10 Questions with ... Patrick Paegel

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

LABEL:

• Penny's Gang

DISCOGRAPHY:

• Find Me Pure (2010)

1) Tell us a little bit about your musical journey.

Growing up there was always a guitar around the house. My father played folk music and we had a live-in friend that had been to guitar institute so I naturally followed in their footsteps and learned the guitar. Not a Christian growing up, I spent time playing music with friends and actually wrote songs in those years as well.

As a teenager, I developed a severe addiction to drugs. Over the course of four years I had many struggles and failures and got to the place where I didn't want to live anymore. I was at an all time low. I went for a drive in my car to go jump off of this parking structure to end my life. On this drive there was a car in front of me that said in huge letters. "Say no to drugs, say yes to Jesus." On this drive God spoke to me. I really felt his presence in the car and with tears running down my face I said to him that if he truly was real, that I would follow him. I never made it to the parking structure. After my conversion experience, I went home and started to read my bible. It was amazing how alive the word was and how it started to heal my life. I haven't used drugs since that day and that is a miracle.

When I started attending church I really experienced God in the music so having past experience in music, I would just get the chord charts and immerse myself in playing worship songs singing to God. From there I just started writing my own songs. My songs come out of thankfulness for all that he has done for me, so I guess that is how it all started. At least that's the short version. [Smile]

2) Tell us about the story behind the current single "Find Me Pure."

"Find Me Pure" was written as I was thinking of how all of us are going to stand before God one day. In this song, I am examining myself and my life. Knowing that I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and struggled with many things, I am really just coming to God honestly and asking him to have mercy on me.

3) What is the message you hope is conveyed through the EP Find Me Pure?

God is with us in good times and in bad times and that he is always worthy of our praise and adoration. It is my hope and prayer that as people listen and worship they will experience God's grace and healing in the midst of my songs.

4) Do have a favorite song on the project?

All of the songs are special to me but right now probably my favorite song is "Holy God Almighty." It is a song with a simple worship chorus that really focuses on God's greatness as he is seated upon the throne. It puts me in a place of humility and worship as I come before the One who was and is and is to come.

5) Who inspires personally and/or spiritually?

I am inspired mostly by my time in the scriptures. I do have mentors and good friends that have always been there for me. You really can't take the place of a true friend who is there even when things aren't going great or if you are in a place of difficulty. When I see people giving of themselves, when they get nothing in return, that is inspirational. I also love to watch "Extreme Home Makeover." That inspires me as well. I can't seem to get through an episode without crying on that one. [Smile]

6) Where might we find you playing in the days ahead? What's on the schedule?

Right now I am spending and focusing my time working on new songs and recording. Looking forward to what is ahead. We have yet to come up with a touring plan but soon.

7) Any funny, inspiring or interesting stories that you can tell us from your visits to radio stations?

I've had interviews that were fun and went well and I'm looking forward to more radio interviews and visits!

8) If you weren't doing music, what would you be doing?

If I weren't doing music, I would probably get a job in the medical field and surf as much as possible. I grew up surfing and love it. It is an amazing thing to be in the ocean and ride the waves God creates. I hope to move back to the coast and do more of that in the future.

9) What song do you wish you had written?

I wish I had written "Amazing Grace." What a powerful song that comes from a place of thankfulness, humility and celebration. "When we've been there ten thousand years." That song never loses its strength.

10) Do you have time to listen to much music? What other artists are you listening to right now?

I really haven't spent much time listening to other music right now but some of the artists that I have enjoyed are Matt Redman, Tim Hughes, John Michael Talbot, Lifehouse, Mat Kearney, James Blunt and James Morrison. I really enjoy listening to the scriptures on CD as well as the book "Pilgrims Progress." That book rocks.