An Interview With Indie Musician ESME PATTERSON On Her Latest Album, “We Were Wild”!

Photo Credit- Daniel Topete

Esme Patterson released her latest album last week via Grand Jury Music. Entitled, “We Were Wild”, the record’s first single is called “Feel Right.” The collection has already received many rave reviews from numerous music sites.

Patterson describes this new album as “(a) much more straight-ahead, rock ’n’ roll kind of thing” and “by far the best work I’ve ever done.”

Learn more about Esme in the following All Access interview:

Photo Credit- Daniel Topete

Thanks for your time today! How’s 2016 been treating you so far? What were some of the highlights of 2015 for you and your music?

2016 has been surprising me a lot. And I’ve been surprising it right back. 2015 was a year of non-stop work, all of which I am very proud, but it feels good to stand at the top of the mountain for a second and rest.

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

I always loved to sing, some of my earliest memories are of singing, usually very very loudly.

How do you think living in Portland has influenced you as an artist? I recently visited and fell in love with all the beautiful waterfalls everywhere! Do you get out to see them very often?

The inclement weather in 3/4 of the seasons in Portland draws people inside of their house and inside their own world. I think that the work I’ve made since I’ve lived here has a level of introspection and reflection that I wasn’t able to dig down to living in sunny Colorado. And yeah, I love chasing waterfalls out here.

How was your recent tour with San Fermin? What were some favorite crowds and venues along the way? What do you think has been your favorite touring experience so far?

The wonderful people in San Fermin were a blast to tour with! We had so much fun, but some highlights were Iowa City, the waiting room in Omaha, Mississippi Studios here in Portland, and the Cedar in Minneapolis, such a rad venue. Touring with the fellas in my band is the best touring experience of my life so far. Alex Koshak on drums, Jeremy Averitt on bass, Phillippe Bronchtein on guitar, we have the most fun.

In June, you will be releasing your newest record, “We Were Wild.” What does that feel like? How long were you working on it? What was the inspiration behind these songs?

I’m so excited to release WWW! I started recording it last June, and it is being released a year later, which feels good and kind of surreal. These songs were inspired by big changes happening in my life, and my battle with trying to find the eye of the storm and write from there.

What was the inspiration specifically for your album’s lead single, “Feel Right’?

“Feel Right” is a song about negotiating the space between right and wrong, about how sometimes you have to swing back and forth between opposites to find the middle.

How do you think you’ve grown as a musician since you first started putting out music? What’s remained the same?

The ways that I’ve grown as a musician directly correlate to the ways I’ve grown as a person, I think. I’m learning to trust my instincts more, to stand up for my vision, to be patient and generous with love, to stop giving a fuck what anyone thinks. But I believe that all the threads weave through, that we always remain the same, but the patterns change.

Photo Credit- Devvon Simpson

Who are some of your favorite artists? Who continues to inspire you year after year? Who would you love to work with in the future?

I am really inspired by my friends. Community is a magical thing, it really nourishes and challenges us.

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners are taking away from your songs?

I hope that these songs can be a friend to someone, as they have been for me.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

Um, I hate karaoke and I love corndogs.