David Fitzpatrick, who has led Milwaukee’s Dave Fitzpatrick Band for decades, released his first major solo work entitled Parachutes In Hurricanes earlier this year. Nearly three years in the making, Fitzpatrick spent countless session hours crafting the melodies and arrangements that resulted in the compositions on the album. “It was an extensive undertaking that could only have been steered by this songwriter’s single-minded passion for perfection,” explains producer Gary Tanin, “It took David's uncompromising excellence, courage, persistence, and dedication to the art form. I'm extremely proud of our achievement.” A body of work that represents a life’s worth of insight, Parachutes In Hurricanes balances joy and darkness expressing down-to-earth emotion packed with heartfelt examinations of love and life. Here, Fitzpatrick answers his Essential 8 and talks about the album, imagining in songwriting, and more. Did you have a musical mentor? If so who was it and how did they influence you? I can’t really say whether I had one single mentor I’ve been listening since I was a child to all types of music was the youngest of nine children and all my brothers and sisters played a part in influencing me by what they listen to so it’s hard to say that there was any single person that influence me. Some of my personal favorites are The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, The Replacements, The Clash, Lou Reed, The Beautiful South, John Hiatt and Buddy Holly. With any particular song was there an "a-ha" moment when you knew it was completed? I was in a losing the battle with having faith in myself and the thought that I could still be the writer and performer I so much wanted to be. When my father died it really came to light how precious time is and I decided to put all my doubts aside and make the record I always wanted to make, not having to worry about the band or where it was going and just make an epic album. I wanted it to be more album oriented and less live band material. I wanted to really take these song ideas apart and form them into well thought out arrangements. More of a sound track vision. I wanted someone else to produce it. To put real money into its production and release. I think it was the song “Your Ghost.” When that song was done I really couldn’t think of any better way of doing it to me it was perfect. There was nothing in that song that I would change. (With) Gary Tanin, we began working on this record with just a few first songs – "Your Ghost," "Lost On The Same Street" – This albums material was nearly all written in real time. This record on its own became very personal and very therapeutic in its processes of writing and rewriting. So much was going on in my life at the time and it all came through the music. Quite remarkable. Is there a story behind the album's title?
In someways there is. I’ve always loved that name and thought of naming another CD “Parachutes and Hurricanes.” In the midst of recording this album I realized this title was perfect for it. It’s an album about life and disillusionment but yet showing you that you’re never alone. “Parachutes in Hurricanes” Was saved for this very album. Why did you anchor the album with the song is you did? The great part about this album is it seemed to arrange itself. Songs were written during the making of the album and they all fit together in the process. This album definitely became a concept talbum all on its own. When and where do you do your best writing? I don’t feel there’s a specific time or place. As cliché as it sounds they seem to come out of nowhere. I really don’t feel I have that much control over it. I never sat down and told myself I would write. The main core of the ideas will come all on their own and then I will develop them later sometimes much later. Sometimes when I feel pressure from not writing for a while and fear that maybe it’s gone then my writing suddenly starts happening spontaneously. Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination? I think I write about all of the above. Some songs become personal and some songs about other people, observations and so forth. I think it’s great to write about things you may not have experienced but to be as honest as possible about it. I don’t think any writers should stick to only personal experience. Sometimes honestly imagining is more powerful than experiencing. I am the youngest of nine children and have been influenced by so much through generations of different music that my brothers and sisters were listening to. My parents' musical influences were from the swing period and all of us were avid listeners to music. It was always around me in some form. As a small kid I would play out all the different performers. I'd use the vacuum cleaner as a mic stand – it was the perfect height at the time – and a string attached to a tennis racket for a guitar strap and I became whoever was on the stereo. What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician? I think the best advice I’ve ever gotten from any other musician was to keep going and do it for you at all times. Never stop writing no matter what and treat a song like a small child. Each song needs to be nurtured and given the attention it needs to be as good as it can be. Do you have any advice for a musician just starting out? Find a group of friends that have something in common and just start playing. If it doesn’t work out you will always cherish camaraderie and the friends you’ve met playing in bands. Keep on writing and don’t be afraid to experiment and to step outside of yourself in order to feel that inspiration. Facebook/ReverbNation
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