We recently connected with Patty PerShayla and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Patty, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am definitely happy in life as an artist. I’m not here to glamorize it or anything, some days I’m flat broke. But I have gotten to a point where I don’t owe anybody anything, and that’s a great feeling. Having less feels lighter.

I had a desk job straight out of high school, in lieu of a college education. My parents were always supportive of my creative endeavors but they made it clear I was to support myself. So I spent three years clocking into an office that was pretty cozy. I was able to buy instruments and a few cheap microphones to self-produce a demo album but eventually I got burnt out by sitting in a box and staring at a screen, contributing to a company whose work I didn’t feel proud of.

After the office job, I began working at coffee shops. My first cafe was at a Starbucks in the airport, which is a great place to work if you want to spend your day dreaming of anywhere else in the world you could be. Luckily, I met my guitarist, now partner, Lucas, working together at this cafe. We talked about the music we loved and eventually started writing songs together, finally moving to Nashville as a band this past summer.

I’ve been self-employed as a full-time artist since 2018 and it’s been tough, specifically in 2020. But it’s just not natural for me to work for something where I can’t see a larger purpose. The sense of fulfillment and freedom this career brings me is worth all of the time and energy I’m spending on it.

Patty, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Patty PerShayla, I’m a singer-songwriter and regular performing musician based in Nashville, TN. I sing and play bass in my band, Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps and I also sing in the prog-rock original band/Rush cover band YYNOT. I’m probably best known for my big voice and kooky facial expressions when I’m on the mic. I’m also very into playing heavy metal songs on my ukulele, letting out my rage on such a tiny instrument.

I’m incredibly proud to be an independent musician. I have a small but dedicated team behind everything I release and I get to collaborate with all kinds of artists. I especially love having a community of supporters rather than a big, corporate sponsorship, so I can write what I’m passionate about without fear of censorship. I’ve got a punk spirit in everything I do, which can range from rock to blues to folk.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My first ever videos were made with friends, so it was always about having fun. That’s the best advice I can give for creating content (that dreaded word). If you’re having fun, so will your audience.

I’ve been bad about keeping up on it lately but I can clearly say from everything I’ve read and experienced that consistency is the key. You don’t have to publish something stunning every day, but if you can make a video once a week, that’s a fabulous start. Give your audience a rabbit hole to fall into. When it was announced that I would be singing for YYNOT, a lot of those fans saw one video of me with the band and were immediately directed to my own page with a catalogue I’ve been building for years. The slow build is everything.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Lockdown taught me a lot about this. Art is incredibly valuable. Remember how much we missed live music? There were so many grants available in 2020 due to the pandemic, and I am so grateful every day for those. I was able to upgrade my equipment and invest in some vinyl for merch sales down the line. I think the more grants and scholarships available, the better.

It breaks my heart when I hear that schools have to cut down on their arts programs, as I know I would not have finished school if it weren’t for band, choir, and theatre. Make the arts more accessible. For some people, that’s their only outlet.

For musicians specifically, I’d say joining Patreon, buying merch, or attending a show are the most direct ways for us to sustain our work. If financial support is difficult, then sharing our music with a friend or engaging with us on social media are the next best things to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pattypershayla.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pattypershayla
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pattypershayla
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/pattypershayla

Image Credits
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker. Lucas Powell and Alec Klinefelter pictured.