Blythe Thomas
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Nashville continues to play host to some of music’s best and brightest. Here are the performers we’re watching in 2022—and you should, too.
Patrick Droney
Growing up in South Jersey, Patrick Droney’s career began at a young age when he won a Robert Johnson New Generation Award as Best Young Blues Guitarist at age 13, and he began sharing stages with the likes of B.B. King, James Brown, The Roots, and Elvis Costello. After attending the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, he moved to LA and signed a publishing deal, and in 2018 relocated to Nashville to craft a self-titled EP. That same year he experienced a new kind of exposure when his song “High Hope” was featured on Grey’s Anatomy. After signing to Warner Records in 2019 and achieving 90 million streams, it was time to create his full-length debut. Droney pulled inspiration from his life experiences living in multiple places around the country with nods to both his musical heroes and current influences like The National and Bon Iver. The result was State of the Heart, an album that sonically combines all of Droney’s influences to create a signature sound.
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Years in Nashville: 5 years
How did you get your start? I spent my formative years cutting my teeth on the road. I was a young guitarist and singer; I was lucky enough to be encouraged and share the stage with a lot of my heroes. That kindness set me on a path I’m grateful to say I’m still on.
Early inspirations and idols: My first musical inspiration was my dad. Discovering Ray Charles’ music and understanding the adversity he faced and overcame was a big moment. B.B. King will always hold a special place in my heart. He was someone who showed me great kindness and let me share his stage graciously. Joni, Jackson, Don Henley ... the list goes on.
Breakout moment: I think the artistic path is peppered with so many different kinds of moments. The small ones that keep you driving ahead are just as important as the big billboards. After moving to Nashville, I released my independent self-titled EP, which was an amazing plot point on the long journey to the beginning. That five-song EP helped me find my audience and brought so many wonderful things into my life— including a label deal with Warner Records. I’m grateful for that project and those who helped me realize it.
Most exciting thing to happen in your career (so far): So many highlights and moments of deep gratitude, but to have such a complete body of work in the 20 songs that make up my debut album, State of the Heart, is something that I’m prouder of than anything. To watch this album connect my story to listeners’ stories, and to be able to sell out shows as they sing every word is such a gift. Exciting barely describes that feeling.