Patrick Doval – Soulless Machine

By starrymag | August 2, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) Singer-Songwriter meets post-punk band and they have an Alternative Rock child.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Growing-up I was heavily influenced by many great bands and artists from the 60’s to 90’s. Just to name a few: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Jimmy Hendrix, The Doors, The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Billy Idol, David Bowie, Jeff Buckley, Lenny Kravitz, Guns N’ Roses, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Ice Cube, Tupac and so many more.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Soulless Machine.”

A) I feel like we are living in dystopian times, and I wanted to express those feelings in my song and video. I first storyboarded my ideas and then began filming. After video editing, I then wrote the song to the visuals. It was like working on a soundtrack. I was inspired by many cult films on this project such as Pink Floyd’s The Wall, John Carpenter’s They Live, 1984, a silent German expressionist film from 1927 called Metropolis and the ending of The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and her entourage discover an ordinary man with a loudspeaker behind the curtains.

 

Q) How did the classic Pink Floyd tale of The Wall inspire you?

A) I was inspired by a lot of the visuals from The Wall I’ve always loved that album and growing-up it was one of my favorite rock films. The marching hammers from The Wall inspired my marching syringes and that was very first scene that I began working on in my music video. I also related to the character of the film Pink because in the end of the film, he breaks out of the system. Just like Pink felt self-imposed isolation from the horrors of this world, I express that in my video, as I form a figurative wall to the media as I watch TV, just like the character Pink. There’s no doubt The Wall was a huge driving force behind my project.

 

Q) In what way did co-creator Pete Parada lend a hand with the song?

A) I began writing and recording the song with my drum machine. All along I wanted Pete Parada on the track. I remember reading in the headlines that Pete was dropped from the upcoming Offspring tour after refusing the COVID vaccine for medical reasons. At the time, I had already begun filming parts of my video and used the news to further fuel my feelings behind the project.  When I finished recording the song, I reached out to Pete and sent him my demo with the video. He told me he really liked the song and would play drums on it. I told him he had full creative control and he literally shredded my drum machine arrangement to pieces! He made my dreams come through by joining me on the track and adding his amazing drum work to my song!

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think fans of my music like that my song and video go against “the man.” Rock ‘n Roll has always been about going against the grain and rebelling against the system. I think my message is clear and it resonates with people, especially those that have lifted the veil from what is presented to us as reality.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) I think the video adds to the story of the song’s lyrics because it tells the story of a man frightened by what he’s witnessing happening in society and it tells the tale of a woman breaking free from the social slavery of her surveillance state.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) No but my preference is to work with music first. I prefer to begin with the music and then write the lyrics after but that’s just my preferred style. It’s not absolute but just my personal preference. Most of my songs begin on guitar with a chord progression and then I begin to write the lyrics. I also search for the “change” or chorus in the process. Once I have both a chord progression and a chorus, I begin recording and layering the song. I always record the drums first to keep the tempo and then I layer the rest around the drums and begin building the song.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I have produced all of my songs but there’s no doubt that Pete Parada also deserves credit in “Soulless Machine” because he had full creative control in his drum playing and set the tone for the song. His drum playing in the guitar solo part just blew my mind!

 

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

A) It’s something that I am considering at the moment. I have been writing new material and hopefully will be recording soon but also think that just releasing singles with video releases is the future.

 

Q) You’ve toured all over the world. Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) I’ve actually never toured but I still dream that one day I will play my music all around the world, especially in the UK and throughout Europe where I have many fans.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Roger Waters… but honestly would be honored to play with any of my heroes, anyone from Robert Plant to Trent Reznor to Lenny Kravitz to The Cure. ETC.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) Been listening to a lot of Soundgarden lately. Chris had such a powerful and beautiful voice. You really don’t hear music like that anymore.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Social media is very important because that’s how people can discover me and my music and my music videos. It’s also very unfortunate that Facebook shutdown my personal page days after the release of my song and video. Censored for having diversity of thought and freedom of expression and, in the process, not allowing me to access my band page to communicate with my fans.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you to all my fans for supporting my music! It means the world to me, and words can’t express the gratitude I have for each and every one of my supporters. Also, a very special thank you to all my old fans from the Myspace day’s that never gave-up on me. You all know who you are, and I never forget you! It’s been a long struggle, but I promise to continue to work hard, release new material and continue to dream.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!