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Photo by Blythe Thomas.
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We talk to Patrick Droney on his new single "Talk About That," plus the motivation behind his music and his dream collaboration.
How did you get into the industry and what led you to Nashville?
Growing up as a young guitar player, I was on the road by the time I was twelve. It’s been a long journey to the beginning. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties and my publisher at the time, Lance Freed, sent me on my first Nashville writing trip. I was hooked by the community and craft, and pretty quickly moved from Los Angeles to Nashville and found my tribe.
Is your music inspired by events in your life or things you have personally experienced?
All of my songs come from a place of personal experience. I find the more I specifically speak to my own journey, the more universal it becomes. Music is such a great way to help people articulate their own stories through the lens of the artist. I try to be as honest and open as I can be in hopes I find answers, not just for myself, but for my listeners too.
Your single, “Talk About That” dropped this [past] Friday. What was the driving force behind it?
We are all so much more the same than we are different. It frustrates me that if we were all just a little more open with each other and left the shame and embarrassment at the door, that the world would be such a more connected and honest place. I wrote “Talk About That” almost five years ago about the hard conversations that ultimately would free us. I hope it gives a little push for people to start a conversation.
State of the Heart drops on May 21. What is the overall vibe of the album?
State of the Heart is aptly titled. This album is my dissection of the human condition through the lens of my personal journey these last ten years. We all move in flux from various states of heart in pursuit of our dreams and ourselves. There are a few corners of this album that represent different states of mind and heart, and I like to think there’s something for anyone to grab a hold of.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
Justin Vernon.