Photo: Nathan Magee
After delivering a flurry of bold and enticing releases over the last few years, Irish singer-songwriter Andrew Patterson is back once again to unveil his next shimmering offering 'Hope Will Find Its Way'.
Taking cues from the likes of Glen Hansard, Bruce Springsteen, and Foy Vance, 'Hope Will Find Its Way' makes for a wonderfully passionate return. Filled with humbled tones, soaring aesthetics, and his own mesmerising voice at the helm, this new one will definitely tug on your heartstrings from start to finish.
So with the new single available now, we sat down with him to find out more about his background and influences over the years.
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What was the first band or artist you fell in love with?
The first band I remember really getting into was U2. I saw them play in Croke Park on the Vertigo tour and I had never been to a real gig before. It blew me away! I used to spend my Saturdays going into local music shops and buying their albums on CD- one every two weeks or so. That stage of discovery and total absorption into a band’s catalogue is such a special moment!
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?
When I was about 15 I formed a band at Christmas with a few friends who lived on my street. We called ourselves Caluf- more of a nonsense sound than anything else. I played guitar, my friend Connor sang (very loosely) and another friend David played bass. We were very tongue in cheek in a sort of Tenacious D way- we didn’t take ourselves too seriously and that was half the fun of it! We never played a gig but made a couple of recordings on an mp3 recorder placed in the middle of the room. Thankfully they never saw the light of day in the digital age of online music publication!!
What has been your primary inspiration in writing music?
My reason for writing songs has always been primarily for myself as an expression of my own thoughts and experiences- it’s a very personal process. This has widened out in recent years as I have taken my songs into the studio with other musicians but it’s largely the same to this day.
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
“Indiscriminate Act of Kindness” by Foy Vance.
If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be?
The first time I got played on BBC radio was pretty special. It was “The Late Show” and the host Eve Blair had let me know ahead of time that she was going to play my song as her exclusive track of the week. All of my family and friends were tuning in at home and I sat with my wife and listened in our kitchen. It’s always lovely to get played on national radio, but the first time is unforgettable for sure.
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
My all time hero is Bruce Springsteen, so I guess to get to sing a song with him would be a dream come true.
And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well?
I am a huge fan of the producer Michael Keeney. He plays as part of a duo called “The Darkling Air” and has made some of my all-time favourite albums from artists like Foy Vance, David C Clements and Luke Sital Singh. He brings a powerful anthemic style through his use of strings and orchestral sections and it’s definitely something I would love to do one day with my own music.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
I hope to still be continuing to write, record and play songs that are true to myself. Further on up the road there is still light to be mined from this world yet!
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Andrew Patterson's new single 'Hope Will Find Its Way' is out now. Check it out below.
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