Patti Smith for Elle Magazine 2015, Courtesy of Getty Images
Author: Svetlana Sohoni
Patti Smith is an artist in her own right and has sculpted the mold of what one can be in so many ways. Among her many mediums are writing, poetry, art and music. Her fusion of all ends of the spectrums of art are what make her so special and what has always drawn me to her. She has helped me understand that there are no boundaries when it comes to creative expression. I have always had the mindset that at the end of the day I have to pick one expression to channel all my energy into if I want to be successful and master it. In Patti Smith’s case, she not only dabbles in everything, but has mastered the art of combining multiple mediums.
My introduction to Patti was her album Horses. It is a brilliant and operatic record with so many different layers to unpeel. Smith’s first album brought experimental rock to a new category for me. Some of my favorite songs on Horses are Redondo Beach and Birdland. Birdland stood out to me because it starts with theatrical dialogue setting a scene with soft piano playing in the background before transitioning to Smith’s strong textured voice. Another track that is a must-listen is Land: Horses / Land of a Thousand Dances / La Mer(de). The energy and build-up in this song is unmatched and one of the few that I prefer live over the studio recording. I do not often find myself naturally drawn to lyricism as a music listener but with Smith’s music it’s hard not to be. Her writing style is elegant yet still brings out rock n roll elements that have always been a comfort to me. Watching her perform live is an incredible extension of the poetry and performance elements that can already be heard in her music.
Smith’s second album is also a significant record for me titled Radio Ethiopia. The title song on the record is a standout for me and definitely worth the ten minute listen. It begins with gritty guitar and a dramatic beginning before you slowly hear the dissonant notes of piano in the back. The musical elements on this song are some of my favorites with slide guitar and her vocals cutting through the mix. What makes Patti Smith’s early records so important is that she tells a real story and does not restrict herself to the cookie-cutter frameworks that so many other artists are pressured to follow. She takes her time and allows her songs to tell the story that slowly unfolds as a listener. Another Smith song I would recommend is “Because the Night” which is co-written by Bruce Springsteen and reached the Billboard hot 100 and is notable as it is one of her few songs to have reached commercial radio. Despite the fact that the majority of Smith’s music may not have been exactly mainstream at the time it was being released, it is clear that it has stood the test of time.
Patti Smith performs “Birdland” live at Royal Albert Hall in London, Oct. 5, 2021
I fell down a Patti Smith hole after listening to Horses and soon discovered her books. I would highly recommend “Just Kids” as an intro to her writing. She places the reader in her story as she travels the cusp of adolescence and adulthood. Her storytelling draws you in and the tales she has to tell about her experiences moving to New York City from Michigan seem like a fairytale. She lived in New York City during the times of Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground. A time when rubbing shoulders with some of the greatest artists of all time is just a casual mention in the book for her. She speaks of her relationships and heartbreak and the transition of her art from drawing, to writing, to music. My personal favorite book of Patti Smith’s is “Year of the Monkey.” This book hits close to home and takes place in familiar places. She begins in San Francisco and makes her way down the coast stopping in Santa Cruz and making her way down to the beaches of Southern California.
Between being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, winning a National Book Award, and continuing to make incredible art through her poetry and writing to this day, Patti Smith is the ideal role model for any person. Her independence from such a young age inspires me immensely and her continued adventures as an older and more experienced woman make me realize that life is full of endless possibilities till the very end. I see so many artists that seem to just fall off after reaching a certain age but Patti Smith’s spirit and lust for life are what capture me both as a listener and a woman.
Svetlana Sohoni | KXSU Music Reporter