Photo Credit: Justin Brown

Share an Uber at any time in Los Angeles and nine times out of ten you’ll meet someone who moved here chasing a dream. Whether it’s acting, music or something else the transplants in this city are abundant. However, there are those rare occasions you stumble into someone actually from here who is as creative as those who just stepped off a plane and into your shared ride. People like Patrick Paige. Many know him as the bassist of The Internet but soon they’ll discover that he’s got more up his sleeve. His debut solo album, Letters of Irrelevance, drops May 18th and it’s a look at a time in Patrick’s life that he said almost took him out – for good. He opened up about his personal lows but also about the unexpected highs that came with the new musical endeavor.

Kendra: Your bandmates are obviously supportive of this new solo endeavor you have going on, but was there an initial conversation that had to occur at all?

Patrick Paige: Nah, not really a conversation, it’s not that deep. We all make our own music as anyway as well. More like, “Hey guys check this out.”

Kendra: We can see the support because you have Syd on your lead single “On My Mind/Charge it to the Game.” What about that song in particular made you want to push it first? Was it always the frontrunner when you were writing and recording?

Patrick Paige: I didn’t see it as a frontrunner at first. I wrote it and let it happen. Then I chose it later as the first single because it’s one of the more important songs to me. I wanted to get the message out. I made it two parts so people could have a sigh of relief at the end of the first half because it’s kind of heavy.

Kendra: You’ve been a bassist for so long it seems like some are surprised that you can lay down rhymes. What do you hope Letters of Irrelevance brings to the LA rap scene?

Patrick Paige: I love the LA rap scene right now, there’s so many good artists that rap from here. I don’t know if I’d like to offer anything to the rap scene as much as I’d just like to tell my own story you know?

Kendra: Was this record a culmination of everything you’ve been feeling the past three years? Because you’ve have been hit by one bad wave after another.

Patrick Paige: I channeled everything the best I could that happened. Everything bad happened at once, EVERYTHING. My mom passed away, my sister and I fell out, and I went through a bad break up. I was almost up out this bitch man; I wanted to GO, and yes I mean as in kill myself but I knew I wasn’t going to do it or take things that far because I was too scared to do it plus I had enough sense left to keep going in life but I liked the idea at the time.

Kendra: One of the things that happened in the past few years you’ve mentioned is living on your own for the first time. It can be intimidating, but what is one little thing about living on your own that you found invigorating after awhile?

Patrick Paige: MY SPACE, I love my SPACE. I love being around my friends; don’t get me wrong. I love hanging out but I also like being alone, eating alone and not being bothered. I was afraid of being on my own. A lot of times it was scary when you have no one there and you’re going through hell, but ultimately, I like my space away from everything sometimes.

Kendra: Coming to LA for music is one thing, but you’ve been here awhile. Was that a full-on advantage when you decided that you were going to do your own thing?

Patrick Paige: Yes, I’m born and raised, fully West Side. I guess you could say it was somewhat of an advantage, I don’t know. Everything I need is right here at home. All the friends I play and write with I met here at home so that helps a lot.

Kendra: You’ve got the album dropping in May. Will fans get a tour around then?

Patrick Paige: Hmm, I’ll actually be on tour with my band around that time which I’m excited about. So I probably won’t tour until later.