00:00
DJ Beowvlf
WKNC 88.1. This is DJ Beowulf coming to you live off of HD-2, where we have a very special guest in studio. Today. I have the honor and privilege of sitting down with local rap legend Pat Junior. Who will be performing at WKNC's 17th annual Double Barrel Benefit. I heard that laugh in the corner, but I promise it's the truth and not flattery. We are beyond excited to do this little get to know the artist segment. And to everyone tuning in and checking him out, we are very excited to have you listening in as well. So, Pat, if you want to go ahead and officially introduce yourself to the air, that'd be awesome.
00:34
Pat Junior
What's going on? I am Pat Junior I am an artist of sorts. Mainly people know me for my music, my rapping, but I'm also a writer, songwriter, producer. I do sound design, and I'm also into the visual arts as well. But right now, those are the things that people know me for in the forefront. So definitely really excited about this and the opportunity.
00:59
DJ Beowvlf
So, yeah, I mean, don't sell yourself short. Definitely a jack of all trades. Like you said yourself, we're gonna be here mostly talking about the music, but everything that encompasses your artistry and who you are is relevant to this interview. So we'll probably touch on a lot of different topics. First and foremost, for someone who had never listened to your music, where could they find it if they walk away from this interview going, I really like that guy.
01:21
Pat Junior
It's on all streaming platforms. I recently released the album called I Thought I Knew, which I'm sure we'll be talking about. But definitely it's Spotify, Apple Music everywhere.
01:33
DJ Beowvlf
I like to kind of throw this curve ball to some artists. But is it also on Tidal?
01:37
Pat Junior
Yes, it is. It's everywhere. It's everywhere.
01:40
DJ Beowvlf
So, yeah, it's really funny for me when I get people in the room and I go, but is it on Tidal? You said all streaming services, and they look at each other and they're like, I don't know about that. Is it so nice? It's literally everywhere. Glad to hear it. There's no reason why anyone shouldn't be hearing it. And we also play Pat Junior on WKNC, which once again is in promotion of the 17th annual double barrel Benefit. Before I get into talking about Pat specifically, I'd like to remind the audience that DBB17 will be held at Kings in downtown Raleigh on February 7th and 8th. Pat is headlining night one, which is February 7th, and will be supported by other local acts, which include Vacant Company, King Gino and dotwave Media.
02:21
DJ Beowvlf
This interview with Pat has been done in a series where we're talking to as many of the double barrel artists as we can get to. And I'm very excited to have the first our headliners to talk to me today, which is very cool on my part. Swiveling back to you. You talked about that album that you released recently. I thought I knew when did it come out?
02:39
Pat Junior
So we dropped it November. I'm bad with dates, but it was in November. Early November for sure. But yeah, we dropped it in November, but the previous month, and I won't Forget this day, October 20th, we held a listening session or an album listening experience of sorts at the Creative Arts, excuse me, Contemporary Art Museum in downtown Raleigh. And so, you know, it was a silent listening session where everyone had their own personal wireless headphones, which is really cool.
03:16
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
03:17
Pat Junior
And I just kind of dreamed up this whole session myself after being inspired by just watching certain things. But if people are familiar with Jay-Z, he had a video documentary for his song Picasso. And so there was like this idea of art inception where in the middle you have him standing on a platform and rapping, but then you have these designers and, you know, artists, singers, dancers who are, you know, a world known or internationally known. And they were sitting in front of him watching him as the art. But then there's an outer layer of everyone watching them.
04:03
Pat Junior
So I got inspired from that, which that came out some years ago, but to just put on some kind of like, art event, slash album listening and like, just make it special, like making it an experience for the city, for the area that nobody's ever been to. And so we had that. But also I had an illustrator who created some illustrations for eight out of the 11 tracks on the project. And yeah, like, you know, like it was. It was special. It was really dope. So I ended up rolling that stuff out and there's a documentary actually coming out for it on next week, Wednesday. My good friend Patrick Lincoln, he runs Torch House Media. People who are listening if some of the artists in the area, he does a lot of their work and he's really good at what he does.
04:58
Pat Junior
So he documented the whole experience and we captured that in 10 minutes. And it's really good. I'm not like it's 10 minutes. It doesn't seem like 10 minutes because it's super engaging.
05:12
DJ Beowvlf
Like you get long, shorter or longer.
05:14
Pat Junior
Well, it's 10 minutes long, but it feels shorter. Interesting, you know, so, because it's just super engaging, And I think, you know, we captured the essence of what happened. Well, but what I did was I made a plan to like, you know, have everybody view the art because each illustration went with a certain song. And then afterwards we had two people for each song. They had like a timeframe of maybe about two or three minutes to kind of talk about and review the, like, the song they were given. So random people were selected to give their thoughts on a certain song, if it resonated with them, what they thought about it and all that. So I think it's going to be like we captured that event and put it in documentary form.
06:00
Pat Junior
And I think it's really cool and I'm really excited about it because it really encompasses who I am as an artist. Like, not just a rapper and not just a producer. Like, I actually have a vision for how I like to present myself as an artist and just who I am as a person and creative. But I also like sharing that experience with other people, you know, to provoke thought or to relate most importantly to others. So. So yeah, I really think it, like, it captures not just who I am as an artist, but who I am as a person. So I'm really excited about it. Really excited about it.
06:35
DJ Beowvlf
I mean, there's a bunch of things that I could touch on real quick. So I'm going to hit a bunch of different points because clearly I can tell this is going to be an incredibly engaging conversation for the event. You said that the event was October 20, but that the album came out in early November. As far as the production of the album goes, you must have had it like, already waiting in the wings so you could have it prepared for this, for lack of a better phrase, other than art event, this promotional event, how long did it take you to create this album?
07:05
Pat Junior
I would say, like, probably like a year and a half. And I'm kind of side eyeing my wife because she is with me during this whole process. Just to make sure I'm not, you know, tripping. About a year and a half, I put it together with a good friend of mine, Daniel Steele. He's a mentor and just a big brother figure to me. An incredible musician, incredible artist. And so, like, we have. We've been friends for, I want to say about eight years.
07:34
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
07:36
Pat Junior
But we just now put out this project. Like we've put out songs, you know, over time. I think you guys have played Steppin out the Bat Cave before up here. That's produced by D. Steel and some other songs as well. But he executive produced the whole project and so like we just. The chemistry with us is just crazy. Like it's natural. Like, you know, we're friends. I see him as a, you know, big brother mentor. And so like a lot of people don't know this and I've told them he was actually here for the listening session that came. He actually came from New Jersey.
08:11
DJ Beowvlf
But you had a lot of Raleigh creatives there in particular. When I was switching through the videos and things. And first of all, the illustrations are great. One of the names that I recognized in particular was you had local film photographer Linus Terry there, who gave his thoughts one of your songs. Excuse me forgetting which song it was. But it was really cool to see the diversity of people who were there to expl. Experience your creation.
08:35
Pat Junior
Yeah, yeah. And. And so like I had let people know afterwards. So me and Daniel got together and started working on the production of what I was going to be creating, which I had no clue what it was going to be until we actually like. So last year, I want to say around May. No, I'm sorry, not last year, 2018 of May, we got together during the summer. I think it was May or June, but we got together and we just. I didn't know what I was working on. We just got together and started like putting production together, just making beats and stuff. And so a lot of people don't know, but me and Daniel, that was our first time meeting in person.
09:22
Pat Junior
Like we have kept a long going friendship over telephone, like Marco Polo, like Google chat, like, you know, we talk FaceTime and all that stuff. But you know, we kept. We grew a very strong relationship just over that. And then in 2018 of the summer, that was our first time seeing each other face to face. And it wasn't weird at all. Cause it was like, oh, I've known.
09:49
DJ Beowvlf
You in the flesh, I've known you.
09:51
Pat Junior
For a long time.
09:52
DJ Beowvlf
And you've probably seen photos of him and things, so.
09:54
Pat Junior
Of course, yeah. But like, just to see him in person, it was just really cool.
09:58
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
09:59
Pat Junior
And so, you know, I'd stayed there for about a week at his. At his house. And I remember sitting down, were having. Excuse me. We were having a like brother. It was a big brother to little brother moment. And so were talking and he was kind of checking me in some areas, you know, as his brother, but also just kind of like, you know, pushing me to step it up in certain places and causing me to think about things. And so at the moment, in that moment, when I'm sitting there, I started Thinking to myself, like, I really, like, just based off the things that he was saying, I was like, I really thought I knew what I was doing. And just. And these are. This is not about all about music. It's just about life.
10:47
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
10:47
Pat Junior
You know, and when I said I really thought I knew, and I was like, oh, that's it. Like, that's what I'm gonna talk about. Like, these. These life lessons where I thought I knew certain things about myself and the man that I've become. And what's crazy is that I still had some lessons that I had to learn from that moment until the album came out. So a lot of that material is really fresh. Like, a lot of it is fresh. Like, I had a lot of the concepts. Like, I don't. I'm not a artist that just. I can go and write to anything at any moment, but when I'm creating an album, like, I like to have all the production done because the groundwork already there, right?
11:32
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
11:33
Pat Junior
So for me, it's like, I went to. I have my master's in creative writing, and so, you know, I learned script writing, storyboarding, and all that stuff. So I like to actually create, like, production, listen to it, and then say to myself, like, okay, how does this make me feel? What do I want to talk about on this song? So I kind of outline. I have a concept for different things, and then once I go to write, it just comes out, you know, and so that's how we literally built the album. So I went back home, and when I came home and let my wife hear the production, she was just like, yo, this is crazy. This is crazy. This is crazy. And I knew when I had the production alone, I said, this album is going to be excellent. I hadn't written anything.
12:18
Pat Junior
I had, like, some concepts, maybe, like, a hook or two, but I was like, this. This album is going to be crazy. I just. Just off the production alone.
12:27
DJ Beowvlf
If you're not excited for it, no one else will be.
12:29
Pat Junior
Right?
12:29
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
12:29
Pat Junior
You know, and so, like, you know, went. I went back again the following year. Like, I want to say, like, March or April around that time. I want to say March to finish, like, you know, up the production and stuff. But I had been writing all along and just kind of like, living with it, writing to it, living with it, writing to it. And then, of course, in between that, I just released some music. You know, just some ideas and exploring and stuff.
12:56
DJ Beowvlf
But you can't keep it all bottled up, right?
12:58
Pat Junior
But I got to a certain point where I got Locked in and focused for the album. And so, you know, I finished it. Shout out to my bro, Brian Kidd, who mixed and mastered the album. He's incredible. He mixes and masters a lot of the artists around here who live here, you know, their work and you know, artists that are out of the state as well. But he mixed and mastered the album. And then I have some guys that did some co production on the project as well. And then there's one beat up there that Daniel didn't make, but he approved from my brother Siege in California. He's worked with like TDE and some other like, bigger name artists. And so it was cool linking up with him. Cause I. He's definitely one of my top, like five top 10 producers. So.
13:50
Pat Junior
But like, just seeing how everything came together and the people, the talented people I had around me, it just like, that was just, I guess, like a small outline or synopsis of the whole process. So.
14:02
DJ Beowvlf
And I don't at all mean this as a slight or anything, but for the. For this production of this album, you did the absolute most in far. As far as like the actual development of the album, but also the promotional aspects. Whether it was the event at cam or having illustrations of each of the songs, or it seems as though you had everything like laid out before you and you just had to execute it. As far as your creative process goes, how did you decide, I guess how you wanted to introduce it to the world. Of course you had that Jay Z inspiration and you had the cam event, but there are so many different ways you could have gone. And what was that guide that took you to making those final decisions?
14:40
Pat Junior
So I'm a very visual driven person for my albums. I was telling one of my brothers, I told him that when I write an album, I try to get a centerpiece, because that centerpiece, whatever that centerpiece is, it helps me build around what the creative, I guess, motif or theme is gonna be for that album. So when I came up with the title, before I had even written anything, I had the title I thought I knew. And so the first thing that came to mind was the Thinker statue, which.
15:18
DJ Beowvlf
Is your album cover, right? Yes.
15:21
Pat Junior
Recreated with you. Right. And so which I believe is. I want to say it's 20th century art, if I'm not mistaken.
15:32
DJ Beowvlf
And so I'm not along for this part, right? Yeah, yeah.
15:36
Pat Junior
So I did my research, you know, like, I'm not an intensive, like art studier, but I do certain things pique my interest.
15:47
DJ Beowvlf
You have to have some sort of, like, knowledge of the predecessors to influence your current work.
15:51
Pat Junior
I think that's the realest way to do it. Yeah, that's the authentic way to do it.
15:55
DJ Beowvlf
Nothing is ever truly original. I mean, it is, but it's offshoots of what influenced you.
16:00
Pat Junior
I feel like the best way for artists to create is to be inspired by many creative things and make it their own. So I took inspiration from that century of art, and then ironically, which I thought was very cool, was that Picasso created in that century too. So going back to the whole Jay Z thing.
16:18
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
16:19
Pat Junior
So I was like, okay, I'm in the right era. Then, like, this statue was made in this era, in this century of art. And so that's where some of the inspiration of the paintings came from. So I was like, okay, I want. I know from here what I want to do. Pulling inspiration from that and also some other artists that I've seen do illustrations before. I said, I want to create, like, a small gallery because my centerpiece is this statue. So let me create this small gallery of art to go along with what I have. And pulling inspiration from the Jay Z Picasso video and documentary, I want to create my own version of that, if you will. And to add a layer on top of that, which I probably won't release it. No, it won't be later than sooner.
17:13
Pat Junior
But at the listening session, there was an alternate version of the album that we put together.
17:19
DJ Beowvlf
Interesting.
17:20
Pat Junior
So nobody except the people who came heard it. So what I like using my creative writing. Like, I created, like, this outline script, and I have a friend. His name is Jay Adams. That's his stage name, but Jerrell. And so he creates these crazy good soundscapes. It's almost like listening to a comic book.
17:43
DJ Beowvlf
Okay.
17:44
Pat Junior
So, like. Yeah, so it's like, if you ever. If you're into comics, if you ever read comics before, like, if you're reading. If you're a reader, like I am, because I read comics, you're reading and hearing the sounds that are imagining those sounds. He actually creates those sounds. So my idea was, because I'm in the comics and Marvel, so is it.
18:08
DJ Beowvlf
Music or, like, ambient noise?
18:10
Pat Junior
So, like. So it's. They're like skits almost, but they're not skits.
18:15
DJ Beowvlf
Cool.
18:15
Pat Junior
Like, it's an audible book, almost like, kind of what he does.
18:20
DJ Beowvlf
Like an audiobook.
18:21
Pat Junior
Right? So, yeah, but what I did, like, an audio comic. Like, and the thing is, the name of his, like, independent label sounds Good Comics. So, like. And he does it in his own music. So I hit him up and I said, I have this idea for my listening party or listening experience, for you to create and do what you do for a version of my album. And I said, you know, I'm going to send you the outline. Right. And I want you to, like, I create the outline, some of the script, and you fill it in. And so what the idea was, I thought to myself, what if this listening session and experience. Right. Was happening in an alternate universe with more advanced technology? What would it sound like? Right. So it's the same event. It's me.
19:13
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
19:13
Pat Junior
More modern technology. And have you ever. I don't know if you've ever been to Disney World, but, you know, the. The It's a Small World ride where you kind of go through. So like, think of a way more advanced version of that.
19:27
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
19:27
Pat Junior
Where you can see, smell, hear everything.
19:31
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah. You've got these, like, 40 movie theaters now. You go see Finding Nemo and they like, spray you with it.
19:36
Pat Junior
Yes. Right. But think of, like, how that would be in the future.
19:40
DJ Beowvlf
Better.
19:40
Pat Junior
Right. You know what I mean? So what? So we had to take it and see what would that sound like? Right?
19:48
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
19:48
Pat Junior
So we created, like, essentially the same thing. Like, and if you. When you hear. It's really cool, like, because my wife plays. If people haven't figured it out who were there. My wife plays the AI. So she's the AI computer. Jerrel's the navigator. Like, kind of like telling me you can hear the people walking towards wherever they're going. You can hear her over the intercom, but you can't hear a super clear. Because it's. No, it's like being in the airport where you can hear. Right. So. So then when you get there, you hear him saying, like, don't touch the paintings. Unless you like traveling to a parallel universe. And, like, he's saying all this and you can hear the. It's. It's amazing. So I'll be releasing that later. But when people were there, they heard that version of the album.
20:38
DJ Beowvlf
Interesting.
20:39
Pat Junior
So they're hearing, like, this kind of like alternate Universe edition, but the songs are playing as one file. So it's just going. It's just going and in between, like, there was this really cool moment. And I don't want to tell it all, but this is really cool moment where Jerrel took a clip from, like he said, from Earth 1 or Earth 4 or something like that.
21:05
DJ Beowvlf
Oh, like the Disney movie.
21:06
Pat Junior
No, but he. So he took like. So in the DC Comics, right there they have different universes, Right. So There's a Earth 1, Earth, 2. Earth, 3. Earth, 4.
21:16
DJ Beowvlf
Got it, got it.
21:16
Pat Junior
Yeah. Right. So I gave him that idea, like, so he took an interview clip for me from like some 2015, and he's like, here's an interview clip from Pat Junior On Earth 4. And he played it. It's just really cool.
21:34
DJ Beowvlf
That is just the little things, you know. Yeah.
21:36
Pat Junior
So people who were at the listening party, and I'll put it out later this year, but people who were at the listening session were listening to that version of the album that nobody else has heard. So, like, I really wanted to engulf people in the experience and kind of like, I'm a visionary, like, you know, put that stuff together and. Yeah.
22:01
DJ Beowvlf
So now obviously the title of the album is I Thought I Knew. And you have done so much to create a holistic experience for those. For your creation aspect of as well. But also the audience who's engaging with it through this experience. Your end, specifically, what do you now know? What have you learned through creating the album?
22:23
Pat Junior
That's a good question. So I've learned. I've learned how to be a better husband. I've learned more patience. I've learned that, you know, it's okay to be sad, it's okay to be upset, it's okay to be angry. But also there's a healing process coming from depression.
22:51
DJ Beowvlf
Your big quote that you have on all your social media is, I bleed my music so others can heal.
22:55
Pat Junior
Yes. So I'm very transparent in my music. And you can hear. I think what I love about this album is that it's a closing of chapter of sorts for me, because in my older work, you can hear especially in Black and Mile Black Wayne. Right. It has that dark thing, you know, because I was going through some dark times. Like, it was rough. But this album served as like a closing of chapter of Source because.
23:29
DJ Beowvlf
You.
23:29
Pat Junior
Hear kind of how I got to where I was, but then you also hear my healing process, you know, so there's a lot of. There's themes of self confidence, learning self confidence in that project. There's. There's a. There's lessons of forgiveness, you know, of things that I went through in my past that I had to be healed from. You know, the bitterness and, you know, the grudges and things of that nature.
23:59
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
23:59
Pat Junior
And so I've learned a lot. Like, I will definitely say I've told people that spiritually, emotionally and mentally, I am such in a better place than I was. And the last track of the album is a tale to that. Conversations with my pastor.
24:17
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
24:18
Pat Junior
So those conversations, like, I tell people, those conversations I had with my pastor, shout out to Pastor Jerome. I wouldn't have been able to write this album if I didn't have those conversations.
24:34
DJ Beowvlf
Right.
24:34
Pat Junior
Because we're unpacking a lot of these shadows and these things that I'm dealing with, and we're, you know, almost like counseling to a degree, you know.
24:43
DJ Beowvlf
Absolutely.
24:44
Pat Junior
And so we're unpacking these things, and I'm starting to see these things as a man that I need to grow in, you know, so that I could be a better husband, be a better friend, a better. A better brother, a better son, like, all of those things. And so I've learned a lot. I'm still learning, but there was a really crucial time of me, like, really digging deep inside and really questioning, do I really know how to forgive people?
25:10
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
25:10
Pat Junior
You know, especially when it comes to loyalty, which I'm big on. Do I really know how to forgive those who weren't loyal to me? Or did I think I knew, like, how to do that? Like, you know, or do I need to learn? And so I discovered, like, no, I really don't know how to. Let me learn how to, you know. So then there's. There's this perspective of. In same D song. I don't know if I could say D a M N on the radio.
25:43
DJ Beowvlf
Can you say that?
25:43
Pat Junior
Same damn song. Okay, cool.
25:45
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
25:46
Pat Junior
So on same damn song, I talk about, like, just learning to forgive, you know, learning, like. I think one thing that is a common issue with people is that we tend to. When people react to certain things or do something to us that hurts us, we take it personal.
26:07
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
26:07
Pat Junior
Instead of realizing that unless it was, like, directly like, I hate you or this. This about you.
26:15
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
26:16
Pat Junior
Then that's. That can be taken personal. But I think a lot of the times when somebody reacts angrily to something or somebody is rude or whatever the case is, we take it personal instead of realizing that their behavior is a response or stems from how they were raised.
26:33
DJ Beowvlf
Their hurt.
26:34
Pat Junior
Yeah, Their hurt. Their pain. Things that they've been through, behaviors that they still need to learn how to fix and do better on. And that's one thing that I had to learn how to do, is not take even when we want to because it hurts us.
26:49
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
26:50
Pat Junior
How not to take things personal. Or even when, you know, there are times where you're. It's not you. You don't see the loyalty that you want to see or, you know, you come from, like, a broken home or whatever it is, like, and you See certain patterns of behavior. Like, for me, like, my dad wasn't around.
27:13
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
27:13
Pat Junior
You know, and sometimes. And I'm still learning even now, like, I don't know if you've ever experienced this, but you grow close to somebody, you get cool with them, and y' all build a relationship, and then they ghost you for some odd reason, and they don't even tell you could have been something that you've done that you don't even realize that you've done. Yeah. And they just ghost you.
27:33
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
27:33
Pat Junior
And they're on social media and. Oh, yeah. Talking.
27:36
DJ Beowvlf
What's wrong with me?
27:38
Pat Junior
What did I do? Like, you know, what happened? And I'm learning to realize that there might be an emotional intelligence issue there, but I can't take it personal, you know, like, I'll pray for you. Like, you know what I'm saying? I move on. But. And it could be hurtful because here stemming back to my dad ghosting my mom, you know, or leaving my mom. So I'm learning these, like, things as a man, and I'm growing as an individual and becoming a better person. And I believe sharing this experience with people on my album and being transparent, it opens the door in a room for people to know it's okay to heal. Like, it's, you know, it's cool to be, you know, not cool, but it's okay to be depressed or sad.
28:23
Pat Junior
But there has to be a moment where you have to realize there's a healing process as well, you know, so.
28:30
DJ Beowvlf
Now that actually transitions essentially perfectly. And what I was going to bring up next, of course, the path of creation is never linear, and there are pitfalls and difficulties and things. But you have had a great deal of successes regarding all of the work that you've put into this album. As far as I can tell, it's received incredible critical acclaim. All that you've. What it seems like wanted to do has been done. But what other goals do you have for your career, whether it's musical? I know that you wanted to start a podcast in the future, or your visual art or your writing. What goals do you have for yourself going into the future?
29:03
Pat Junior
Yeah. Well, podcast is one of them.
29:05
DJ Beowvlf
You did tweet recently saying, hold me to it. It's coming out. I do my research.
29:10
Pat Junior
Thank you.
29:10
DJ Beowvlf
I know what you're saying a lot.
29:11
Pat Junior
Ye. Yeah, yeah, No, I am. That's. That's in the works, and I'm excited about that. I want to. There's still more things I want to do with this project because, of course, I'm working on new music, and I'm thinking about releasing new music because that's just the era that we're in now. A lot of people have short attention spans, and they're like, I was. I was reading a tweet. It was actually an artist in Charlotte. I can't remember who I think it was. I can't remember who it was. I just know it was in Charlotte because I remember seeing where the location was.
29:46
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah, yeah.
29:47
Pat Junior
But I remember them saying, artists will release an album, a really good album. And then two weeks later, three weeks later, you'll see somebody ask, when are you putting out new music?
30:01
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah. You know, and there's this weird musical trend, and I think. I don't. As I am a young person, I cannot comment on whether or not this is because of the digital age or the instant streaming or anything like that. But you hear of fans saying, I love a song. I listen to it. It's so powerful to me. And you listen to it so much until it has no power over you anymore. And then they're like, what's next? Give me the next thing. Just suck it dry. And it's difficult because the creative industry demands some semblance of pain. For art to have effect or have meaning or have value, people have to.
30:39
Pat Junior
Live to create good music.
30:41
DJ Beowvlf
It's inherently damaging to the artist, but it's so addicting to the engagement.
30:45
Pat Junior
It is. Yeah, it is.
30:47
DJ Beowvlf
And so that's a whole other can of work.
30:51
Pat Junior
I was having this conversation with my wife the other day. Like, this is why I don't watch some of my favorite movies all the time or a lot.
31:01
DJ Beowvlf
Because you watch them when you want to cry. Not whenever.
31:05
Pat Junior
Or when I want inspiration or when I want to. Whatever. Like. Like. Or just to watch it again and appreciate the visual aspect of it, because it doesn't have the same impact if you've seen it 10 times, 15 times, 20 times. You know, like, one of my favorite movies of all time is the Fifth Element. You know, I've seen that one. Oh, man, you got to see it. It's still. Is really ahead of its time when it was. It was. It was ahead of its time when it came out. And I. I think it still kind of fits with modern movies, how they depict the future.
31:44
DJ Beowvlf
Okay.
31:45
Pat Junior
I think pretty good still. But I've maybe seen that movie three, four times total over my life. You know what I mean? Like, three times, maybe Max. But anyway, I want to. I'm saying that to say I want to extend the life of this Project. I still, you know, put out new music or whatever. I'm hoping to. At least I'm thinking about it because I have some really great ideas.
32:11
DJ Beowvlf
Clearly.
32:12
Pat Junior
I appreciate it but like I want to extend the life of the album. So I'm working on some things with my team, with my manager. We were talking about putting on some events pretty soon actually. And so I'm looking forward to doing that. I'm also looking forward to releasing the Alternate universe edition of the album.
32:36
DJ Beowvlf
Very stoked on that one.
32:37
Pat Junior
So people can hear that. Of course. More visuals. I'm thinking about doing that too. I am going to do that too. So yeah, like as far as extra, I think that answered the question correctly. Like just more about what I'm going to be releasing or what I'm working on. That's what my focus is. Cause I like, I really, I want to end. I'm sorry.
32:59
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah, you take your time to answer.
33:01
Pat Junior
This question more correctly. I want to use the album to engage these conversations that need to be had.
33:09
DJ Beowvlf
Absolutely.
33:09
Pat Junior
You know, I'll say this and I want to say it correctly. It's disappointing to see how you know, you have like younger like rap hip hop artists. Right. That makes stuff that's like super mosh fit, heavy like you know, but there's also like this like drug culture that surrounds it. Right.
33:38
DJ Beowvlf
I'm a social work student so I'm all about that.
33:40
Pat Junior
Okay, cool. So you gonna follow me here, right?
33:42
DJ Beowvlf
I actually am truly enjoying this conversation because I'm double majoring in psychology and social work and I'm also just a music fan. So everything that you're saying I'm so tuned into right now and just truly enjoying it. Anyways, carry on.
33:55
Pat Junior
Yeah.
33:56
DJ Beowvlf
So please keep going.
33:58
Pat Junior
Yeah, so. So like, so like there's this, you know, drug culture and unfortunately we've lost some great artists to it. Right. But I'm seeing this trend where artists are using like. Cause you know, they have this like, they've labeled some of it like sad boy rap. You know what I mean? But they're using like depression and sad images and a look like even fashion wise like creating like using depression and all that stuff to really market the music. Like the drug culture.
34:42
DJ Beowvlf
It started with like Nirvana and now it's coming over into mainstream like hip hop.
34:46
Pat Junior
I mean, I mean and it's not like, it's not something that now here again like I get as artists we want to create like how you feel what you're experiencing. Yeah. Visually. But it's becoming like redundant. Like you Know what I'm saying? Like, it's becoming like a lifestyle almost, you know, to the younger generation that are listening, you know, and being influenced by this stuff. And I really dislike the drug culture that's being promoted in music because you have younger, easily influenced people who are listening.
35:24
DJ Beowvlf
And I mean, Xanax is like the hottest drug of all right now.
35:28
Pat Junior
It's like all of that. And so it's like, oh, this is how you cope with this. And it's like, no, that's not how you do it.
35:33
DJ Beowvlf
That's just how this person is coping. But now that's how everyone.
35:36
Pat Junior
Exactly. So. So with the music, you have this brand or this image that's marketed, and it's not like it's like a several times, like, that's their brand as the artist. And so I want to have these conversations about that. I want to have, like, okay, if you've done those drugs before, if you. It's not good, but it's okay.
36:02
DJ Beowvlf
You're not a bad person.
36:03
Pat Junior
You're not a bad person for that. But let me show you there's a healing process. There's a better side to this. You don't have to stay like that. Yeah, this is not a cool thing to do. Yeah, it's not good. It's not healthy.
36:16
DJ Beowvlf
Destroys lives and families.
36:18
Pat Junior
Lives, families, people's relationships, let alone your brain and body. All of that. You know what I mean? So stay safe.
36:25
DJ Beowvlf
Stay sober out there.
36:26
Pat Junior
Yes, please. And so, like, I want to create those comments with this project because I have, like, you hear it in, you know, my song Better Days. I've contemplated, like, suicide. I've contemplated, you know, different ways to cope. And, like, we all have our coping mechanisms, right? It might be food for some people. When I went through this phase of. And I still, like, smoke cigars every once in a while now, but I went through this phase of smoking black and miles. Like, that was part of my coping mechanism.
36:59
DJ Beowvlf
But that's also something that's become, like, commoditized or. I don't. Commodified. I don't know what the word is. It's a commodity because of the culture as well.
37:09
Pat Junior
Cigarettes. You know what I mean?
37:10
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
37:11
Pat Junior
Might be alcohol for some people, you know, but even doing those things too much, indulging in those things too much will kill you know, Will destroy your body. Well, you know, and so I really want to use this album as a conversation to show, like, here is what I went through, but there's a healing process as well, you know? So that the newer things that I want to do is just have more conversations, and that might be via a podcast, because I think the music is cool, but I think, you know, the conversation outside of the music is important too, you know, because, you know, like, I'm not just making the music just to take care of my family or, like, this is real life to me. I'm putting my real life in my music.
38:01
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah. Yeah.
38:01
Pat Junior
So let me step off the stage and sit down and have a conversation with you and tell you, like, my story, and hopefully it can help you in some kind of way.
38:10
DJ Beowvlf
Now we're gonna pivot slightly and step back onto the stage, because, of course, we're here to talk about WKNC's biggest event of the year. When you will be on stage, which is, once again, February 7th, fourth and final act of the night, headlining Double Barrel Night one. What can someone expect from a Pat junior Concert? What kind of showmanship do you put into a show that you put on? That was such a sentence.
38:37
Pat Junior
I can say what people have said. I have super strong stage presence. I like to invite people in to my world and say, hey, this is our world. You know what I mean? Whether that be encouraging them or relating to them through the music, like, but the stage presence is there. The I have my moments. My quote, unquote, turn up moments. They're there. So, like, my show, it gives you a little bit of everything, but it's still me, you know, I am hoping to make it. Like, I don't want to say too much, but I have, like, some really special things planned. Beyond excited for this show to really engulf you in the world of my album and Pat Junior And the things that I like that I'm into, the nerd that I am. So, like, I'm really excited about this upcoming show.
39:43
Pat Junior
As you. You said before, like, you see me hard at work, you know, and my wife is actually in my band, too, so she knows that I like to practice.
39:54
DJ Beowvlf
What instrument does she play? Cause I know you use a full band, so.
39:56
Pat Junior
Well, no, it's not a. It's an unconventional band. So my wife and a friend of mine, Lizzy, they do backup singing, right? And then I have a DJ, of course. He cues everything from an SB404. We're evolving in that a little bit soon. Then I have a drummer, my md, Will Jackson. My. Excuse me, my DJ is also a known beat maker in the area, Tony G. Not sure you're familiar with him.
40:25
DJ Beowvlf
I am not, but I'll definitely check him out.
40:27
Pat Junior
He's done some events with Roundhouse. So really dope.
40:30
DJ Beowvlf
And I do know Roundhouse.
40:31
Pat Junior
Yes. Super, super dope producer. And then my business partner slash friend of mine, Justin Pelham, he plays keys. So that's my setup. But like I said before, you can expect a great time, you can expect encouragement, a little turn up, some aggressive raps here and there. A little bit, you know, just the different sides of me. It's in a full on experience. My show is. Cause I like to show people the array of the person, like the spectrum of the person that I am through my music and my performance.
41:07
DJ Beowvlf
So it's fun and just kind of like a curious question because I did see this on your Twitter. You recently got a new practice space. So you're definitely putting in like all the work for this. Pulling out all the stops.
41:19
Pat Junior
Yeah, yeah. Nah, the new practice space is really dope.
41:23
DJ Beowvlf
Nice.
41:24
Pat Junior
It was really dope. Yeah, like there was a documentary that Beyonce put out for her performance at Coachella and like Homecoming, right? Yes.
41:40
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah. It's on Netflix.
41:41
Pat Junior
Yep. And so they talked about or displayed rather like the closed caption kind of talked about how often they practice. And so when I rehearse, I go full on, as if I'm.
41:57
DJ Beowvlf
As if it's a performance. Yeah, yeah.
41:59
Pat Junior
Like you know, artist tip. Major key alert. But yeah, no major key. Right. Yeah, Like I like to go full on, full out. Like it's the actual performance.
42:11
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
42:12
Pat Junior
And we do songs over and over and over again. And there's a lot of. For me at least there's a lot of sweating. There's some good cardio.
42:24
DJ Beowvlf
Yep.
42:25
Pat Junior
So that when I actually perform comes off as like, eh. Like that was easy. That was easy.
42:33
DJ Beowvlf
You gotta make it look easy.
42:34
Pat Junior
Right. So like. But I'm building myself and my endurance for that. Like I have a trainer now, so I'm working out with him intensively in certain areas and just bettering my health.
42:44
DJ Beowvlf
Congratulations on the gains ahead of time.
42:46
Pat Junior
Thank you. Yeah, like I'm bettering myself just my health and so I'm excited. What I'm really excited about is to see like my energy within my own body, like how I feel.
43:00
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
43:00
Pat Junior
When I'm up there now versus the last time, you know, I was up and did a long performance or whatever. So I'm really excited about that. So. Yeah.
43:10
DJ Beowvlf
And I mean we at WKNC are of course like super excited. You are the first headliner that we thought of and actually I think one of like the first Two or three artists that we emailed. Like, when were putting together this. This lineup, my program director, Henry and I were sitting in my office, and were like, okay, we're gonna draft up our dream lineup. You know, let's let both list the eight acts that we want. Whichever ones we agree on, we're gonna go, and then we'll debate those and then headline night one. We both said Pat Junior Wow. And Henry was like, I was ready to fight. I was like, no. We got this super easy. So we are beyond excited.
43:48
DJ Beowvlf
Once again, remind audience members where they can follow you on social media, where they can check out your music, how to get more involved with your productions. Outside of Pat Junior I am Pat Junior And just, you know how to keep up with what you're doing.
44:01
Pat Junior
Yeah. So you can always go to my website. It's impatjr.com. Make sure you spell Junior out. And then social media is all the same. I am Pat Junior So I a M P A T J U N I O R for my website, my social media, Twitter, Instagram. And so the album I Thought I Knew is on all streaming platforms. Also, if you go to my website, I have a newsletter that goes out that people like to keep up with. So if you go to my website, you can sign up for that, and people get to know what I'm doing before everybody else does.
44:38
DJ Beowvlf
That's probably how people found out about, like, the cam event and stuff.
44:41
Pat Junior
Yes, yes. Like, that. That in itself, like, just to backtrack a little bit when we end, like, I had a small list of people who. Like my homies and my close family and friends that were on the list. Like, a small list. And then we had an additional, like, maybe 80. So it was like 100 total first, but we had, like, 80 spaces left. Right. Announced it to the public. And, like, before the end of the day, within, like, 10 hours, were down to, like, five spaces. So I called my. You'll hear this on the documentary. I called my manager, was like, look, what do we need to do? And so she said, don't add a hundred more spaces. We want to make it, like, intimate. We want to make it, like, you know. And so, like, I think I added, like, 50 more.
45:30
Pat Junior
And so within a few more days, those were gone too.
45:34
DJ Beowvlf
Absolutely.
45:35
Pat Junior
So. And we had, like. I want to say it was over, like, 120 people in attendance. So it was. It was really.
45:41
DJ Beowvlf
That. It was really cool.
45:42
Pat Junior
It was really cool.
45:43
DJ Beowvlf
So definitely a big event, but still intimate. Not, like, overwhelmingly huge.
45:47
Pat Junior
Right. Yeah, so, like, the people who were on the newsletter, they didn't sign up for that first.
45:53
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
45:53
Pat Junior
So some other stuff that I'm working on that's coming out for the. You know, for the public. But if you're on the newsletter, you'll find out about it first. So. Yeah.
46:03
DJ Beowvlf
What is your personal do? Like a quick, like. Like a grab bag. Series of questions. What's your favorite song that you've ever released? Wow, that one's heavy. Because, like, they're all your children.
46:19
Pat Junior
Oh, man. I would say right now. I would say right now my favorite song that I've ever released would have to be Summer Breeze. That's on the album with Sianka. She's really dope. If you don't know. If you don't know about Sianca, she's out of Charlotte. R&B singer, super dope. And she actually has a project out too, Cyan Ca Sianca. And she's featured on that song, Summer Breeze. And the reason why right now, that's my favorite one that I can really think about is because the song was different from me.
47:01
DJ Beowvlf
Okay.
47:01
Pat Junior
On the album, I do rapping. I do a little bit of melodic rapping. So I'm singing a little bit. Like it's not the foundation of it is hip hop. But it's very eclectic, as you heard the album.
47:12
DJ Beowvlf
Absolutely. So, I mean, your brain just seems to work in a very eclectic fashion.
47:17
Pat Junior
Yeah. And so I love that song because it gives you some of my childhood, which I've. Until the album, I haven't really talked about at all, really. So I want to say that was the first song that I really talked about my childhood a little bit. My experience in elementary school. And what was that like? And so, yeah, like, that I would say, and I had fun with. Felt good. But it was different for me as far as the presentation of the song. So, yeah, that's Summer Breeze featuring Sianka. That's currently mine.
48:00
DJ Beowvlf
What was the most difficult undertaking of creating this project?
48:05
Pat Junior
The most difficult. This is the first album that I've recorded myself, so this is the first project I've recorded alone. Yeah, I got my own home set up and everything. Because usually another one of your tweets.
48:27
DJ Beowvlf
Was like, you gotta, like, sink some money in to, like, see some return. Which is a hurdle to get over, but a necessary evil.
48:33
Pat Junior
Right. Only. Well, I've had the blessing and the honor to have a group of friends who I've, like, met over the year, grown to know over the year, but a lot of These people just came to me and said, I want to help you succeed. Like Justin, Absolutely a blessing. So I'm talking about, like, recording myself. So before I started recording myself, Justin Pella, my business partner, he's in my band too, because so side bit like the out the thing outside of Pat Junior Is Pelhaman Jr. Because I do sound design and stuff like that with him. So he was my engineer. Like, he was recording me mixing. And so I learned a lot of the stuff that I was recording for this album from him.
49:21
Pat Junior
But that was the most difficult process because I had to invest some dollars into getting my room treated like I had the honor of him just saying, here's a mic. Boom. Record. But I had to get treatment for the room that I'm recording in. I had to buy certain plugins to get the quality that I wanted before I sent it over to Brian so he can mix and master it and all that stuff like that. And then I also, because of the person that I am, like, I had to even in some cases, like, hey, Brian, here's this money. Buy this plugin so you can have it to mix my stuff. So. But that was the most difficult process. It was a learning process. It was enjoyable to, like, the first time recording by myself and learning and hearing my voice.
50:16
Pat Junior
But it was cool because at any moment, at any time during the day, I could say, no, I want to go record that over. I don't have to set a schedule, say, hey, jb, can I come by on this day? And like, at any moment, I can just go and change whatever I want to change. But it was a battle because I would record stuff, rerecord it, you know, and all that stuff like that, you.
50:35
DJ Beowvlf
Can't get away from it. Yeah. But it also helps. Cause if you're sitting on your couch in the morning eating cereal and a melody comes into your head, there you go. You got it right then and there.
50:44
Pat Junior
There you go. So, and my good friend, he lives in Chicago, Suede, another super dope artist. He actually helped A and R this project. So he was like. And another major key alert for artists. It's good to have like an A and R friend who can hear your demos. Not someone who will critique how it listens, but so get someone that can listen to your music and hear what you're going for. Like, it takes a special ear to do that, to hear what it's gonna sound like on the other side.
51:19
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
51:19
Pat Junior
So he listened to a lot of my demos and said, no, this is good. He Was of like a rap coach. Like this sounds good. Your voice inflections sound great here. You might want to record that over. But I couldn't hear you clearly on this. Like he helped me in that process and so. But nah, like that was the most difficult, you know, is learning core of myself how I want to sound. I learned a lot. I grew a lot in that process. But well worth it.
51:47
DJ Beowvlf
Another grab bag question. Do you have a favorite or most rewarding or most memorable fan interaction?
51:54
Pat Junior
Oh, wow.
51:57
DJ Beowvlf
I always love when artists answer this question because it's kind of like not only do you get to admit that like you have fans, kind of gas yourself up there for a second, but it's like, it's really cute to see what people remember. That wasn't a word.
52:14
Pat Junior
The one at the listening party. Okay, so. The really cool ones have been the random people from other countries that have hit me up. I've had a lot of those on social media. Like this one guy from Paris sent me like this paragraphs. It was crazy of how much he enjoyed the album. And just. It was just like I've had so many random people from mainly, I want to say like uk, Australia and Canada in New Zealand. New Zealand hit me up.
52:49
DJ Beowvlf
I mean the UK has like an insane rap scene right now. They've got their own culture.
52:53
Pat Junior
I want to work with Stormzy one day. He's incredible. However, my favorite fan interaction was at my listening session. There was a young lady who came up to me and she just found my event. Like she just was searching for something to do. She came across my music. She passed it to her two other girlfriends that she had with her. They enjoyed the music and they were like, oh, he's having this event. Let's go to it.
53:19
DJ Beowvlf
Yeah.
53:20
Pat Junior
So they came to the event and she was talking to me afterwards and we took this picture together. She was like. I said, well, what do you know, you wanna take it? She was like, I wanna take a picture. I was like, cool. She was like, can we do the pose from your album? And I was like, my heart melted. Oh my goodness, my heart melted. She said, can we do the pose from your album? And so like I sat in the chair and did the pose from the album and she kind of sat Indian style and did it and we took a picture together like that.
53:50
DJ Beowvlf
Oh, okay. I thought she was gonna be like the little boy looking at you.
53:53
Pat Junior
No, no, no. We both did the same pose. Did you pull it up? Yeah, this is it. Well, people on the radio can't see it, but you can see it.
54:01
DJ Beowvlf
But it is on ampatjr on Instagram, so you can scroll back.
54:05
Pat Junior
Yeah.
54:05
DJ Beowvlf
So what's the date of posting so they know what to look?
54:08
Pat Junior
October 21, 2019.
54:10
DJ Beowvlf
So the day right after the event, I posted it.
54:12
Pat Junior
Yeah. So it was. My heart melted. I was like, yo, this is so cool. And so took the picture and she was just like, oh my God, the album is dope and blah. So it was. That was really cool.
54:24
DJ Beowvlf
Little did she know she was listening to a special version.
54:26
Pat Junior
Yes, yes, I told people that. So. But yeah, she was. It was cool. It was really cool.
54:33
DJ Beowvlf
And last but not least, what is the number one takeaway that you want people to get from this interview? Obviously, come to the event, but about you, I mean, right?
54:41
Pat Junior
Yeah, come to the event. Come see. My performance is going to be super dope.
54:45
DJ Beowvlf
And I mean, it's a stacked lineup all weekend. Of course we're referencing Pat Junior On February 7th, first and foremost, but I mean, we got the dream lineup. Henry and I were ecstatic. Like I said, were making our list. We were lucky enough that the first people that we asked, our top eight said yes. So.
55:01
Pat Junior
Oh, wow.
55:02
DJ Beowvlf
Literally did not have any secondary switch outs.
55:05
Pat Junior
That's dope.
55:06
DJ Beowvlf
Dream, dream show.
55:07
Pat Junior
That's dope. Take away from this interview, it's okay to be you. It's okay. It's okay to be you. It's okay to be real. It's okay to be great. That's what I want people to take away from this.
55:31
DJ Beowvlf
Thank you so. Well, I'll let you finish.
55:32
Pat Junior
No, no, no, no. Like, nah. I was about to say, like, I think people struggle with that. Being themselves, wanting to be real, true to who they are and not sure if it's okay for them just to do what they want to do greatly. But yeah, sorry, yeah, that's it.
55:51
DJ Beowvlf
Thank you so much for all of your insight for allowing me and our audience, like, a peek into your world. I cannot stress enough how excited we are for you to headline night one of Double Barrel Benefit 17. This interview will be coming out on a as a podcast in the next couple days, which we are very stoked to rotate continuously. Once again, Double barrel benefit is February 7th and 8th at Kings in downtown Raleigh. It'll be 8 o', clock, the doors open, the first act each night goes on at 8:30, so you definitely don't want to miss it starting kind of late so you can, you know, peruse the wares of downtown. Come Ready to dance.
56:29
Pat Junior
I want to say this too. Please come see the whole show.
56:33
DJ Beowvlf
Absolutely.
56:34
Pat Junior
For the people that are coming to see me, don't text me and ask me when I'm going on.
56:39
DJ Beowvlf
What are the set times?
56:40
Pat Junior
Thank you. Thank you. Come see. I think you guys put together a super dope lineup.
56:46
DJ Beowvlf
Thank you so much.
56:48
Pat Junior
When people do things like you guys are doing, like artists or just like curators, like, they're trying to put together an experience. Come see the whole show, please. I'm gonna be watching. Please come see the whole show.
57:02
DJ Beowvlf
And this is kind of just to gas you up a little bit. I know that I got to interview both DOTWAV Media and King Gino. They're comprised of. I don't believe all of them are NC State students, but collegiate age musicians. And I can't remember which interview it was. I'm pretty sure it was King Geno, but they specifically mentioned that, like, you were an artist that they thought was, like, making big waves in the city and they were like, very excited to be on lineup, very excited to see what he's doing and, like, play with this.
57:30
DJ Beowvlf
And like, both of those acts are like, already doing their own thing, making their own waves, but, like, it is really cool to support, like NC State and college age musicians and then have someone who has, like, already been in the game who is like, that much further ahead. Just finish off the whole night. Gonna be crazy. Gonna be so good. Everyone putting on the absolute best show. It's gonna be dope and absolutely. Pat Junior's album, I Thought I Knew was out on all streaming services. It's been out since November, so you really have no excuse not to listen to it. And if you like what you hear, it's on wknc, it's on streaming services. Come out to Double Barrel and you can get a real life experience of I Thought I Knew by Pat Junior
58:13
DJ Beowvlf
This has been DJ Beowulf on WKNC 88.1 FM HD-2 Raleigh. We are going to sign out and I'll see y' all probably later this week. I'm always here. Catch you on the flip side.