Popstar.

Before focusing on his career as an artist, Patrick toyed with the idea of a career in the music industry.

In the early to mid nineties, Patrick wrote and recorded several albums worth of original dance/pop material which eventually led to his being signed to Empire communications, a Vancouver-based record label. It was with Empire that Patrick recorded several Club tracks, some of which became local hits with the Club DJs.

If you dig deep at your local vinyl shop, you might find a 12' single of Patrick's tracks "Madness", or "Let it Rain", his collaborations with Producer, DJ Lovelace.

Z95.3, Vancouver's Hottest Radio Station frequently played tracks from Patrick's albums. The singles "Together", "Bittersweet" and "Clandestine" were very well received by the station DJs and their audience.

He performed at numerous Vancouver night spots and venues and always managed to captivate the crowd with his original music. His covers of personal favorites like Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (are made of this)", to which he always gave his own personal flavor and touch, were sure to fill the dance floor.

Patrick performed in both French and English and was known for his energy on stage and ability to jump between musical styles with little effort. In 1995, he performed at La Place Des Arts in Ottawa with some of the biggest names in French Music at the time such as Marie Carmen, Breen Leboeuf, Hart Rouge and Yves Duteil. The concert was televised in Europe and Canada, and established that Patrick indeed had what it took to play with the big boys.

Despite his many successes, Patrick always strived to better himself at his craft. Patrick's signing voice was high pitched, which back then did not always sit well with audiences. Ironically today, male vocalists with higher octaves are much admired and appreciated. Singers like James Blunt have built successful careers by crooning in a falsetto pitch. Even Justin Timberlake has been known to climb to the highest reaches of his vocal scale.

Still, music is a particularly tough mistress, and after spending several years "making a go of it", Patrick decided to favor his art and love of illustration. His calling was clear, and the Class Comics Universe of characters was where he belonged.

Today, Patrick has no regrets. He loves what he does and appreciates his artistic successes. He looks back on his musical career with fondness and a grain of salt. In the end, things work out the way they do for a reason, and the hustle and bustle of the music industry is most likely not something that a private person like Patrick would have endured for long. Still, when asked about the experience, he confesses that he has no regrets, but misses the recording studio, where he loved to hear his songs come to life.

To celebrate Patrick's musical accomplishments, Class Comics has released "Popstar in the Nineties", which is a previously unreleased album of dance songs written by Patrick and recorded back in 1997. Though the album has a definitive 90s flavor, Patrick's musical talent is very clear. The songs are catchy and his voice is memorable. The album is a fun glimpse at another side of this creative artist.

Click on the banner below to access the PF Gear shop where you can purchase Patrick's album, "Popstar in the Nineties" for your collection. The PF Gear shop will open in a new window.