Heaven or Las Vegas - Lee Paterson Interview

Edinburgh based Lee Patterson is an award winning singer songwriter whose music veers from folk to blues to country. With a voice deeply saturated in character and a collection of potent, poignant, perceptive songs, he has built a reputation for devastatingly good live performance. Oh and his latest album The Grinders Monkey is a treat . . .

HOLV: Ok, Lee how are things with you?

LP: Everything is good man, apart from loosing some fingernail real estate at my gig last night, ouch!

HOLV: How would you describe your music?

LP: It's mostly about trying to keep it simple and moving. A bit punk, a bit country, a bit gospel, a bit trad, a bit rock a bit blues-chuck it at an idea mix and mash and see what pops up as the best way to do things.

The music reflects the kind of things that tickle me. When it comes to live stuff it will be focused on some pretty high energy and edgy material with a 4 on the floor driving beat or trying to use the voice as much as possible with simple (and hopefully in time!) percussion. The recorded material will be a bit more experimental with more slowburn things happening.

HOLV: Listening to The Grinder's Monkey was an absolute pleasure, you've got a fantastic voice, but it's the wit and perception of your lyrics which makes the album. What inspires you when you write your songs?

LP: All sorts of things bring about a tune, it's usually an amalgam of observed things and heard things (sometimes a little misheard too!). And over a period of time they seem to find a pattern together and pop out as a song. Other times they happen really fast from a simple line or like the other day I was washing out some thermos flasks and hit them with a knife by mistake and they made a real musical sound so I continued tapping them and free singing over the sound...5 minutes later was a cool little song, un-looked for but like them all, very welcome. There's no real plan as I'm pretty undisciplined but I read like a madman and the words of authors keep banging around and inspiring in odd ways but loving the language I think helps a lot.

HOLV: What one song of any artist do you wish you had written yourself?

LP: Fairytale of New York - you scum you maggot you cheap lousy faggot .

HOLV: You are touring this year and have a gig at the Loft. Looking forward to it?

LP: I love playing at the Loft, the venue is magic and the audience are always up for it, I've met some good folks up in the North East, from Aberdeen through Buckie to Forres and I'm looking forward to a few gigs this year.

HOLV: One of my friends saw you play the Loft last time you were ‘up north’. He was very taken with your performance, I think he said it was one of the best gigs he'd seen. Is your style of music best heard live?

LP: Good grief, does he get out much?! No, seriously, thanks for that, some people get it and some don't. I don't understand that at all but I always hope that what I'm doing is making sense to someone else. Live is probably best I think. There is something great about working the weeks and months and then taking the chance to meet some buddies, get in some beers and finding your feet tapping and having a laugh. I like being there when people are out to have a good time, it's cool. The recorded thing is fine in the quiet of the house and I gear my stuff accordingly but I love the live thing.

HOLV: Lastly, living or dead what musician would you love to tour with and why?

LP: Tom Waits, 'cause I have a million questions I'd like to ask and I'd love to say 'I once had a pint with him'

The Grinders Monkey

The Grinder’s Monkey Out Now from http://www.lpmusic.org.uk

Interviewed By Hammond