Michael and the team over at MTS Management Group recently introduced me to Ten Penny Gypsy (Justin Patterson and Laura Lynn Danley), an Americana band based in Little Rock, Arkansas. You can just tell by looking at them they have heart and soul and their lyrics are inspired by the journey we all call life. Normally they would be on the road right now promoting their new artist album Fugitive Heart, but due to COVID-19 aren’t able to travel much. But after this vaccine gets some traction, I expect to see them hitting the road again soon. Fugitive Heart is their second full-length album and is full of upbeat music giving off a country almost blues vibe. To help them promote the album I reached out for an interview. This was really fun and it is my pleasure to introduce you to Ten Penny Gypsy.
Where did the name come from? I love it!!!
Even in these uncertain days when people seem divided over everything imaginable, we still believe in the kindness and compassion of others. We’ve seen countless examples of it in our travels. We know that if we were ever stranded and down to our last ten pennies, a stranger would come forward and offer to help these gypsies out! It happens all the time, thus our name.
How did you two meet?
We met at a songwriter festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We both had been in different bands, had separate solo careers, and had recorded albums with other people. We developed a tremendous respect for each other as people and songwriters, and it wasn’t long before we realized that the combination of our musical styles created a unique and appealing sound.
Tell me more about the Arkansas Country Music Awards.
We are so grateful to the Arkansas Country Music Awards for the exposure they’ve given us. They are such dedicated advocates for the unsigned artists in our state, and there is tremendous talent here. We aren’t traditional country by any stretch of the imagination. Our sound is more an eclectic mix of folk, country, and Americana, and yet the ACMA has honored us with a place at their table. Our self-titled debut album was nominated for “Album of the Year” in 2018, and we also received nominations for “Americana Artist of the Year” and “Vocal Group of the Year” in both 2018 and 2019.
You released your debut artist album in 2018. That was only 2 years ago, but what have you been working on recently and how has your sound changed over the years?
We are currently working hard to promote our most recent full-length album Fugitive Heart, which was released in July. Our debut album in 2018 was very well received, as mentioned above, but we wanted to reach a broader audience with Fugitive Heart, and we are excited to see that happening. This album has more of an upbeat, driving flavor to it, thanks in large part to the guitar talents of 2020 Arkansas CMA nominee Buddy Case. His style lends itself to country/blues, a sound not found on our more folk-oriented debut. In the end, it still comes down to the quality of the songwriting, and we are grateful that these songs on Fugitive Heart really seem to be resonating with listeners.
COVID-19 put a damper on 2020. How have you been dealing with the pandemic?
Music communities nationwide have been wrecked by the pandemic, and ours in Little Rock is no exception. Learning how to broadcast a quality virtual performance has obviously been the newest challenge. We’ve been fortunate to surround ourselves with tech-savvy friends from our music community that have allowed our live performances, including our “Sounds of Unity” monthly showcase, to carry on virtually.
There are a lot of bands out there. A lot of different genres, too. Who are some of your biggest inspirations?
Justin: My father listened to Merle Haggard albums when I was a child, so his music had a huge impact on me at a young age. James Taylor has always been my biggest inspiration. From the finger-picking guitar style to the lyrical phrasing, his influence can easily be heard in songs I’ve written for Ten Penny Gypsy.
Laura: I grew up singing in the church, so inspirational artists from the Carter Family to Amy Grant have had a tremendous influence on my music. I’ve also been inspired by the music of Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt. They were definitely pioneers that paved the way for all female singer/songwriters.
What can fans expect from a live performance?
It’s our expectation that fans will walk away from our show knowing they heard well-written and entertaining songs. I know they will certainly be talking about the great guitar playing of Buddy Case! Most importantly, we hope they felt a heart to heart connection with us, and that our music added some joy to their lives.
Speaking of live music, do you ever make a mistake while on stage?
Certainly! We’ve learned, though, that if fans have developed a connection with us, and have become invested in the songs, they can be very forgiving! The best we can do is be ourselves, and hopefully limit the mistakes to few and far between!
I’m digging the photos on your website. Who took those?
We dig them, too! Shout out to Chad Edwards at MCE Photography out of southern Mississippi, and Steven Anderson, who lives down on the Gulf Coast. We also got some great shots here in the Little Rock area from David Lewis and from MetroWest Media.
What is the best concert you’ve ever been to?
That is a tough call! We’ve seen so many great shows over the years. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, the Eagles, James Taylor, and Dawes come to mind. A couple of years ago we saw Jackson Browne, which was an especially outstanding concert.
What is your songwriting process like? Do you sit down with a yellow pad or do songs just come to you?
Laura: I write a lot of poetry. Most of my songs read like they could have come straight from my journals. Turning those thoughts into melodies is always a magical process for me!
Justin: I often start with a finger-picked chord progression on guitar from which I can extract a melody line. I keep a short-list of song titles handy. Growing up as an only child, I developed a very keen imagination, which seems to have served me well in developing storylines for songs.
Where did you record Fugitive Heart?
Our self-titled debut album and Fugitive Heart were both recorded at Admiral Bean Studio in Loxley, Alabama.
They were produced by renowned multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Anthony Crawford, who we will talk much more about further along in this interview.
When performing live are you doing any cover songs or all originals?
A TPG live show consists of mostly original material. We’ve been known to pull out a cover song or two, especially ones by songwriters who have been influential to us. For instance, we’ve ended some of our performances this year with some John Prine songs in memory of his passing.
Shirts. Hats. A beer koozie!!! What else can people buy on your online store? Are you planning to add more items anytime soon? I love that trucker hat, by the way!
You can also download our albums and singles from the website store. If you purchase hard copies of our albums, we’d love to autograph them and send them out to you. We do have attractive, high-quality items, like you mentioned above! We are always looking to expand the store, so if your readers have any suggestions on specific items, please let us know.
How do you know Michael and how long have you been working with MTS Management Group?
We just started working with Michael Stover this year on Fugitive Heart. He was recommended to us by Anthony Crawford and Savana Lee of the acclaimed Americana duo Sugarcane Jane. As mentioned above, we recorded both of our albums at their studio in Loxley, Alabama. They used Michael to promote their most recent release,Ruffled Feathers: Songs in the Key of Me, and had great things to say about him. Our experience with him has been awesome, as well.
Tell me about your work with Anthony.
We became acquainted with Anthony and his wife Savana Lee at a music festival in 2016. He is a veteran of the music business having toured with Neil Young, Steve Winwood, Dwight Yoakam, and others. Savana spent a lot of time in Nashville, and had her own recording studio there. Prior to meeting them, we felt we had written some great songs, but were unsure how to put them in their best form and get them heard. They listened to our demos and invited us to their studio to record our debut album. Anthony’s musicianship and production skills made our songs blossom, and Savana was instrumental in our marketing and branding. That album was nominated for “Album of the Year” by the Arkansas CMA in 2018. Of course, we worked with them again on Fugitive Heart. Their guidance has changed everything for us.
Where can folks at home learn more about Ten Penny Gypsy?
The most comprehensive is our website . You can read all about our history, see dates for our upcoming shows, read press reviews about Fugitive Heart, and purchase our music and merchandise, as mentioned above! Of course, you can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and our music is available on most streaming platforms, as well.
What’s next for Ten Penny Gypsy?
We continue to be filled with gratitude for the response to Fugitive Heart, and we’ll be promoting it hard through the end of the year. We are planning a lyric video premiere and the release of a brand new single before the end of this month. Hopefully, 2021 will bring a return to normalcy, and we’ll get to perform real live shows, where we can actually reach out and hug our fans around the neck! Until then, our wish is for everybody to take care, and remain well!
Connect with Ten Penny Gypsy:
Website: https://www.tenpennygypsy.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tenpennygypsy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenpennygypsy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tenpennygypsy
