Self-made rock virtuoso Patrick Ames is a vibe. Based out of California, Ames has consistently released music throughout 2020. While known for his politically charged, message songs, Ames took the time out to create a profoundly chill single called “You Make Me Scream” or “YMMS.”
In the song, he makes an emotional appeal using only a total of nine words throughout the entire song. Simultaneously, he seems to focus on the crafty artistry of instrumentation creating a musical ambiance made for relaxation, but gives the irresistible urge to dance. Enticing the listener into euphoric bliss, the intro sounds like a vinyl record being slowed down to a halt right before an electric guitar riff rips the sound waves.
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Then, with the most “tender” lyrical simplicity, the familiar jaggedly smooth voice of Ames sprawls over the instrumental, followed by the soothing background vocals of mother/daughter duo Chana and Mikaela Matthews, who worked with Ames on various projects. The result is a mid-tempo 1980s live band vibe — the only thing missing is a shirtless drummer.
“You Make Me Scream” is the type of song that can be listened to while driving down the Pacific Coast Highway or played on a classic pristine jukebox at a crowded bar during a smoky sunset, proving its versatility. The accommodating kaleidoscopically psychedelic music video is no less experimentally lucid as it displays a variety of colorful, hypnotizing images that take residence in the mind. Ames released “You Make Me Scream” as part of his intentional plan to drop singles.
“I’ve decided that dropping singles is much easier than doing EPs, or LPs, given the Virus, so I’ve decided to write and release every few months, and then at the end I can bundle up the singles together,” Ames said. “YMMS is the first one with this new approach.”
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The multi-hyphen talent had to restructure his usual music-making process to accommodate for the pandemic.
“After a year writing serious songs and protest songs about our country and the politics, and experimenting around on the edge of folk and other genres, I just wanted to dance,” Ames said. “I usually write songs beginning with one guitar riff and one vocal riff, and then place them together. YMMS was the vocal riff and it pretty much starts and stops there. With only 9 words in the entire dance song: “You make me xxx, so tenderly”, I’m more proud that I didn’t use “Baby” anywhere.”
Initially, Ames decided to take the DIY approach when recording the single. However, halfway through the project, he enlisted the help of producer Jon Ireson. Ireson not only helped produce the album, he also contributed to bass and additional guitars, while also mixing and mastering the track.
“We arrived on a treatment that treaded the line between Muscle Shoals soul and Minneapolis funk,” Ireson said. “As usual, his great backup singers Chana and Mikaela gave us a lot to work with. I lended a bass line to give it a little punch and pop along with some other odds and ends.”
Ames grew up close to the legendary music nucleus known as Detroit, where he was exposed to the sounds of Motown and Puccini. His mother — who was a powerful opera singer in her own right — would take Ames to church with her where she would perform in the choir.
At the age of 14, Ames began writing his own songs, but it wasn’t until his college years that he began to perform and became a fervid songwriter. After trying the music business in a traditional sense, he would transition to the literary industry as a book publisher. Nearly 25 years later, Ames would get the musical itch after buying his son a Fender guitar and amp that his son ended up not liking.
“He didn’t like it, I loved it!” Ames said. “I cranked it up and played with abandon. Then, it all came back, in spades.”
Since then, he has built his discography to include hits, such as the blues political conscious “Bang, Bang, Bang,” in which he uses gun metaphors while also speaking on playing politics and the dangers of guns. Another single, “Want to Believe,” speaks on the negative impact of technology on society.
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“I tell stories, so lyrics and music come hand in hand,” Ames said. “It usually starts with a musical riff and then I match that riff with some kind of striking lyric. So I have a musical riff and a lyrical riff. Then, as a story, I let those two fly together and piece the story together.”
“You Make Me Scream” can be found on Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube, and Bandcamp.
