We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hank Smith Pattie Kinlaw. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hank Smith below.

Hi Hank Smith , thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Pattie & Hank: Yes, we’ve both been able to earn a living from our creative work collectively and separately. Pattie: At the age of four, I began studying the violin through the Suzuki method. It’s a method and philosophy that centers on ear training for very young musicians.
From a young age, I began performing with my mother, a church organist, my brother, a violinist and my father, a singer. At the age of sixteen, I knew I wanted to be a musician professionally and attended East Carolina University for a Violin Performance degree. During college, I knew I would not be a strictly classical musician, even though that’s a part of who I am. I began to attend bluegrass sessions and festivals after I met my husband, who is from a traditional bluegrass family. I knew I always wanted to teach, so I also started a private studio in college. After I graduated, I began to look for work as a performer and I gained experience in theaters, bands and symphonies from that point forward.
Hank: I began playing banjo at the age of sixteen when I became fascinated by the sound of the instrument. I had no formal training, don’t come from a musical family, learned entirely by ear and also eventually from other bluegrass musicians at local jam sessions. As soon as I realized I was accomplished enough, I wanted nothing more than to play as a full time musician. I sought out bands and other like-minded musicians to play with and was eventually hired by a touring band based in Raleigh, NC. I have been a full time, touring musician and educator since 2003. I have maintained a private teaching studio and since 2017, have been on faculty at The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill teaching banjo and bluegrass guitar.
Pattie & Hank: No, it was not like that from day one. We both had to work really hard at our instruments as well as learn the music business through experience.
Pattie & Hank: In the context of our band, Hank, Pattie & Current, major steps include: a major element of our music is finding the right musicians to complete the sound. In the earlier years, we had members who were not full time musicians, but now we have a collective comprised of full time musicians who contribute equally to the sound. We all have multiple skill sets on and off the stage that greatly contribute to the overall creative process as well as the day to day running of the band. Another major step is having a team. The proverb says, “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. We have surrounded ourselves with people who lift us up and they believe in who we are as people and musicians and support our art. These folks include Robust Records, our label that supports our projects and releases our albums, as well as supporting us creatively. It also includes Rockwood Entertainment, our booking agency. These folks arrange all of our tours and help us grow our audience. We would have a much harder time if it were not for them. We also have strong support in publicity through Golden Relations, who helps get the word out to a wider audience and multiple outlets. As a result of having this support system, we have been able to tour extensively and have our music reach as many people as possible.
As far as speeding up the process, everything we’ve done up to this point has lead us to where we are. Every rehearsal, every song, every show, every fan and every experience has gotten us to this point. Hindsight being 20/20, there are probably a million things that could have sped up the process, but we’re grateful for the pace and the accomplishments we’ve shared over the years regardless.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Pattie & Hank: We originally met when Pattie auditioned for the role of fiddle player in a bluegrass band we ended up touring with for many years. After that project disbanded, we decided to set out on our own as band leaders to form Hank, Pattie & the Current. In that band, we knew we wanted to really stretch the creativity level to the max. We wanted to be true to our personal experiences as artists and form a unique sound, drawing from many American musical genres. We’re influenced by bluegrass, classical music, jazz, folk, R&B, and weave it all together into an original and progressive sound. What sets this band apart from other bands of similar instrumentation, is the skill sets of the individuals coming together to bring the best of what they know to the table. We craft our sound to be accessible, yet true to us as individuals and as a collective. We’re as comfortable performing with string quartets as we are sitting in with a traditional bluegrass band. They’re very different worlds, but share a commonality: forming chamber music that’s honest and authentic. We’re most proud of the fact that we continued with our originality, our artistry and being true to ourselves and our vision. In doing so, we have been fortunate enough to travel all over the country playing this music for eager fans. We just released our fifth album of original music and are forever grateful for the fact that we’ve been able to create such a rich and diverse catalog. We’re always open and receptive to new experiences and influences and welcome with open arms the next chapter of our music.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Pattie & Hank: In our ever evolving industry, it’s important to know how to support all areas of art and artists. We are all in this together. In our case, that means very simply attending concerts. Reserving tickets in advance can be a really vital aspect to the performing arts in that it ensures an audience for the night. Often times, people don’t realize that if enough tickets are not pre-sold, the venue can cancel the performance. Another crucial aspect, particularly in the digital and streaming era, is understanding that there are multiple outlets to consume the music. Not all of these outlets provide enough revenue to live on. It’s important to support artists by purchasing their merchandise directly from them. This way, they keep most of the revenue which can turn back into their art. In the digital age, supporting your favorite band on social media goes a long way to both get the music out to as many people as possible and provide those talent buyers with tangible numbers. It’s also very important to support local, regional and national arts organizations, public radio stations, attending fund raisers as well as cross-collaboration with other creative fields. That leads to more opportunities for artists and helps create a thriving and larger community.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Pattie & Hank: The band was the pivot. We were both overworked and stressed out. Pattie had to be hospitalized after long periods of extended work, touring and teaching one year and Hank was ready to stop playing music entirely and get a regular job. Neither of us wanted to continue like this, so through a series of circumstances, including the aforementioned issues, we stopped and formed Hank, Pattie & The Current. Doing so, we were able to control the tempo, the creative output and not put ourselves in compromising positions. Since then, we thrive in this environment creatively, personally and professionally. Sometimes, one must come to a complete stop in order to move forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hankandpattie.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/hankpattieandthecurrent
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hankandpattie
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hankandpattie
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3fqIGnM5nmj1FSPcDu5dQw
• Other: https://hankpattieandthecurrent.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits
Rich Levine (group photo) Gabriel Nelson (duo photo)