Amelie Patterson
Calgary, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF
Music
Press
Amelie Patterson is a Western Canadian singer-songwriter whose music traverses territories from blues to folk to rock.
A native of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, she learned to play guitar around the intimate con nes of the camp re, no doubt helping lend a gritty, soulful tinge to her music. Most impressive is her ability to tailor her vocals to the accompanying music. On tracks such as “Don’t Ask Me” and “Lights Down Low,” Patterson’s vocal approach is delicate, matching the accompanying cello and violin while she proves equally capable of cutting loose on songs like “Mirage.”
Patterson recently completed a six-week music residency at the Ban Centre for the Arts and has also participated in the VIA Rail Artist on Board program. She may very well be one of the next big things to come out of Canada. - Canadian Musician Magazine
SOUNDS LIKE: A SELF-ASSURED VOICE AT THE CROSSROADS OF BLUES AND FOLK ROCK, A YOUNG SERENA RYDER.
Her music: Amelie Patterson’s music goes perfectly with a dim-lit pub and a scotch on the rocks. Her lyrics are artistic, her voice is captivating, and her performance is dynamic. (We would know—she gave us an impromptu show during her photo shoot.) Though she may be small, standing at about 5’3, she has a big sound. Patterson combines her folk rock guitar style and unique blues vocals to put on an impressive performance. The singer grew up on the classics: Van Morrison, Janice Joplin, Jan Arden, Jewel, Joni Mitchell, and you can tell she has been influenced by the characteristics that those artists incorporated into their music—honest, cool, and enamoring.
Her story: Patterson was born and raised in Banff Alberta, where she grew to love music and learned to play the guitar at age 17. Patterson completed her biology degree at the University of Victoria in BC, but moved to Calgary to pursue music instead of going to vet school, her original plan, “I decided to dip my toes into the Calgary music scene. And I really, really like it—I’m in no rush to go anywhere else.”
The 26-year-old is grounded and wise—qualities that are especially apparent in her lyrics. “I don’t think there’s a song where I didn’t steal a line from something that someone’s said to me.”
She has faced her share of rejection in the industry, but that hasn’t broken her spirit, in fact it’s made her stronger as an artist.
“My mantra to myself, is ‘do what you can where you are’. You just gotta work, you have to do your time, you have to learn what works and keep going. You have to get the shit kicked out of you, you have to get rejection letters all day long, you have to have people tell you that they don’t like your music.” Why you should pay attention: Patterson has some impressive accomplishments under her belt including a six-week residency at the Banff Centre. She has been a featured artist on VIA Rail’s Artists on board Program, where she played several times a day on the train and in stations across the country.
“The resounding response from the people on the train was, ‘wow you need to pursue this, nobody could tell you didn’t know what you were doing and you just gotta really try and do this.’ So I took that and I put that in the bank.”
Patterson is getting ready to hop on board the train for a second time to perform in the program. In the mean time she’s been performing at venues across YYC.
“I want people to know that these lyrics are coming from a real place, and that I feel them and live them, and if you’ve felt them and lived them then maybe we can all connect over that, because that’s real.” - Branded YYC Magazine
Album: Roll Honey Roll
Release Date: June 24, 2016
Download
Genre: Folk
Amelie Patterson, singer-songwriter from Banff, has recently released her debut album, Roll Honey Roll. Patterson wears her heart on her sleeve, giving the listener an intimate look into her life through the poignant lyrics. Touching lyrics aside, her trump card is definitely her soulful yet incredibly graceful voice, with hints of Leah Fay (July Talk), Jacquie Neville (The Balconies) and Feist.
It is not hard to see why “Tic Tac Blues” was chosen as the album’s first single. As the first track on Roll Honey Roll, it introduces us to her tenacity as a songwriter and is a song that has instant appeal. “Tic Tac Blues” is one of the most upbeat tracks on the album and whispers ever so slightly of the musical styling of Florence and the Machine.
The bluesy number, “Witness” is a definite highlight. It is a quintessential demonstration of her shining vocals that are supported so effectively by the somber and dark feeling music. This song has the ability to evoke emotion, even from its first spin.
Roll Honey Roll is a great choice for evening listening under the stars this summer. A few Western Canadian tour dates have been announced, with the possibility of more summer tour dates coming soon. Already confirmed dates include July 4th at Wild Bill’s in Banff, The Calgary Folk Festival (July 23rd and 24th) and at The Rainforest Inn in Tofino on August 16th. Be sure to check in with Patterson’s social media accounts for more information. - Canadian Beats
Review – Amelie Patterson
July 1, 2016 Nicole Wolfe
Album: Roll Honey Roll
Release Date: June 24, 2016
Download
Genre: Folk
Amelie Patterson, singer-songwriter from Banff, has recently released her debut album, Roll Honey Roll. Patterson wears her heart on her sleeve, giving the listener an intimate look into her life through the poignant lyrics. Touching lyrics aside, her trump card is definitely her soulful yet incredibly graceful voice, with hints of Leah Fay (July Talk), Jacquie Neville (The Balconies) and Feist.
It is not hard to see why “Tic Tac Blues” was chosen as the album’s first single. As the first track on Roll Honey Roll, it introduces us to her tenacity as a songwriter and is a song that has instant appeal. “Tic Tac Blues” is one of the most upbeat tracks on the album and whispers ever so slightly of the musical styling of Florence and the Machine.
The bluesy number, “Witness” is a definite highlight. It is a quintessential demonstration of her shining vocals that are supported so effectively by the somber and dark feeling music. This song has the ability to evoke emotion, even from its first spin.
Roll Honey Roll is a great choice for evening listening under the stars this summer. A few Western Canadian tour dates have been announced, with the possibility of more summer tour dates coming soon. Already confirmed dates include July 4th at Wild Bill’s in Banff, The Calgary Folk Festival (July 23rd and 24th) and at The Rainforest Inn in Tofino on August 16th. Be sure to check in with Patterson’s social media accounts for more information.
Connect with Amelie Patterson
Website
Facebook
Twitter - Canadian Beats
Amelie Patterson is performing at the upcoming Canadian Music Week! We wanted to find out her thoughts about the upcoming performance.
Hammer Records: Tell us what you think of when you think Canadian music?
Amelie: I think of road trips as a kid and listening to Neil Young, Joni Mitchel, The Band, Tragically Hip, and Arcade Fire. I think of discovering great local talent on CBC radio 2.
I think of all of the fantastic support I’ve received from local Canadian radio stations and people from all over Canada.
It's a really unique, supportive, and creative music scene and I think we should all consider ourselves blessed to be a part of it.
Hammer Records: How did you get involved in Canadian Music Week?
Amelie: I heard from tons of fellow musicians and friends that live in Toronto that it's a really great time to visit when CMW is on because of all the phenomenal talent that is showcased and the good music. I thought why not apply and be a part of it!
Hammer Records: What do you have planned for Canadian Music Week?
Amelie: Mostly I just plan on playing my music as genuinely as I can and having a really great time. I have an album coming out this spring so I’m really looking forward to showcasing those songs.
Hammer Records: What message do you want to send to Canadians listening to your music?
Amelie: Thank you for listening! I’m really excited and honoured to be a part of CMW.
Hammer Records: What do you have in the works right now?
Amelie: I have a new album coming up called Roll Honey Roll and it will be debuting this spring. I can’t wait for share it with Canada and I really look forward to being a part of CMW.
Ameliepattersonmusic.com
IG: @ameliepmusic
Twitter: @ameliepmusic
Soundcloud.com/ameliepattersonmusic - Hammer Records
Discography
Roll Honey Roll - May 2016
Photos
Bio
Music is math. Music is business. Music is art. Few can leverage more than one side with any level of proficiency. Bow Valley musician Amelie Patterson is the kind of songwriter who knows her strengths and bridges the gaps of her own knowledge and skill to transform her own confident alt-folk songwriting into transfixing musical mechanica, with a little help from her friends.
Upon completing a biology degree at the University of Victoria, Patterson slipped out of the merge lane and ended up diverting away from the scientific impulses and a family history of going into medicine. Turning her attention to music and songwriting, she pushed herself to a music residency at the Banff Centre where she met Will MacLellan (Raleigh) and the two decided to record a record together. That project became Roll Honey Roll, Patterson’s debut, co-produced by MacLellan and Brock Geiger (Raleigh, The Dudes). Roll honey Roll went on to win Alternative recording of the Year at teh 2017 YYCMA's.
Though tempted by the prospect of a bigger musical market, Patterson doubled down on her community-oriented skillset and began recruiting other talented folks to her cause including Prophets of Music founders Kyle Tenove and Barry Mason, as well as Carson Gandt, into her live ensemble. This community mindset garnered Patterson the inaugural poet-laureateship of Banff, AB. Completing the Coaltion Music Artist Entrepreneurship Program further cemented Patterson’s interest in assembling a team around her songs, directing her collaborators instead of dictating or arranging, and letting them play to their strengths around her articulate musical aspirations.
The result is the Playlist, a series of diverse rolling singles, coherently organized into volumes, each centred on a thematic through-line. Patterson plays with genre and mood throughout, experimenting in writing and pushing herself and her collaborators to darken the corners of her moody alt-folk sound-space. The Playlist will be collapsible into 3 volumes, released song-by-song over a period of a few years, defined by, and reacting to, the social and musical moments to which each single breathes. Every bold and inward-facing musical singularity is readable in the lyrical and cultural moment it appears. Volume 1 will be released over the course of a year in concert with playful and unique merch items from independent Albertan artisans. The Playlist is at once present and omnipresent, a reactive and reflexive musical index of the development of an artist, her techniques, but most of all, her leadership.
“Touching lyrics aside, her trump card is definitely her soulful yet incredibly graceful voice, with hints of Leah Fay (July Talk), Jacquie Neville (The Balconies) and Feist.”
Nicole Wolfe, Canadian Beats 2016
Stay tuned for new on Amelie’s upcoming single releases for her newest recording project!
“The bluesy number, ‘Witness’ is a definite highlight. It is a quintessential demonstration of her shining vocals that are supported so effectively by the somber and dark feeling music. This song has the ability to evoke emotion, even from its first spin.
- Nicole Wolfe, Canadian Beats 2016
“Coming from Banff, sandwiched between the stunning alpine silence and the buzz of the hospitality industry, has harboured the growth of a gritty, honest and committed troubadour called Amelie Patterson.”
Matt Olah, Calgary Folk Music Festival
“#cfmf16 up and comer Amelie Patterson was a highlight of my festival this year, watch out for this girl!”
John Abraham, Delirium SPB
“Taken from lyrics of the albums lead single ‘Tic Tac Blues’, “Roll Honey Roll” speaks to Patterson's tenacious character. From pushing through the consuming feeling of being lost in tracks such as ‘Place Where I’m From’ and ‘Mirage’ to the intimate vulnerability of ‘Lights Down Low’, Patterson's songwriting speaks volumes to the voice in all of us that tells us to keep moving on”
- Best Fan blog
Band Members
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