With her maxi-single, “Love Is For You,” out now, we took some time to hear from Patti Zlaket. Read below to learn more about Patti Zlaket, the story behind “Love Is For You,” and what’s to come.
Hi Patti Zlaket! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
Easy—it’s my name!
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
I’m from Tucson, Arizona, and now I live in the Sierra Foothills in Northern California.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I started playing piano when I was seven years old. I think I started singing at birth. I’ve been writing songs since I was a teenager, and I got really serious about a career in music when I was in college.
How would you describe your sound?
Rock and Roll! Whether you hear blues, vintage pop, soul, or something else in my music, it starts and ends with rock and roll.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
My partner and I love to travel. He and I bought an RV two years ago, and we are enjoying seeing places big and small along the Pacific Coast. Escapes into nature are revitalizing and inspire my creativity.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
That’s a very long list! The Beatles, of course, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Wonder, Carole King, Joni, Prince, Chaka Khan, Sting, The Police, Zeppelin, everything ’70s and ’80s, everything Motown, everything funk, and on and on and on…
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
I’m pretty proud of where I am in my career right now. I’m so proud of this new album, and I can’t wait to share it. And, the last year has been so transformational for me as an artist. I’m proud but also really grateful.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
The most important lesson for me is that life is big and there’s no deadline on making a dream come true. If you want something, go for it. Sounds corny, but it’s true – you’ll never know unless you try! Oh, and laughter truly is the best medicine.
Now onto “Love Is For You.” What inspired this maxi-single?
It was originally written as a song about unrequited love. When I revisited it more recently, I decided that the message needed to be broader. I wanted it to be more universal, so I tweaked it a bit, and I like it more now!
What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for “Love Is For You?”
I worked with a wonderful photographer, Taylor Ballantyne. I had a very specific idea in my mind about what I wanted the album photos to look like. Sophisticated but edgy, sexy but polished, and more than anything, artistic and pure rock ‘n’ roll. She nailed it. She’s so talented, and captured me better than anyone ever has in a photograph.
What was the creative process like when making “Love Is For You?”
My producer, Tariqh Akoni, is a wizard. He has a gift for transforming ideas into art. We talked a lot about the message of the song and that really inspired a lot of the musical choices.
How long did it take to complete “Love Is For You?”
I think the lyric and melody came to me pretty quickly. I wrote it many years ago, but I’m pretty sure the song flowed out of me without a lot of struggle.
What do you hope fans take away from “Love Is For You” and your music in general?
Mostly, I hope people like what they hear, and that my songs make them feel something, whether it’s something familiar or brand new. I hope my music moves people the way that my most favorite songs move me.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I’ll be performing quite a bit over the next couple of months!
April 19 at La Rosa in Tucson
May 2 at Shim’s Tavern in Reno
June 7 at The Fink in Napa
June 15 at Belly Up in San Diego – my album release party!
Where can we follow you on social media?
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pattizlaketofficial
On Instagram: @pattizlaketofficial
On Threads: @pattizlaketofficial
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
