Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Amelie Patterson

Canadian singer-songwriter Amelie Patterson is one of music’s most exciting artists. This year, she’ll begin releasing a series of diverse rolling singles that will be collectively organized into a three-volume collection called The Playlist. With each song having its own thematic story, The Playlist is a reflection on how people are consuming music today. Pop Culturalist spoke with Amelie about the project and the first single off the album, “The Patient Kind”.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Amelie: I’ve always loved music, as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I used to say that I was going to become a professional singer, a geologist, and a zookeeper, not necessarily in that order. We always had music boosted in our suburban on road trips, and I had the ability to just disappear in my mind listening.

I didn’t start playing music until high school, though. My two older brothers picked up the guitar and monkey see, monkey do. Monkey only knew three chords for a really long time. I used to write my own songs to avoid the F chord that was found in most of the covers I wanted to learn. It was always the thing I wanted to do most in the world, even when I was elbows deep in other goals and activities—all I wanted to do was play or listen to music.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Amelie: Cold-blooded vengeance! Just kidding. [laughs] My dad has had the biggest influence on my career. He plays guitar, and we play a lot of music together. He showed me all of my biggest songwriting influences, and he still comes to any show that he can make.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “The Patient Kind”. What inspired the track?
Amelie: “The Patient Kind” is about meeting someone that you connect with, knowing it’s the wrong time, and playing the long game. I wrote the chorus for the song a few years ago at a time when I was feeling a lot of pressure to rush my life along to be in a certain place in relation to my age.

PC: What can you tease about your upcoming project, The Playlist?
Amelie: The Playlist is a direct reflection of how people are consuming music. I’ll be releasing rolling singles (rather than the regular album cycle) to curate a groovy, alt-folk playlist. Each new song will be released every few months with locally made, small-batch artisanal merchandise.

PC: You were studying biology in hopes to go into veterinary medicine and made the pivot to music. How challenging was that decision?
Amelie: I knew for a long time that I was an imposter in the sciences. I worked really hard for this one goal, but I hadn’t thought through the lifestyle or my ultimate happiness. When push came to shove, I asked myself, “If it were a perfect world, and I could do anything, regardless of monetary or societal pressure, what would it be?” and the answer was always music. It was clear as day in my mind. As soon as I slipped into music, I realized that I wasn’t an imposter here. I felt like I was as smart as I was ever going to be—I just didn’t know anything yet. If the position you’re in is that you have to learn more about something you already love, it’s not a bad place to be.

PC: What does the rest of the year hold for you as we look ahead in 2019?
Amelie: Man, I’ve worked so hard on these recordings and I’ve invested so much into this project. I’m just trying to take everything I’ve learned over the past five years and run with it. It’s a really challenging industry, a cruel and beguiling mistress. I’m really excited for my episode of The Stampede City Sessions to air on PBS before Austin City Limits. That’s happening in June. I will also be playing K-Days in Edmonton opening for Yukon Blonde and Dear Rouge—catch you there?

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Amelie: It’s not a guilty pleasure, but I love RuPaul’s Drag Race!

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Amelie: All the Harry Potter movies

PC: Favorite book?
Amelie: Come Thou Tortoise by Canadian author, Jessica Grant

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Amelie: The opera Tosca

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Amelie: Joey Badass

PC: First album you bought?
Amelie: Jock Jams Vol. 2—My fave songs were Europe’s “The Final Countdown” and Sam and Dave’s “Hold on, I’m Comin’!”.

PC: First concert you attended?
Amelie: TThe Nylons at an outdoor show in Toronto. I was four and I cried when they didn’t play “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” because they had to end their set early due to an epic thunderstorm.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Amelie: John Legend’s Darkness and Light! The production is just my jam. I love every choice made, and all the songs are bangers. The Pixies’ Doolittle is a close second. Sylvan Esso’s self-titled album is third—it’s such cool songwriting.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Amelie: Red Rock

To keep up with Amelie, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and pick up “The Patient Kind” on Amazon Music, iTunes, or stream it on Spotify.