Pat Reilly is a joy! He was a joy to interview, his music gives me goose bumps, and he has this amazing voice that makes me feel like I want this episode to last forever!
"Music is the fire that burns within my soul" - Pat Reilly
From his web site we can read the following about Pat:
"Pat Reilly AKA "Pat the Panther" is an international touring guitarist, session guitarist, and songwriter. Born and raised in Queens New York, Pat started playing guitar at the age of 16, drawing influence from renowned guitarists such as Mary Friedman (ex Megadeth), Dimebag Darrell (Pantera), and David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) to name a few. Although Pat's musical passions lie in the metal genre, his songwriting is quite diverse, ranging from classically composed intros to full-fledged groove-based metal compositions. Many listeners may consider Pat a "Shredder" but he frowns upon the term as he prides himself on the emotional element of songwriting and guitar playing, not so much on being purposely technical. Pat's songwriting philosophy is "Write for the song not for the ego" On the touring side of music, Pat's experience is fairly extensive. He has toured with bands such as Tengger Cavalry, Through the Discipline, Vajra, and Awaken, playing several hundred shows throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe most notably performing at New York City's prestigious Carnegie Hall. As a solo artist, Pat has released 5 instrumental tracks since 2017 and put out his first full-length album titled Path to Transcendence on January 3rd of 2020. Pat's guitar solo work can be heard throughout Tengger Cavalry's Northern Memory, Vol. 1 album, as well as on Through the Discipline's 5 Ronin EP, Rival Order's Save Me and Fellahin Fall's Of Fallen Words. "
Hi, welcome to what matters most to you. In each Hi and Good afternoon Pat
Pat Reilly:
Good afternoon Anna Thank you for having me.
Anna Cei:
And are you Pat or Patrick, what do you prefer?
Pat Reilly:
I guess it doesn't really matter. But I guess since
Anna Cei:
Okay, we call you, Pat from now on then. And where are
Pat Reilly:
I'm in my home studio in Glen Cove, New York.
Anna Cei:
Wow, New York. It's like a place everybody wants to
Pat Reilly:
I guess at some point, but when you live here,
Anna Cei:
Oh, really?
Pat Reilly:
Yeah, absolutely.
Anna Cei:
What part of the world do you want to go to?
Pat Reilly:
I've been to Sweden once I know you're from Sweden,
Anna Cei:
Yeah.
Pat Reilly:
I, I loved it there.I wouldn't mind spending a
Anna Cei:
Mm hmm. Are you from New York originally?Coast, California, Arizona, all those desert states, Oregon even
Pat Reilly:
Yep. I was born in Queens, and I now live in Long
Anna Cei:
Wha's calling in your name? What is making you want to
Pat Reilly:
I really love nature and mountains. And although feel like my calling is in the mountains for some reason.
Anna Cei:
Ah, but you have the you have some mountains up north
Pat Reilly:
We do. But they're nothing compared to the west
Anna Cei:
or the Appalachians if you go south a little bit.
Pat Reilly:
Yeah, actually,it's, as you get towards Canada,
Anna Cei:
and it's another country.
Pat Reilly:
Yeah, exactly.Canada is beautiful, too. I
Anna Cei:
All right. So before we dive in and talk about what
Pat Reilly:
So I make some income as a musician, not enough photography, but a mass majority of what I do creatively goes or like I said photography for for musicians. And that's pretty
Anna Cei:
yeah, like projects,kind of
Pat Reilly:
projects. And I just I just try to remain in the
Anna Cei:
ballet company?
Pat Reilly:
I made company, a valet parking company.
Anna Cei:
Oh, valet. I thought you said Ballet And I was
Pat Reilly:
I couldn't picture that myself. But it was it was at the main entrance of a busy Hospital in Long Island where So we had to deal with a lot of stuff. And it was it was very
Anna Cei:
Wow.
Pat Reilly:
Yeah, and again, the money was good so I stayed
Anna Cei:
And for how long has music been part of your life?
Pat Reilly:
I've been let's see,I have been playing guitar for
Anna Cei:
Um, did you go to any musical programs during high
Pat Reilly:
No, I have no traditional music, schooling.
Anna Cei:
And guitar is your instrument
Pat Reilly:
guitar is my instrument of choice. That being so many years in life, I can't learn every instrument that I
Anna Cei:
but you have specialized I mean, you're
Pat Reilly:
thank you.
Anna Cei:
And maybe that's the thing one is either generalist
Pat Reilly:
Yeah, I love the guitar. I love so many take away from guitar is going to diminish my skills.
Anna Cei:
And what made you pick the guitar as your instrument?
Pat Reilly:
My cousin had gotten a guitar and I just fell in love the instrument that was producing these sounds that I
Anna Cei:
And what are your some of your role models in guitar
Pat Reilly:
well, starting from beginning it started out from
Anna Cei:
different kinds of guitarists too.
Pat Reilly:
Oh,absolutely.They're all over the spectrum.
Anna Cei:
Maybe we can listen to some of your music. It would be
Pat Reilly:
Absolutely. That's why it's there.
Anna Cei:
Purpose. That's a cool word to pick. Yeah, purpose. So OK Cool. Now we know a little bit about you, we heard
Pat Reilly:
Well, it was a I think maybe for some people it's being purpose.My purpose on this earth in this universe right
Anna Cei:
and it gives you a sense of satisfaction to know
Pat Reilly:
Absolutely. I think,I think it is
Anna Cei:
Is it like a calling?
Pat Reilly:
It's absolutely a calling. It's like a hunger like
Anna Cei:
So this purpose, that feeling that that's so important
Pat Reilly:
Yeah, it's been with me for just under 20 years,
Anna Cei:
when did you decide to really go into this like
Pat Reilly:
Well, I had gone through some transition. So when do for a living or you can't do that, or that's too hard. So I do with my life, only, you know,all the while realizing, in the band, and I got back into music at that point. And, and I can her and she said you should do it, you should try out for this
Anna Cei:
So your wife supported you in this decision? Because I
Pat Reilly:
Absolutely not.Yeah, she's supported it, she
Anna Cei:
And how about parents and family where they also
Pat Reilly:
My family is very old school. So they're very, you that, it was always a struggle to or it was always like, Oh,
Anna Cei:
You have to put the bread and butter on the table
Pat Reilly:
Exactly. That's,that's,
Anna Cei:
I mean, as a parent,that's, I can resonate with
Pat Reilly:
Mm hmm.
Anna Cei:
You know,
Pat Reilly:
yeah, I understand completely.
Anna Cei:
So, do you have any advice for those who are in
Pat Reilly:
Well, I think first thing is you decide you're going putting 100% of your energy into into that goal and that passion to put it in. You know you can't set it aside. You can't save up seriously.
Anna Cei:
It's a lot of work to be a musician. We, I mean, on
Pat Reilly:
Yes, it's very competitive. Number one, the Spotify and Apple Music,YouTube, and all these other I do. And anyone can do it and be a little scary. Probably an
Anna Cei:
Right. Right, right.But I also think there's another all, was either really super big bands that have made it you only music as an, as a buyer, as a music listener, that was the
Pat Reilly:
Absolutely That's,um, that's a blessing and a I can get I can get any band that I wanted any time any place
Anna Cei:
Right. So where does your stream of income come from?
Pat Reilly:
In terms of music,it mostly comes from from that's where my income comes from there. My streaming income that's at least a decent portion of income that I can use.
Anna Cei:
And then merchandise sale. How about that part,
Pat Reilly:
merchandise I I haven't put much money into it physical CDs, which I have sold a good amount, you know, most of
Anna Cei:
So if you want to, if we, if any listener here heard
Pat Reilly:
the absolute best way is to go to my official
Anna Cei:
That's great. And and that's your purpose.
Pat Reilly:
That's my purpose
Anna Cei:
that you coupled you.You said it's purpose. But you
Pat Reilly:
I think to go hand in hand. I'm not sure how I then I don't know it seems logical that you would feel
Anna Cei:
And I think as an audience again, if you have a an
Pat Reilly:
Oh, yeah.
Anna Cei:
And you feel empassioned, so to speak as
Pat Reilly:
Yeah. And that goes for every realm of the planet. I
Anna Cei:
Right. I very often compare musicians or artists,
Pat Reilly:
I agree
Anna Cei:
and break the rules of the past and recreate the past.
Pat Reilly:
And I think they're creative in their own way too.
Anna Cei:
Yeah,
Pat Reilly:
I've done I've had programming classes, and I've
Anna Cei:
One has to have a lot of patience and a passion for
Pat Reilly:
exactly if you have a passion, then you set it aside
Anna Cei:
M mm. So tell me a little bit what do you see as
Pat Reilly:
I guess if I'm stating my what my goals are,
Anna Cei:
Oh, I can see your music fit and film industry.
Pat Reilly:
I composed some classical stuff as well. I do a somebody was posting their entry. I'm like, Oh, I didn't
Anna Cei:
Oh, good luck with that.
Pat Reilly:
Yeah, thank you.It's, I don't even it's just,
Anna Cei:
as passion.
Pat Reilly:
Totally.
Anna Cei:
So do you see yourself in the future also continuing to
Pat Reilly:
I would love to have a band that I that I had formed.it's like has to be this perfect storm for the right people to together to see these bands, you know,
Anna Cei:
like you have to click on a very deep level as a band.
Pat Reilly:
Oh, totally. It's,it's hard. It's I've been in a
Anna Cei:
You have played with for example, I don't know how to
Pat Reilly:
Tengger Cavalry.Yes.
Anna Cei:
Can you tell us a little bit about how that came
Pat Reilly:
Oh, totally. I was just messaged by the the singer And I didn't know who he was.And after some investigating, it really unique. I hadn't ever heard heard of Folk Metal for one month in 2018, I want to say, and I did a bunch of solos you know throughout the country having the best shows headlining
Anna Cei:
And did you feel that because they play Tibetan Folk
Pat Reilly:
Oh, it's totally different.
Anna Cei:
Has it influenced you have you been inspired to put in
Pat Reilly:
I wouldn't say I was inspired to put it in my music compared to metal. But being able to be in a part of a band
Anna Cei:
Do you also publish your classical pieces?
Pat Reilly:
I do I have a couple of them that are for sale on
Anna Cei:
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Pat Reilly:
So I have two on there. And then I have a bunch
Anna Cei:
I noticed a lot of metal musicians actually do like
Pat Reilly:
Yeah, I agree. I think it's,
Anna Cei:
I think that's a connection somehow there
Pat Reilly:
totally is a connection. And you can hear it
Anna Cei:
right. And and so when you don't listen to your own
Pat Reilly:
So I tend to fixate on on one band for long periods
Anna Cei:
I thought I was the only one doing that.
Pat Reilly:
No, no, I totally.I've been listening to Evergrey
Anna Cei:
Mm hmm. Cool.
Pat Reilly:
They're just they're so great. They're from your home
Anna Cei:
Yeah. So is there any in the future talking about this
Pat Reilly:
And no, I mean, I don't know. There's parts of
Anna Cei:
You're welcome.
Pat Reilly:
Oh, eventually. I'd love to go there. Absolutely.
Anna Cei:
Oh, really? It's the nature called you there.
Pat Reilly:
Yeah, I really like I just I just like the land of
Anna Cei:
In the summer. It's lovely. Like when the white
Pat Reilly:
Right That sounds amazing.Like I spent like 24 hours in Iceland on a layover. And that
Anna Cei:
As a musician, do you feel that there's a cultural Yes, I definitely think there is people in in Europe seem to be amazing. Overall, I think as a nation, or as continents,So you think it's the metal part of the music gig that kind of
Pat Reilly:
I think it's just the music Honestly, I don't there is kind of a they invest a little bit in music over there,
Anna Cei:
right. We have we have cultural subsidization, we have
Pat Reilly:
Right.
Anna Cei:
And, and the state our taxes goes towards like opera
Pat Reilly:
And that's I don't think the States do any of that,
Anna Cei:
So you mentioned that nature is a like, it's something
Pat Reilly:
My music comes from mostly other music or just some output pretty much how it works.
Anna Cei:
Oh, that's so beautiful. Yeah, I think we
Pat Reilly:
My pleasure.
Anna Cei:
And I hope that we can stay in touch and maybe you can
Pat Reilly:
That'd be awesome. I would love to
Anna Cei:
thank you so much and have a good rest of the weekend.