Where are you from?
I was actually born In Barrie, ON. but my parents moved to Aurora, ON. when I was about 8 months old.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Aurora where my family had a pizzeria and we lived above it. I basically had free reign to be a little shit disturber as my family worked long hours and in the 80’s there was a lot less emphasis on parental supervision.
Growing up above a restaurant also meant a lot of late nights sneaking down stairs to play arcade games and have a snack. It was an interesting way to grown up and it was awesome.
Why and when did you get into music?
As far back as I can remember I loved music. When I was younger my brothers would hang out in the backroom of the restaurant after hours sometimes and jam. I would sneak down and sing along to some old 50’s rock. There’s definitely a cassette or two floating around with a 7 year old me singing Teenager In Love.
I was about 14 when I first felt the bug really bite me. My brother Jimmy taught me some chords on the guitar, a few every day and I started writing songs instantly.
Major influences?
Man, anything that sounds good to me really. I don’t believe any one artist has inspired me most as much as they all have inspired me more deeply at different points in my life.
In high school I loved Clapton and Cream, then Pearl jam and STP and Soundgarden. But I also loved Bon Jovi, Guns N Roses and Bryan Adams. I got into Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen much later on in life and always wondered how I lived without them, but I guess that’s just it...They came into my life at the right time for me.
Favourite musical memory either performing or as a fan?
It’s not really either or lol. I loved this movie growing up called Eddie And The Cruisers, I think I was in grade 5 or 6 at the time. I wanted to be a songwriter so badly after seeing it. Not necessarily a musician but a songwriter. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to play an instrument or write a song so I just carried a book around and wrote the lyrics to the movies soundtrack over and over.
What do you hope people get out of your music?
I hope they feel something and that it’s more than just something to listen to for the moment.
I want to connect with people the way the greats connected with me. Where I felt inspired, sad, energized, angry, horny, or whatever!
Want to ask a question?
Email realpatjames@gmail.com