Interview: Patty Discusses His Songwriting Process, New Song “Disco/Love/Affection” & More
Patty, also known as “Patrick Shim,” is a Korean-American K-R&B singer, songwriter, and producer based out of Brooklyn, New York. Driven by his passion for music, he showcases captivating stories and conveys various emotions from his own life and imagination.
Since 2020, Patty has demonstrated his musical versatility evident in his discography, releasing K-Indie style songs and expanding to disco, while occasionally incorporating Korean lyrics.
HALSUG had the pleasure of interviewing Patty and gaining insights into the artist's creative process, including the intricate workings behind developing a distinct sound.
Photo Courtesy of Patty
How has your artistic choices in creating music evolved from when you started as an artist to where you are now?
Now that I've been making music for a couple of years now, I'm starting to experiment a bit more, trying new genres and trying to widen my skill set. I’ve also started learning piano and guitar again, so that’s definitely been useful and exciting.
What sparked the idea for “SAIL”?
“SAIL” was a really tough song to write; I contemplated a lot about whether I should release it actually because I felt it was too vulnerable and personal. Over the past few years, after I lost my girlfriend to health issues, I felt so angry and bitter at the world. Experiencing someone I loved passing away really hit me hard and taught me a lot about life. Learning to cope, let go, and continue to appreciate life every day has been a real challenge. I needed to gather all the emotions and shit that was pent up inside me for months and get it out of me somehow, which is how Sail came to be. Creating music has become an outlet for my emotions, and I feel like this song needed to come out of me so I could find a bit of closure for myself if that makes sense.
You call yourself a ‘capsule creator.’ Can you tell me where that nickname originates from?
I thought of the name ‘capsule creator’ because for each song I put out, I wanted to focus on really capturing a story/emotion/vibe/idea/location within it. Of course, writing great lyrics can tell a story by itself, but paying a little extra attention to things like the cover art, the music video, and even the sound effects or samples used can take the listener somewhere when they listen to it.
Photo Courtesy of Patty
What advice do you have for individuals aspiring to become musicians or who have recently embarked on their music careers?
Soak in life and pay attention to the little details that go on in your everyday life, and write about that. The art/music you make is a reflection of how you experience the world around you. Don't give up cause if you do, this is the furthest you'll ever go, so keep going.
In your songwriting process, do you align with the approach of some artists who craft lyrics stemming from emotions and scenarios they wish they had encountered, or do you tend to draw from your personal memories and experiences when writing?
I think it's a bit of both. An idea or a scenario might stem from my memory of a personal experience, but the song might tell a different ending or a twist of some kind on how I wished it could have played out. For example, “Wayside” and “All Day” started off as songs expressing my emotions about a girl that I missed. But as I finished the songs, they also gave me a way to express the imaginary scenarios that I wished we could've spent together.
What influence do you wish to achieve in the music industry? What type of artist do you want to be remembered as?
I wish to create a universe around my work. Tyler the Creator, for example, has done it really well with this work. He’s created something more than just music for the fans. His performances, music videos, clothing, and merchandise all tie together so well to create almost a Marvel Universe kinda thing around not just himself but as a brand. Of course, every artist wants to be acknowledged for their work; I guess if I had to pinpoint, I’d wanna be remembered for my writing/lyrics and storytelling. Also, I just wanna be remembered as a cool down to earth dude who makes cool shit.
What goes into creating the perfect song?
I wish I had the answer lmao. I remember a convo I had with my pops around the time that Colorbound was released, and he told me, “I think people enjoy this song a lot because it’s dynamic, there's different parts of the song, the verse with just the guitar and the hook bringing the energy. So putting those all together creates an experience for the listener.” So, I’d say a perfect song has depth; it takes the listener on a ride.
Photo Courtesy of Patty
Can you tell me the story of your new song “Disco/Love/Affection” What was it like crafting it?
Simply put, I wanted to make a fun/energetic song. I felt that my discography has a good amount of chill songs, so I wanted to spice it up a lil bit. I’m a big fan of Michael Jackson and Earth, Wind & Fire, so I wanted to give disco music a shot, also cause I felt like no one’s really making disco music anymore. This is the first song I produced all by myself, which definitely took some time putting all the instruments together, but I’m happy with how it came out.
Aside from your own music, what songs do you keep on repeat when you’re listening to music? What’s the most unexpected song that you can't stop listening to?
Recently, “Sidekick” by Jordan Ward, “Sad Ending” by Heize, “Tempo” by Smino, “Mia and Sebastian's Theme” from La La Land, and “I Won't Say (I'm In Love)” from the Hercules soundtrack lol.
What are your aspirations for the remainder of 2023? Are there any musical plans, tours, or other exciting endeavors you'd be willing to share with us?
For the remainder of the year, I’m just gonna be focused on getting better at piano, my songwriting, working closer with people on my team, and being more collaborative with my work. Got three new songs on the way right now; one of em’ is called “Disco/Love/Affection,” dropping in late October, so stay tuned.
Please continue to love and support and stream “SAIL” and other amazing songs on all streaming platforms.
Thank you, Patty, for showcasing your love for music through your words.
TO STAY UPDATED ON PATTY:
Artist Facts
Name/Stage Name: Patty (Patrick Shim)
Birthday: 8/7/2000
Nationality: Korean
Zodiac Sign: Leo
MBTI: INFJ
Fave Foods: Tough question, Seolleongtang & tacos
Fave Drinks: I love beverages fr, Orange Juice, Chil-sung Cider, Milkis, Banana Milk, Horchata, Fresca
Fave Movies: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Day or Night?: Day
Song you’re most proud of: “Colorbound”
Edited by Zoe Selesi