Freshly Pressed – Pablo Paddy’s “Need To Know”

We’ve got some local love on the site today! Pablo Paddy is an indie rock project formed by St. Catharines’ own singer-songwriter Patrick Beedling. They’ve just released a video & single for their song, “Need To Know” – we caught up with Patrick to chat about the song, learn about his influences, and his desert island album picks.

From The Strait: Your latest single is called “Need To Know”. Tell us a bit about the song and the video that goes with it!

Pablo Paddy: It’s about creating an identity and figuring out who you want to be in life. It’s called “Need to Know” because a lot of that seems to be left up to chance and isn’t knowable until it actually happens (at least that’s how it’s been for me). It’s also called “Need to Know” because there’s such a sense of urgency and a strong desire to know what’s in store for the future.

The concept for the video came from imagining what it would be like caught running a red light on a bike (I think I had just committed that very infraction in Toronto!). I pictured myself getting caught, and then things escalating in ridiculous ways. I’ve always thought it would be fun to impersonate police officers, and three of us in the band are pretty avid recreational tennis players, so that’s more or less how the rest of the narrative came about. Luckily my friend Mike Ford, a Toronto-based photographer and videographer, was super-keen on the idea and excited to shoot it for us. We had some friends come out for a BBQ and laneway party behind my house for the last scene of the video. It was a fun day!

FTS: Who were your musical influences growing up compared to your influences now?

PP: I’m a child of the 90s and was into alternative rock growing up- Matthew Good (Band), The Hip, R.E.M. But also 90s pop. I think the first CDs and tapes I ever bought were Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” and Ace of Base’s “The Sign”. Currently I listen mainly to indie— Andrew Bird, Vampire Weekend, Alvvays. As far as the rest of the band goes, Calum (keys) and Arih (bass) seem to go in for indie too and our drummer, Jonny, has more of a classical bent.

FTS: Describe your sound in 5 words.

PP: Someone once said “Tragically Hip on Acid”, so that’s 4 words. Someone else said “Crooncore”, so that’s one more word. I feel like I’m the worst person to ask in a way so I’m going with the a couple of the more memorable descriptions I’ve heard over the the last few years.

FTS: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 5 albums would you hope to have with you?

PP: Radiohead- In Rainbows

R.E.M.- Automatic For The People

Much Music Dance Mix 1995 (gotta stay active on that desert island)

The Weakerthans- Left and Leaving

Simon and Garfunkel- Greatest Hits

Check out Pablo Paddy’s new video, “Need To Know”