Album brings listeners into Fitzpatrick's world
Cover bands may rule the New Jersey bar scene, but West Milford-based singer/songwriter Brian Fitzpatrick is trying to bring original music back to the Garden State.
"It's much easier to go out and duplicate rather than create your own music," he said. "But I'm not a photosopier. I'm into writing songs and creating my own thing."
Fitzpatrick, 32, has been a fixture at bars in New Jersey for years and it's easy to see why. His honest and emotive folk rock sound are a welcome respite from the loud and glossy cover bands that dominate northern New Jersey. With his fourth album in six years, "Further Down the Line," set to be released next week on his own Mandala Records, Fitzpatrick's prominence keeps growing.
To celebrate the album's completion Fitzpatrick and his band will have a record release party October 2 at The Underpass in Elmwood Park, which he warmly refers to the bar as his "home base."
"It's a great place for original music," he said.
With his new album, Fitzpatrick, who was raised in Wayne, hopes to get closer to what he calls, "the nerve."
"I just keep trying to refine myself and my music," he said. "This album is more concise and streamlined, and it paints a fuller picture."
Filled with personal narratives of love lost and woeful tales of wandering through the country, the album definitely brings the listener deep into Fitzpatrick's world.
"My goal with each record is just to refine my storytelling abilities," he said.
The album reaches that goal as Fitzpatrick sings to his microphone as if it were an old friend.
He is not afraid to take musical risks. "Further Down the Line," which was produced by Jerry Jones, features instruments like the accordion and the tin whistle. Influences came from country, folk and rock n' roll.
This eclectic sensibility is also featured in Fitzpatrick's live act. Sometimes he plays solo acoustic sets and other times he fronts a live band.
"They both have value to me, but my band is just a steam train," he said. "We get on stage and try to drive and elevate ourselves."
There is much more to Fitzpatrick than just music, though. He is also a successful graphic designer. Besides designing his own album cover, he has also created covers for the Rolling Stones and the Animals.
"In some ways I'm an overachiever," he said "I'm able to support myself without music."
He said his only financial goal with "Further Down the Line" is to sell enough copies to be able to justify another one.
"It would be nice to make a million dollars," he said. "But that's not my focus."
His last three albums have sold a respectable amount for an independent singer/songwriter and he also released an EP in the summer with a good response.
With "Further Down the Line" posed to be his biggest success yet, Fitzpatrick is at the forefront of a burgeoning original music scene in northern Jersey.
"I think New Jersey is underrated," said the Massachusetts native. "I get my inspiration from the small towns."
He mentions Mike June, the Scarecrow Collection, Cari Engdahl and Mike Pek as artists to look out for with the Underpass quickly becoming the hub.
As for those pesky cover bands always hogging the stage, Fitzpatrick has a message: "I think cover bands are great, but if you don't support original music, they won't have anything left to play."
"It's much easier to go out and duplicate rather than create your own music," he said. "But I'm not a photosopier. I'm into writing songs and creating my own thing."
Fitzpatrick, 32, has been a fixture at bars in New Jersey for years and it's easy to see why. His honest and emotive folk rock sound are a welcome respite from the loud and glossy cover bands that dominate northern New Jersey. With his fourth album in six years, "Further Down the Line," set to be released next week on his own Mandala Records, Fitzpatrick's prominence keeps growing.
To celebrate the album's completion Fitzpatrick and his band will have a record release party October 2 at The Underpass in Elmwood Park, which he warmly refers to the bar as his "home base."
"It's a great place for original music," he said.
With his new album, Fitzpatrick, who was raised in Wayne, hopes to get closer to what he calls, "the nerve."
"I just keep trying to refine myself and my music," he said. "This album is more concise and streamlined, and it paints a fuller picture."
Filled with personal narratives of love lost and woeful tales of wandering through the country, the album definitely brings the listener deep into Fitzpatrick's world.
"My goal with each record is just to refine my storytelling abilities," he said.
The album reaches that goal as Fitzpatrick sings to his microphone as if it were an old friend.
He is not afraid to take musical risks. "Further Down the Line," which was produced by Jerry Jones, features instruments like the accordion and the tin whistle. Influences came from country, folk and rock n' roll.
This eclectic sensibility is also featured in Fitzpatrick's live act. Sometimes he plays solo acoustic sets and other times he fronts a live band.
"They both have value to me, but my band is just a steam train," he said. "We get on stage and try to drive and elevate ourselves."
There is much more to Fitzpatrick than just music, though. He is also a successful graphic designer. Besides designing his own album cover, he has also created covers for the Rolling Stones and the Animals.
"In some ways I'm an overachiever," he said "I'm able to support myself without music."
He said his only financial goal with "Further Down the Line" is to sell enough copies to be able to justify another one.
"It would be nice to make a million dollars," he said. "But that's not my focus."
His last three albums have sold a respectable amount for an independent singer/songwriter and he also released an EP in the summer with a good response.
With "Further Down the Line" posed to be his biggest success yet, Fitzpatrick is at the forefront of a burgeoning original music scene in northern Jersey.
"I think New Jersey is underrated," said the Massachusetts native. "I get my inspiration from the small towns."
He mentions Mike June, the Scarecrow Collection, Cari Engdahl and Mike Pek as artists to look out for with the Underpass quickly becoming the hub.
As for those pesky cover bands always hogging the stage, Fitzpatrick has a message: "I think cover bands are great, but if you don't support original music, they won't have anything left to play."
posted by Brian Fitzpatrick at 11:36 AM
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