Patrick Martin is a romantic at heart. His song "Cinema Love" is a gorgeous display of infatuation that shows off Patrick's ability to tell stories in a way that sticks with you. We talked to Patrick about his origin story and new music.
How did you get started in music?
I was first inspired by music when I saw my older cousin playing guitar and following that moment, every time that we would go to his house, I would beg him to play for me, it was mesmerizing. For Christmas when I was eight, I asked for a guitar and you best believe Santa brought me a red, dinky, electric guitar. I took lessons for several years, quit, and then picked it up again in late middle school. I’ve always been an extremely anxious kid, so playing my guitar and singing was a source of absolute presence for me. The world stood still, and the worries silenced when the guitar was in my hands.
What was the standout moment where you knew this is what you wanted to do?
The first thing that comes to mind is sitting in a psychology research lab that I attended in college. The doctoral student who was in charge of our team was telling me about her dissertation and all of the work that she had to put in to obtain her doctorate. At the time I wanted to get my PhD in psychology, but after listening to what it would take, I realized, “I’m not even close to passionate enough to do that”. I was never destined to sit behind a desk or do something I didn’t love as a career. This was the moment that I realized that I really want to pursue my dream of being a musician.
Tell me about “Cinema Love” - what’s the story behind the song?
Patrick Martin: This story stems from a specific night with my first love at my parents’ house while I was in college. We pushed the mattresses from my bedroom (I shared with my brother growing up) onto the floor and constructed a fort for the two of us. The entire night was truly something out of a movie. The love and passion which we shared is something that you could never fully describe. I had never felt anything like it. I wanted to share this beautiful experience I had with the world and let people know that “cinema love” is very much real and even better then you see on the screen.
The video is gorgeous, what drew you to that scenery?
I have wanted to shoot a video at that location for a very long time. For the first piece of video people were seeing from me, that place couldn’t be a more perfect representation of my personal aesthetic and what I am drawn to.
What else has been inspiring you lately?
All sorts of things. The other day I was at my friends place where I noticed that he had some flowers that hummingbirds are drawn to. I watched a hummingbird drinking nectar from a couple feet away and it was fascinating how it moved, the sounds its wings made. I decided to write a song about that sweet little bird.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career?
I think my biggest challenge is my tendency to put pressure on songwriting and trying too hard to compose something that will be perceived as “brilliant”. I always want to say things that people have never thought of. Besides that, it can sometimes be difficult to adjust to the ever-changing lifestyle of being a musician. Routine is a foreign word to this kind of career (at least in this stage), so it can sometimes prove to be tough to find comfort when you’re experiencing so many different things on a day-to-day basis. That said, I love every second of it and I couldn’t be more grateful for it, but it certainly comes with its challenges.
What’s your best piece of advice for young musicians?
The best piece of advice that I have learned is to keep your blinders on and create YOUR vision. With the omnipresence of social media, it is far too easy to compare yourself and your art to others who may be further along in their career. This often leads to questioning your path and your gut, but it’s a trick. In my mind, if you want to be a timeless artist with a long career, your music needs to be so unapologetically authentic to you, that no one else can replicate it. Not a single person on this planet has lived life through your eyes and that is a gift. Take that gift, YOUR gift, and share it with the world.
Follow Patrick on Instagram and stay tuned for more music.
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