Most of the music I hear is sent to me by labels and publicists. But there’s nothing like getting it straight from the source. Welcome to the latest instalment of DIY Discovery, where I introduce you to artists who have sent me their music directly (and who don’t suck — that’s definitely part of the deal too). If you’d like to get in on that action, scroll down to the bottom of the page. But don’t skip over today’s dynamite offering:
Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps
HOME: Grand Rapids, Mich.
LATEST RELEASE: The EP Good with Words ‘n’ Sh’t.
WHERE TO FIND THEM: pattypershayla.com, Facebook, Instagram.
MY PITHY DESCRIPTION
“I wish I was more … what’s the term for it? Articulate, you know,” Patty PerShayla muses on Apostrophe, the bluesy centrepiece of her band’s EP and the tune that supplies its title. She’s shitting you, of course. The Michigan singer-songwriter and bassist uses her words eloquently and effectively on these five tracks, weighing in on white privilege, the political divide, sexual dynamics and more. Balancing all that brainpower: The growling aggression of her vocals and the her power trio’s brawny amalgam of blues, punk and garage-rock. Put them together and you’ve got a band with plenty to say — and the means to make you pay attention.
SEVEN ADJECTIVES FOR THEIR MUSIC: Gritty, muscular, opinionated, confident, potent, uncompromising, no-bullshit.
WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE: The opening act that you’ve never heard of — but fallen in love with by the time they’ve finished their set.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“In late 2019, Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps pulled up to the Michigan music scene in a vintage van, well stocked with songs and stories (but not seatbelts). Coming off her solo EP Oracle Bones (winner of the WYCE Jammie Award for Best Rock/Pop Album of 2019), Patty brings the same sweet but powerful voice and whimsical lyricism bar, club, and brewery-goers throughout the state and beyond have come to know and love, cranked up to 11 with guitarist Lucas Powell and drummer Alec Klinefelter. Showing yet another side of her artistic versatility, Patty dons the bass guitar in this genre-bending power trio, boasting an eclectic and authentic sound with a strutting, stomping, crooning good time onstage.
Good with Words ‘n’ Sh’t, the trio’s debut EP, is fueled with social commentary and ignited by riff-driven expression, covering topics like dysphoria, social media, and isolation — without pulling any punches. The five-track EP aims to contribute to the soundtrack of today’s social revolution. Despite the digital nature of American culture and independent music (especially amid the Coronavirus pandemic), the group maintains a familiar, classic rock ’n’ roll vibe on these analog recordings with a modern edge and bite in PerShayla’s lyrical delivery. Though these dynamic arrangements contain social narratives and dabble in hopelessness, the tone is overall optimistic, as the Mayhaps intend to spark a revolution of empathy first and then, perhaps, policy. The EP’s title, Good with Words ’n’ Sh’t, is a joke, referring to the limitations of speech, hoping the music will fill in the gaps. Inspired by blues, classic, and progressive rock, this nostalgic introduction to the Mayhaps was recorded to analog tape and will be followed up with a full-length record, to be pressed to vinyl in 2021.
As a solo artist, Patty made her debut in the Americana realm and is still rooted there. In 2017, Lucas Powell hit the scene with a new Fender Telecaster and triple-threat kitty-cat strap, ready for his next project. The pair have been co-writing ever since, building a catalog of songs with gritty, twangy fusion. Coming from an audio production background, Lucas handles many of the song arrangements, which feature his intricate, carefully curated pedal board, wielding the power to peel the paint off the walls (of even the sturdiest establishment) and the subtlety to raise the hair on your arms. He is a man of few words, armed with a vocabulary of tonality. Alec Klinefelter, on the other hand, is often heard before he is seen. He is responsible for many of the whimsical elements of the music (especially live performances), sharing an affinity for progressive rock with Patty. Joining the group in 2019, Alec was a fast friend and the final piece of the power trio.
Stacking up at 5’2” and wielding a bass nearly as tall, Patty refuses to be overlooked with her voice and message, both bigger than they seem at first glance. Going on three years as a full-time, independent artist, Patty recently formed Antek Records (in memory of her father) as a home for the Mayhaps and future artistic endeavors. She is making use of her time during the COVID-19 crisis to write songs, host live stream events, and hone her bass guitar skills.”
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YOUR TURN
If you’d like to be a DIY Discovery, no problemo: Just go to the Submit Music page, fill out the form and hit send. Or email me directly here. I can’t promise I’ll feature you, but if you’re as awesome as you think you are, it could happen. You never know.
