I recently interviewed my colleague Neil Patton. I’ve known Neil for over a decade and really enjoy his music and spending time with him when I get the opportunity.
After the interview I’ll include a new playlist that features our music.
Enjoy!
PW: Tell me about your background.
NP: I was brought up surrounded by music. My mom is a singer, and both she and my dad loved to play music in the house all the time. Classical and jazz dominated the hi-fi, but Saturdays were Beatles, Elton John, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond, etc. Our next-door neighbor was a piano teacher, and so my brother and I would head over there for weekly lessons when I was five. I hated it. Well, I hated practicing. But my parents and my teacher saw something in me that I couldn’t, so they made me continue. I changed teachers in the fourth grade, and stayed with her through high school.
When I was twelve, it finally clicked. I found a songbook for my favorite rock band at the time, and realized I could play everything in it. My teacher, bless her soul, took the terrible arrangements in this book and showed me how to master them, and then also showed me how Mozart and Bach used some of the same harmonies in their music. That was it. I knew I wanted to be a musician, and I dove in head-first.
I finished high school with that teacher, also playing and singing in my school choirs. I entered the School of Music and Dance at the University of Oregon and graduated with honors in 1994. I met my future wife, Cathy, while we were there. We married in 1996. I started working at my church part time to help with music there, and then started teaching piano privately in ’97.
I released an album of rock vocal music in 1998 (Horizon), but then we started our family, so I put off the financial commitments that come with recording until it felt like I could be more responsible doing so.
I finally released my debut piano album, Impromptu in 2007, and I’ve now released three more since then.
PW: Who were your earliest musical influences?
My earliest influences were probably Elton John and John Williams. (I spent hours on the floor of my bedroom listening to movie soundtracks from Star Wars, ET, Superman, Raiders, and all that.) Later on, I was heavily influenced by Keith Green (a little known gospel pianist/singer). I discovered a lot of classic rock in high school, but then hit the mother lode with prog rock. Kansas were a heavy inspiration for me, along with Yes, Genesis, King Crimson and Pink Floyd.
PW: What inspires you musically?
Deep emotions, both joy and sorrow, and the spiritual sources behind these. I’m always trying to capture these in my sounds and melodies. When I improvise and compose, I’m usually trying to process something that is impacting me at the time. My own private therapy, you might say. Sometimes I just put an Ansel Adams photograph on the music stand and see what comes out. Two of those pieces have ended up on my albums.
PW: Your most favorite song in your catalog?
Which kid is my favorite? Not fair, but I’ll try. Probably Aerial Geometry, from my Hammer & Wire album. It’s just fun to play, and people seem to dig it. I haven’t gotten tired of playing that one yet, even thought it’s ten years old now. I have always tried to see if I can pack a rock band into the piano, and this one does it fairly well.
PW: Biggest joy in your career/life?
In my career, it would have to be my performances with a local modern dance company, Dance Veritas. They choreographed an entire show based on my music, and had me collaborate and perform on stage with them. It was hard work, but so rewarding. There is a video on YouTube of one of our performances. Definitely a bucket-list event for me.
In my personal life, it would have to be marrying my bride, Cathy, along with the birth of our two kids. I put off my dreams of being a performer so I could be home, and I’m so glad I did.
PW: Biggest struggle in your career/life?
Finding time and energy to create and record my music. I currently work three part time jobs to pay the bills, all of them music oriented (my teaching studio, my church work, and my composing/performing/freelance work). As I’ve gotten older, it’s harder and harder to keep all the plates spinning. It’s been four years since I released my last album (Solitaire). I have two albums almost ready to release, but no time or energy to engage with the finish work and promotion stuff that go along with it. I’m trying to see what can be let go to allow for this to happen properly. I’m turning 50 this year, and I don’t want to leave things undone, or done poorly.
PW: How do you want to be remembered?
Professionally, I want to be remembered as an artist that spoke well about real life, with compassion and honesty; that guy that encouraged others without slapping a smile on difficult things. I want to point people to God with my music without twisting their arms or forcing a “Message” into the art.
Personally, I hope I’m remembered as a good husband and father, and as someone who loved God and loved others, and someone who would come alongside others and help on the journey home. I’m not there yet, but I’m thankful for grace along the way.
Thanks for having me on here, Philip!
PW: Thanks Neil!
Now here’s a playlist with some of our music…
