of band that somehow touches you and moves you and leaves you changed. There are no gimmicks. There is no marketing scheme. These are the caliber of people who genuinely feel and play from the heart. It is no surprise that devoted fans had come from far and wide to see them.” AltRockWorld.com

Trapper’s solo projects are effortlessly woven within the scheme and schedule of The Push Stars work. The solo CD’s exist as a natural byproduct – unique in their conception and execution. They belong as part of The Push Stars repertoire and the fans make the transition with ease.

Trapper’s first solo effort (released 2002 on the artists' own Starlit Records) “Songs from the Drive-In” displays his talent for making radio-friendly music that treads the line between Top 40 rock and grassroots folk. Beneath the sunny melodic surface, there is a darker side to the songwriting. The result is a much more personal-sounding collection of songs – a throwback to his days as a lone folkie on the Boston scene.

Trapper spins small-town tales of death, joy, and remembrance in stripped-down, mostly acoustic arrangements that put the focus on his formidable storytelling talents. As in true folk music, the charm is in the details.“ Boston Phoenix

The current CD “Hey, You” (released Fall 2006) is Trapper’s first alt-rock solo effort and features guest performances by The Push Stars, Great Big Sea, afro-cuban band Sonando, Martin Sexton, Matt Beck (Matchbox Twenty) and Duke Levine (Mary Chapin Carpenter). Inspired by his ever-growing collection of on-the-road mix tapes (Chris is fairly old school, he likes a good mix tape just as much as he likes his iPod) the words and music on “Hey, You” are an interesting blend of pop, rock, celtic and latin music.

Always mindful of his role as part of the Boston music and arts scene, the idea of tapping into the spirit of musical community for this project was appealing. Recorded during the summer of 2006, Chris chose to enlist the help of some close friends to add to the texture and sound. Guest performers include Great Big Sea, Martin Sexton, The Push Stars, Matt Beck of Matchbox Twenty and New York City based afro-cuban jazz band Sonando.

Trapper has a prolific and impressive ability to pen songs. His library of completed works is vast enough to attract the attention of music supervisors. Notable song placements in recent years include: The Devil Wears Prada, Me, Myself & Irene, Origin of the Species, Gun Shy, There’s Something About Mary, Say It Isn’t So, ER, All My Children, Brutally Normal and Malcolm In The Middle.

Additionally, Trapper wrote and performed the theme song for the CW dramedy “Pepper Dennis” and appears in an early episode – as the singer/songwriter that he is – alongside the shows star Rebecca Romjin. He recently filmed a cameo for the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures drama “August Rush” starring Robin Williams and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. In the film, and on the soundtrack, Meyer’s character performs Trapper’s original song ‘This Time.’ “August Rush” is on schedule for a Fall 2007 US theatrical release.

“Chris Trapper looks like he could be a male crooner… With his slicked back red-brown hair, blue eyes and lean torso, you could easily imagine this former barbershop-quartet singer sporting a snappy suit and crooning into a big old Sinatraesque microphone.” Jazz Times Magazine

Chris Trapper continues to tour both regionally and nationally and has shared the stage with such illustrious contemporaries as Rob Thomas, Martin Sexton, Great Big Sea, Guster, Jess Klein and most recently, 80’s pop-icon Graham Parker. Trapper’s list of awards and accomplishments is equally impressive including several prestigious SOCAN writing awards and certified gold and platinum for his work with Canadian celtic-rock band “Great Big Sea”.