Pat Monahan On Writing With Taylor Swift, Touring Canada & How One Fan Shaped Train’s First New Music In 5 Years
14.04.2022 - 17:03
/ etcanada.com
He’s a proud father of four, has a beautiful wife, tours the world, acts, has written and performed with Taylor Swift, and owns his own wine label.
Life is good for Pat Monahan
But as he began writing new Train music, the musician received a friendly reminder from a fan – one that would shape the entire direction of the band’s upcoming album, AM Gold.
“Train fans have become my friends and there’s one I love, Teresa from Boston, who said, ‘You know, we’re all really happy for you that you have a great marriage and great life… but maybe you can get back to writing those other songs for the rest of us?’” Monahan tells ET Canada. “I was like, ‘Whoa! I have plenty of sadness left in me.’
“So, I wrote songs that reflected those times in my life, like the beginning of my career and early relationships. Even if you’ve recovered from those things, there’s plenty to reflect about.”
READ MORE: Taylor Swift’s Childhood Home Is Back On The Market For Almost $1 Million
If ever there was a time to reflect, it’s been during the COVID-19 pandemic. While Teresa influenced the subject matter, it was the pandemic that pivoted the album’s sound. After going into lockdown, Monahan, 53, realized he had been writing the “wrong record.”
“It was more pop-leaning initially, then during lockdown I had to write over Zoom with my bandmates, and started honing into the right music.”
Monahan says the resulting sound is inspired by yacht rock, while also mixing in R&B, disco, horns, and strings.
“I had been going to Los Angeles and London to write with people who are writing all the songs you hear all the time, but I started just writing with my bandmates and realized this was the right Train record. I also learned how to use my own equipment and