Alberta-based singer-songwriter Amelie Patterson has released her brand new single, “The Patient Kind”. Patterson began penning the track five years ago during her first residency at the Banff Center, where fellow Canadian music veteran Brendan Canning encouraged her to work through the idea and dig deeper into her story, “when I wrote the chorus for this song, I was feeling frustrated with myself and frustrated with feeling like I had to rush my life along to get to a certain place,” Patterson explains. After shelving the track for two years, Patterson returned to it with a fresh perspective, matured experience, and authentic view of her true self, re-writing the track with bandmates Barry Mason and Kyle Tenove.
“The Patient Kind is a song about meeting someone and immediately knowing that you have a connection,” says Patterson. “We don’t always meet people at the right time and ‘The Patient Kind’ is about being unapologetically confident in what you like and playing the long game. It’s about saying, ‘it’s alright if the timing is off and you aren’t ready for good love, I’ve got time and I’m the patient kind.’“
Check out the single below, and find out more about Amelie in our interview segment below.
You have a degree in Biology from the University of Victoria, which is pretty cool. But after you completed that, you decided to pursue music. You went on to have two music residencies at the Banff Centre for the Creative Arts. How did those push your skills? What did you learn about yourself and your music?
The Banff Centre for Creative Arts has had an irrevocable influence on my career as an artist. The Banff Centre hosts our local Christmas Concert every year, and they pull out all the stops so the Banff Elementary School and the High School can put on a show. I was 6 the first time I performed on the Eric Harvey Theatre stage as an Elf in our Christmas Concert. I had no idea that I would go on to study there as a musician. During the music residencies, they give you a little cabin studio and time and just about any resource you could ask for, including faculty members from all across the spectrum of art. My greatest mentors, whom I still keep in touch with, I met at the Banff Centre. I also met my producer Will Maclellan there, and we have worked together on Roll Honey Roll as well as my new project “The Playlist”.
I think what I learn and re-learn any time I spend time up at the Banff Centre is perspective. Creativity happens in all corners of the world and there is so much that can happen with you open your mind and collaborate with other artists, the Banff Centre provides a playground for that.
So, you met Will MacLellan in Banff, which led to your first record, Roll Honey Roll, was released in 2016. How did that feel, to have a full record?
Its unique experience putting out your first record. I was simultaneously really shy and really proud. It had taken a long time to get my first record recorded (some would say it took an entire degree in Biology), but the process of finding my sound and the right sound for the songs was really exceptional. I love the studio, I always feel like it’s a really limitless place. So working on that record with Will Maclellan and Brock Geiger was very fulfilling.
Roll Honey Roll won Alternative recording of the Year at the 2017 YYCMA’s! How exciting! How did that affect your career?
I think it ultimately connected me with the Calgary music scene a little more. I met a lot of people through the YYCMA’s and connected with more artists. It’s also a really nice piece of validation that something you worked really hard on was well received by your community.
You went on to complete the Coalition Music Artist Entrepreneurship Program, how did that change your perspective on music and writing and performing?
I think after completing a few months at CMI I started to take my career much more seriously and I was much more aware of the work I had to do. Even just being in Toronto and seeing the pace at which people in the industry move there. When the bar of creativity and output is raised you have no choice but to do your best to match it. Previously I had been delightfully naive, but working closely with people that want to see you succeed in a challenging industry was incredibly eye-opening. There’s a lot to know. I’m really grateful I had the opportunity to work with Vel Ozamic and Ryan Warner over at CMI!
You have a big project, ‘The Playlist’. I love how it incorporates community, who is involved and how did it come about?
I’m glad you asked this question. I started working on this idea over 2 years ago. I wanted to work on a project that directly reflected how people are consuming music in this current climate, ie: by song rather than album. I wanted to do something that pushed the industry standard of the traditional album cycle, while also create a catalog of work that I can point to as a songwriter. Essentially I’m releasing rolling singles to curate a groovy, alt-folk playlist. I’m collaborating with lots of local musicians (Barry Mason, Kyle Tenove, Carson Gant, Brock Geiger, Will Maclellan, Brayden Bell to name a few) as well as artists in my community. Each single is released with small batch, locally made merch, as well as artwork done by local artist Emily Beaudoin.
I’m hoping each single can stand alone as its own story, while also moving through a sonic sound-scape of a playlist.
What kinds of influences have helped your writing and recording process?
A lot of pop music. I love pop music. Also films and emotive imagery. I spend a lot of time worshiping well-written songs (in any genre). I’m fortunate that I get to see so much live music and connect with talented songwriters in my area.
Are there any artists you’d love to collaborate with?
Locally: Mariel Buckley, Astral Swans, Sweet Barry Wine, Run Deer Run, Shuffalo, Celeigh Cardinal, St. Arneau, and 36?
Globally: Begonia, Keleidescope Orchestra, Jack White, Hozier, Big Thief, and probably Kanye (go big or go home).
Favourite new song at the moment, go!
Sweet Berry Wine – Cookie Monster
What else do you have in store for 2019?
My new single “The Patient Kind” will be dropping May 31st as well as our hour-long live episode of the Stampede City Sessions will be airing in June on PBS and KSPS all across North America before Austin City Limits. We are playing K-Days in Edmonton July 20th and Blue Heron Festival in Revelstoke August 25th.
Any last thoughts you’d like to share?
As an artist I am so lucky to have media interested in the work that I do – thank you for your time and your interest!