There is a searing honesty in the words and music created by Kendall Patrick. The heartache, the frustration, the pain, the loss the sadness, but also the unbridled joy and optimism, love and desire – all is laid bare in the songs created over the years by the Vancouver Island-based singer songwriter.
Years of struggling with addictions, with complicated family and relationship dynamics and the vagaries of a music business that is known to be less than kind to up-and-coming artists, especially those with the sort of remarkable sensitivity and emotional depth of Patrick, has been a truly defining crucible for her as songwriter and as a human being.
But she has come through it all stronger and more determined than ever to be creative and to make music that continues to inspire alongside her band The Headless Bettys.
The five songs slated to be included on the Peaks and Valleys EP are culled from her best work over the past few years, and are revelatory in the way they can evoke both inspiration and empathy.
“The title track is a newer song and it’s kind of self-explanatory but it’s not so much about my life as it is about long-term relationships. My producer and I were sitting down to explore this concept. At the time we were both in relationship I had been in mine for a couple of years and he was married. And we were talking about all the fears and anxieties and expectations and how do you stick it out? But I also realized it could be a metaphor for a lot of things in life. How do you stick it out and endure the peaks and valleys? It’s really an exploration of commitment in that song and it kind of represents the theme of the EP. It does speak of long-term love, but it could be about anything. It could be about my music – I could be singing it to myself,” said Patrick, adding that the song All Those Years is in a similar vein.
“It’s about how my parents were together when they were young but it didn’t work out because my dad’s lifestyle at the time wasn’t good. So they had to break up. My mom was heartbroken but she ended up marrying someone else who was no good, but she did have my brothers out of that marriage. And it was probably 10 years after they first broke up, she heard my dad had just broken off an engagement and that he had been sober for about six years and she decided to call him.
“She was in Alberta and he was in BC and she just called directory assistance and the first number they gave her for that name was the right one. His response was, ‘I have been looking for you for 10 years.’ And before you knew it, he flew over, they got married and they had me. The rest is history. I just think that’s so cool.”
Since the beginning of 2016, again using the crucible analogy, Patrick has been burning her life down to its core essence and shedding many things that were once deemed to be important in her life. And it wasn’t done spitefully or because she no longer enjoyed them, but because she came to the conclusion, after much contemplation, soul seeking and consulting the opinions of those whose wisdom and experience was treasured, that she needed to focus 100 per cent of her time, energy, passion and talent on music.
“Before that decision was reached I had gone through hell and I needed I make some radical life changes. I ended my eight-year career in child care; I broke up with my long-term partner, which was a pretty tough thing because we were a very good team. I had a friend of mine who lived in my basement; he died of a fentanyl overdose in our home and I was the one to find him. I was also struggling so much with my anxiety and depression that I wasn’t really able to function that much,” she said.
“Over the last few months I was transitioning from struggling with anxiety and depression and panic attacks, medication and 
hospitals and that, to a place where I was asking ‘what needs to change?’ And with support of some key people it feels amazing to not have given up because it was so dark there for a while. And I did not see the light. I did not know how I was going to get through that. Minute by minute it was so excruciating. But now it feels like I am not even the same person. Now I know I can get through anything.”
She found after consulting a highly-recommended life coach where there were intense sessions of self-examination and where her prevailing views were challenged, she realized she needed to refocus her mind, her passions and her energy exclusively on music. Patrick began teaching at a music store and developing a relationship where she was being mentored by B.C music industry heavyweight Bob D’Eith and is challenging herself to be more collaborative and take more creative risks.
“One thing I know is that since I have started going down this path I have not had problems with my anxiety and depression. I have felt stronger, more focused and more fulfilled than I have in a very, very long time. I am taking all aspects of my career and especially my music more seriously and more professionally. I took a huge leap of faith and it’s really paying off,” she said.
“And working with Bob has been a real game changer because we made a plan. He is on my side and helping me a ton by contacting all these music supervisors to help me with licencing. He helped me put together a FACTOR application and helped me work out a marketing plan. So I know I am doing the right thing and I completely trust in the decisions I have made.”
One of those decisions was to crowd-fund for the creation of the Peaks and Valleys EP through Pledge Music, looking to raise $5,000 in 60 days. Within a few days she was already close to 25 per cent of her way to the final tally.
“I have some pretty cool things that people can get, including me writing a song for someone, private house concerts, special custom merchandise. It’s such a cool way to interact with people and also a unique way to see if there is demand for my music. So I am pretty excited,” she said.
For more information on Kendall Patrick’s PledgeMusic campaign, visit http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/kendallpatrick.
For more information on Patrick, visit her website: http://www.kendallpatrick.com.
* Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and author based in Napanee, ON, who has been writing about music and musicians for a quarter of a century. Besides his journalistic endeavours, he now works as a communications and marketing specialist. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com
Kendall, what you have put forth already is absolutely amazing. Your strength and ability to be brutally honest is something to behold. While enjoying what is here, I equally look forward to the treasures you will inevitably provide us. Thank you !