Patrick J Crowley — 21 October 2020 on Rocket Shop Radio Hour
Patrick J Crowley joined host Tom Proctor on ‘Rocket Shop,’ Big Heavy World’s weekly local Vermont music radio hour on 105.9 FM The Radiator. Catch up with them at instagram.com/pcrowleymusic.
On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, Patrick J Crowley took the mic at the Rocket Shop radio hour with host Tom Proctor. A 1951 thrifted Martin guitar laid across his chest, sporting the scratches and repairs to prove its history. Its authenticity made it a relic of music that is purely American -- kind of like Crowley’s music.
The Vermont singer/songwriter comes from a musical background of folk-rock, classic country, and indie-rock. Crowley’s new solo career took off fairly recently, and the Rocket Shop radio hour is lucky enough to share the artist’s freshest project as he leaves behind his long history of being a band member to do some solo work.
“I just have to play my songs, or I go nuts,” Crowley said in response to a long COVID-19 quarantine. While working on his newest album, which will debut in 2021, the artist recorded 22 songs in his basement recording studio, twelve of which made the final cut for the new album. Having the space and time for creativity, Crowley was able to have fun with experimenting.
“Being at home, you can take time to know what a song is and what it needs,” he said to Proctor during the radio hour interview. Having seemingly unlimited time during COVID-19 meant letting his music breathe and come from a place of authenticity and honesty. The artist said that things like this are lost when time becomes money in the studio.
“Don’t go in there with an agenda,” Crowley said about making the most of studio time. After years of writing rather obtuse lyrics, the musician found himself sending his anxieties out into the world through songwriting. “I'd be faking it if I tried to write cheerful stuff at this time, but I’m fine,” the artist said frankly. It is therapeutic for him - especially in a time of political unrest and a global pandemic.
Image by Ryan Boyd
Crowley’s musical process focuses greatly on songwriting and has evolved over the years. Back in his country days, he found that over time, his lyrics became more direct. Being in the classic country band, Quasar Valley Band, enhanced the storytelling element in Crowley’s music. You can hear this now as he steps out under his own name as a solo performer. Recordings for the new album, he said, were built upon “spare songs” from previous musical ventures. Now, he is able to tinker with vocal layers and harmonies to fill the place of the band vibe he is so familiar with.
The first song of the radio hour was one of these refurbished songs. Entitled “All Will Set Fair,” Crowley said it made the cut on the new album because he felt most proud of it in terms of lyrical content.
“It’s one of the only ones that's been around for a couple of years,” he said after sharing the song with the small audience. The song was on the back burner for years. He renewed the chords, slowed it down and really curated it for the new album. Crowley decided to take it slow on the new album, so no track is above 75 bpm. Throughout his upcoming solo album of experimental songs, old songs, and new ones, Crowley is able to show a perfect mix of ease and storytelling.
To learn more about Patrick J Crowley, visit his Instagram and bandcamp profiles.
Text by Izzy Mousseau
Top photo by James Lockridge
