I can't say there is a
particular rhyme or reason as to how I decide who I ask to interview from week to week. I
think if I had to create a list of requirements in addition to being a creative
independent and passionate I would add happiness. While I've known this
week's creative independent for 6 years now I've never seen her
happier than right now, singing with a funk band, The Dirty Sweet.
I like to think her happiness is indicative of her courage. Her courage
to let go of the expectation (she has a degree in biology and her parents
are still kind of waiting for her to be a doctor) and embrace her
passion for music (her parents want her to be happy even if it means putting
the medical profession on hold...indefinitely even). In talking to Patty Coke
of The Dirty Sweet I got to phind out everything from the meaning of the band's
name, her shining moment covering Aretha Franklin's song
Rock Steady, and that she is not immune to stage fright. I'll let you read
about what else I phound out about Patty Coke and The Dirty Sweet. Take a read
below. Phreedum: Talk to me about how The Dirty Sweet came together?
PC: The Dirty Sweet is
actually the brain child of Chris Santana. Chris used to bartend where I
currently bartend. Chris is really passionate about music and so am
I. After seeing me sing my heart out at karaoke, which I love by the way, Chris
asked me about joining the band as one of the lead singers. I was pretty
nervous about the band dynamics, but Chris did a great job of picking really
skilled and passionate musicians and vocalists.
Phreedum:
Talk to me about the name of the band.
PC: We’re a funk band and I
think if you really think about funk music there is something really sweet
about it but also really gritty. It’s the kind of music where you can’t help
but get up, dance, and get all sweaty cause you’re listening to really sweet
music.
Phreedum:
What has been a highlight for you so far as a lead singer of the band?
PC: I got to do an Aretha
Franklin cover and the crowd loved it. I sand her song Rock Steady. I was a bit
nervous. I love Aretha Franklin and there is a note in the song that I was
really worried about hitting. But I nailed it and the crowd went pretty crazy.
I saw people several days later just randomly on the street and I was still
getting positive feedback. It was one of those “I absolutely
love this.” moments.
Phreedum:
Very cool. So I imagine getting to that note took some time practicing. Can you
talk to me about the sacrifices you’ve made as a band member?
PC: Time. I think you learn
to sacrifice it and protect it. I sacrifice it in that there are rehearsals and
shows and they don’t always allow for things like me visiting my family in
Connecticut were I’m from or time to socialize with friends. I protect time in
that I set aside time for rehearsal because it’s time I spend perfecting your
craft and your passion. I do not play games with rehearsal time.
Phreedum:
What has band dynamics been like, especially since that was a concern you had
before joining and you spend a lot of time together rehearsing and performing?PC: I think it’s the level of passion we have not just for music but for the band. We are on the same page and we work as one cohesive unit because we want The Dirty Sweet to be successful. Communication is not something we take lightly. We communicate constantly and respectfully. I would also say we are friends. We really enjoy each other’s company and remember that we are people and not just our talents.
Phreedum: How
does your music/performances change the lives of others?
PC: It gets people excited
and happy. When we play people can escape for a moment and just be happy no
matter what else is going on in their life. I think that’s part of the power of
music period. It allows you to escape and reenergize if even just for a moment.
Phreedum:
What do you think people underestimate about what you do?
PC: That it doesn’t take a
lot of work. I think because I love it and as a band we play well and have
together when we perform people think it’s easy. It’s not. Even if you are good
at a particular thing you still work at it, tend to it, and perfect it.
Phreedum:
You went to school to be a doctor but you're a lead singer in a band and
extremely happy. Can you talk about the decision to follow your passion and not
the expectation?
PC: To be honest I really
struggle with this. Don’t get me wrong. I am the happiest I have been in years singing
in The Dirty Sweet. But, I go home to parents who don’t completely get why I
haven’t applied to graduate school yet and what I am doing as I paid a good
amount of money for my undergraduate biology degree. I think that I want to
give myself time to be happy and see how things work out with a music career.
We’ll see, maybe I will go back to school and do something with the biology
degree. I still love science and helping people but I also love the happiness
that I get from singing.
Phreedum:
What’s one piece of advice you carry with you?
PC: Always try to do your
best. The band life, especially starting out, is not glamorous.
Sometimes the venues are awesome and sometimes not so much. I think you give
your best anyway, even if the circumstances don’t warrant it.
Phreedum:
If The Dirty Sweet were a funk band from the 60's and 70's who would you be?
PC: We would have been Sly
and The Family Stone. We have a great dynamic and we are incredible. To me Sly
and The Family Stone is a band that represents excitement, fun, great dynamics,
and they sounded incredible. Their vocals were perfect and their musicians were
tight. We would be like them for sure.
To phind out more about Patty and The Dirty Sweet visit http://www.facebook.com/TheDirtySweet?ref=ts
*Photography courtesy of Jesus Martinez Photography
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