
Stephen Patitucci Interview
Q: Can you talk about your history as an artist?
A: As a new artist, there really isn't much to go over. My father John (not the John Patitucci you're probably thinking of; he happens to share the same name) taught me how to play bass guitar when I was a kid, and music has been a hobby since then. A couple years ago I decided to create a few covers of songs by Jack Stauber, and it was then when I decided that I finally wanted to pursue music as a potential career.
Q: What is your recording process like for Night Vision?
A: Slow. The entire project was made on an embarrassingly low budget in my apartment at the time. I would have to wait for days when the roommates and the landlord, who lived downstairs, were all away from home for the day just so I could record vocals without having to worry about causing too much noise.
Q: What is your creative process like?
A: I'd say that for each song, things can be different. Sometimes the music was written around the lyrics, and other times the lyrics were written around the music. I've always had unconventional ways of being creative.
Q: What are some themes that are touched upon in your release Night Vision?
A: Night Vision is a project that means a lot to me personally as, for the most part, the songs come from the heart. With a few exceptions, they touch upon emotions, experiences and questions. “Father” is about watching your own family fall apart over misunderstandings and lies. “One Oh One,” while being written about George Orwell's 1984, also talks about corrupt politicians and media.”Pill” is about an argument with oneself over whether or not antidepressants are the only way to stay happy. “Night Vision,” the titular song, describes recurring dreams and the five stages of grief following a breakup. In short, most of the songs are written from personal life experiences, including depression, over-reliance on prescription drugs, and questions about death itself -- All juxtaposed with instrumentals that give off opposing vibes. There's a difference between listening to the music and listening to the lyrics.
Q: What are some of the challenges you have encountered as a musician when dealing with a world that focuses more and more on the attention economy?
A: I never felt any sort of impact from that. I still refuse to sign up with any sort of record label because I know how many of them treat their artists. Even still I don't create for attention; I don't care about fame. I create because it's what I love to do. I'm lucky to have obtained a small following after creating song covers on my YouTube channel. The way I see it, if I can make something and make just one person happy, then I've already succeeded. I believe that one of the worst things an independent artist can do is worry about the numbers.
Q: What else should we know about you as an artist and your music?
A: As a new artist there's really not much that I can think to say. Music has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. But if there's any influence I can think of it would be Jack Stauber. I've always had a kind of guilty pleasure for weird music. It was mainly his work, his strange and bizarre creations, that encouraged me to start taking my passion seriously. That's why “Cupid” was included. It's a cover of one of his songs. Night Vision is my first release containing original work and there is more to come. And believe it or not I know next to nothing about music theory. Everything I do is done entirely by ear and by feel.
Q: Can you talk about your history as an artist?
A: As a new artist, there really isn't much to go over. My father John (not the John Patitucci you're probably thinking of; he happens to share the same name) taught me how to play bass guitar when I was a kid, and music has been a hobby since then. A couple years ago I decided to create a few covers of songs by Jack Stauber, and it was then when I decided that I finally wanted to pursue music as a potential career.
Q: What is your recording process like for Night Vision?
A: Slow. The entire project was made on an embarrassingly low budget in my apartment at the time. I would have to wait for days when the roommates and the landlord, who lived downstairs, were all away from home for the day just so I could record vocals without having to worry about causing too much noise.
Q: What is your creative process like?
A: I'd say that for each song, things can be different. Sometimes the music was written around the lyrics, and other times the lyrics were written around the music. I've always had unconventional ways of being creative.
Q: What are some themes that are touched upon in your release Night Vision?
A: Night Vision is a project that means a lot to me personally as, for the most part, the songs come from the heart. With a few exceptions, they touch upon emotions, experiences and questions. “Father” is about watching your own family fall apart over misunderstandings and lies. “One Oh One,” while being written about George Orwell's 1984, also talks about corrupt politicians and media.”Pill” is about an argument with oneself over whether or not antidepressants are the only way to stay happy. “Night Vision,” the titular song, describes recurring dreams and the five stages of grief following a breakup. In short, most of the songs are written from personal life experiences, including depression, over-reliance on prescription drugs, and questions about death itself -- All juxtaposed with instrumentals that give off opposing vibes. There's a difference between listening to the music and listening to the lyrics.
Q: What are some of the challenges you have encountered as a musician when dealing with a world that focuses more and more on the attention economy?
A: I never felt any sort of impact from that. I still refuse to sign up with any sort of record label because I know how many of them treat their artists. Even still I don't create for attention; I don't care about fame. I create because it's what I love to do. I'm lucky to have obtained a small following after creating song covers on my YouTube channel. The way I see it, if I can make something and make just one person happy, then I've already succeeded. I believe that one of the worst things an independent artist can do is worry about the numbers.
Q: What else should we know about you as an artist and your music?
A: As a new artist there's really not much that I can think to say. Music has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. But if there's any influence I can think of it would be Jack Stauber. I've always had a kind of guilty pleasure for weird music. It was mainly his work, his strange and bizarre creations, that encouraged me to start taking my passion seriously. That's why “Cupid” was included. It's a cover of one of his songs. Night Vision is my first release containing original work and there is more to come. And believe it or not I know next to nothing about music theory. Everything I do is done entirely by ear and by feel.