Acoustic Pop Rock

15 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Acoustic, POP: Piano



Details:
For Dave Patten, the challenge isnât creating his music, but getting into the hands (and heads) of the right people.

âThe music business is changing,â says Patten, a freshman at Penn State University. âRecording is relatively cheap and printing CDs isnât too expensiveâpromotion and publicity are the challenge.â

Patten, who released his debut album, âToo Close, Too Farâ on Clark Records last spring, is up to the challenge. âRadio stations are into reducing risk, and new artists are risky,â he says. âBut people want new music, so weâre trying to get out there without going through the âusualâ channels.â

His career has been anything but usual. Patten performed as drummer in the band Stepping Stone for four years, starting in the eighth grade, but it was only in the past year that he stepped out front to the mike.

Pattenâs writing and performing reflect the process he uses to deal with the realities of managing musical and college careers. âMy inspiration comes mostly from within, when I want to vent feelings and whatâs going on in and around me,â Patten says. âIâm not into writing about current eventsâat least for now.â

While some performers have a particular way of writing new material, thereâs no set rule for how he structures the lyrics and music that comprise his acoustic rock. Sometimes, a melody on guitar or piano lead; other times, he mixes beats and builds off that. âI spent a lot of time on drums, so rhythm is importantânot just a plug-in after the song is created.â

Patten uses a variety of sounds, generated from his ability to play the piano, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, acoustic and electric drums, as well as all percussion instruments. He sings both lead and back up vocals.

Even with a hectic schedule of college course work, writing, composing, live gigs and working to get the word out about his music, Dave Patten has obviously given some thought to what his dream gig would be. The answer comes quickly and easily: âPlaying a festival with Gavin DeGraw and Maroon 5 and no rain!â

In the meantime, he wants audiences to feel as pumped as he does after a show, and will continue to build his following in the States and abroad. He just signed a distribution deal with Manila, Phillipines Broken Records, and a review by Adam Harrington in âWhisperin and Hollerin,â a U.K.-based indie music review site, stated, âJudging from his big, raspy voice, you'd think that Dave Patten was in his forties, a black-clad, chronic chain smoker who's been through several failed marriages.â

Patten scored eight out of ten stars on that review, and thereâs every indication that many more like it will be following soon.

For more info on Dave Patten, his music, and a podcast of a recent radio performance, check out www.davepatten.com. His new album âToo Close, Too Far,â is available for purchase online at www.davepatten.com, CDBaby, Tower Records, and eBay; or download directly to your iPod on iTunes, Napster, and Rhapsody.