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SJM_Interview_Pat_Monahan_0719_Dept 6 / 28 / 19 2 : 26 PM Page 4 TRAIN Musical inspiration … Lyric writing has always been to me based on my father’s perspective of music . He loved a guy called Johnny Mercer ; soon after I loved him , and he was my biggest lyrics inspiration . Right after our first album my record company president — who is still a friend — said , “ Pat , you don’t have any hits . ” I was so stressed out about it because when you don’t have any hits , especially in 2000 , you probably are making your last record . My mother had just passed away . One night I had woken up maybe 20 min - utes after I fell asleep and I had every lyric in my head , and there’s no way my mother didn’t send the song to me because I wrote the whole thing down the next day ; I sang it and that’s how that happened . She was basically telling me what it was like on the other side . You get to swim through the other planets and come back with drops of Jupiter in her hair . On why Train went on hiatus … We needed a break because we had gone so hard for so long , and the only way to survive was to dismantle instead of break up . Everyone went to do their own thing ; I did a solo record to get it out of my system and when I came back , we made a lot of really positive decisions , changed manage - ment and moved forward . I wrote “ Hey Soul Sister ” which kind of woke up everything for us again and we traveled the world , and you know now it’s about the music more than ever . It’s not about hits and being on SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 4 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 21
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SJM_Interview_Pat_Monahan_0719_Dept 6 / 28 / 19 4 : 26 PM Page 5 pop radio where it was that way for many years . Now you can make a record that people will find if it’s good enough and that’s exciting for me . On his favorite collaborations … The favorite is always the one to come . There have been a lot of fun ones . Brandi Carlile sang on a solo record for me — she’s sweet and awesomely talented . Aimee Mann and I sang together once which was awesome . There’s not really a favorite , but there’s one coming I might really love — I might sing with Jewel , we’ll see if that works out . What the future holds … We made a record of Johnny Mercer songs I’m going to hold for awhile and will work on over the next few years . Recently I’ve written two songs for what’s coming ; it seems a lot like the first Train album . It’s going to be less of a pop record and more of an alternative , rock , folk album . I’m excited for what’s next to come from Train . Memories from the road … One of my favorite times was maybe 10 years ago when we went to Philadelphia — I did Bikram Yoga and had one of the best meals I’ve ever had before our show that night . And just last year when we were in town we went to The Trocadero , and then I heard they recently sold it ? That place will be missed . What fans can expect on this tour … It will be a lot of fun . Come early and see ( opener ) Allen Stone . He’s such a great kid and so talented ; you’re going to be blown away by him . Defi - nitely come early enough for Allen . You’ll come for the Goo Goo Dolls and Train , and you’ll leave a huge Allen Stone fan . What he’d like to be remembered for … There’s a quote about Johnny Mercer : “ If you were around Johnny Mercer , you always felt like you belonged in the room with him . ” He always included everybody , whether you are a stranger or family , he made every - body feel like they belonged . If someone ever said that about me , I think I would rest easier after my passing . I think that’s what I’d like to n be known for . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 4 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 22 |
