Munich, Germany. On 28th February, I met Patrick Grossi aka Active Child from Los Angeles. Before the show we talked about the quality of awards like the Grammy and how everything started for Patrick and what have changed for him till he started his first own tour. So here it is, the interview winged by two songs "Playing House" and "Hanging On". Enjoy it! You're getting tour dates of Active Child here.
DukeAlbert's Tour
"Hi Pat, I appreciate to meet you tonight. You coming right from Los Angeles. Is the weather much better than here in Munich?"
Patrick Grossi
"I mean, it's warmer."
DAT
"Just warmer. It's winter right?"
Pat
"It's winter. But it's still pretty warm and sunny, regardless, yeah."
DAT
"Recently, the Oscar Awards 2012 took place and whole L.A. and world went nuts. Did you follow it?"
Pat
"I didn't get to watch it. But I kind of check it at the next day and saw some highlights."
DAT
"So, you're interested in movies?"
Pat
"Yeah, for sure, I love movies."
DAT
"In my eyes, Awards like the Grammy and stuff are a little bit overrated these days. Because today, there are some many artist - especially in music business - who would deserve some sort of award. For example, I would give you one for your amazing tunes. What do you think about awards?"
Pat
"I think there is a place for awards in any art. Like a painter or whatever you still sell your paints for a million dollar or 10 million dollars - which is a certain level of regard for you. And I think, the Grammy gives the award not always to the best artist or musician. But I think, it's cool that there's still a sort of recognition. You know, there is always a artist who kind of brought a lot more people into the Grammys and getting think about awards and who should get the awards. At least, people talking about it, you know. So, I like to get a Grammy one day. That will be cool."
DAT
"Now, it's time to talk about Active Child. Can you tell me a little bit of who the project started and what are your influences?"
Pat
"I started in Colorado where I went to school. I just basically was living with some other musicians and friends of mine and we all were kind of making music. Eventually, I spend a little bit money on basic equipement like microphone and bought a few programs to record with and started to experimenting with my voice and wherever instruments were around. It went from there and kind of have a idea of what I can do and what I like. So, I started to finishing songs and naming songs... Yeah, it just went from there."
DAT
"So, did you experimenting on your own or did you start with your band members?"
Pat
"No, the record was all me and kind of when was in producing he helped kind of basically producing in making it tighter and making the sound fuller. So, the songs are all written by me."
DAT
"When I entered the venue for interview and you were still sound checking, I was a little bit confused. Because I thought you were a one man band. How fast did the project developed till you get your band members?"
Pat
"Like I said, I wrote the material by myself. And then, when I start playing live, I started realizing that no one wants to see just one person on the stage. They want to see a kind of performance."
DAT
"So, you startetd to perform alone?"
Pat
"I have, yeah. I mean a few shows at small UK tour by myself. But since than it was either the two of us. That means Stratton or Brennan joined the band about a year ago. And he is doing drums and kind of controlling the tracks and everything like that since then. So, the three of us have been together since last spring."
DAT
"I read on your main page that you opened for James Blake and White Lies. How awesome was that?"
Pat
"It was pretty awesome. I mean, James Blake, I was a fan before the tour and he is a really nice guy. It was always fun to watch him play every night. His shows were sold out. So, it was for us as openers a good start. And then White Lies was a completely different tour. Like the had just a tons of light and crew. It was a much bigger production. James Blake was kinda much like us. Just three people who putting together these sounds and than White Lies was like a massive rock circus. The shows were instead of 300, 500 people more like 2,000 people. So, both were really fun tours in different ways."
DAT
"Could you learn something from the 'big guys'?"
Pat
"No, No..."
DAT
"Or how was it backstage with them?"
Pat
"Backstage was cool. White Lies were always super friendly and backstage they're drinking Scotch usually after the show and just listening to some tunes and I met totally different people. It was really cool."
DAT
"Now, everything changed. You're touring for yourself as headliner through Germany, Scandinavia, and North America. How do you feel right now before this own tour?"
Pat
"It's amazing. And it's exciting to go out and get a feel for how many fans you have or how people reacting to the music. It's really cool when you're playing a show where you're the real reason why people have shown up. You know, we were openers for so many bands. It was our entire touring so far and very recently. So, it's a lot more pressure. Cause everybody wants to see you and you have to put on a show. And as opener you have a kind of respect and get away with just like being cool. So, it's a lot more pressure."
DAT
"Last question. As musician you're visiting a lot of cities, you're sharing your thoughts and feelings expressed through your own created music. Did you dream always of that in your childhood?"
Pat
"No, no, it wasn't really my dream ever until I started playing shows. Really it was just one step at a time. First, you messing around. Than you're actually recording songs which later you actually play for someone. And than you're putting the songs into form that other people can listen to it. And when that happened you release something, you know. Than you start playing a tour. So, in each step I got more serious and suddenly I released my first album and visit so many different places and meet totally different people. So, I'd never planned it. It was never my dream. But now it has become my dream."
DAT
"Really impressive.
So, thank you! It's was a pleasure to talk to you. I wish you a lot of fun on your tour."