Patrick Jean-Paul-Denis, a relatively new name in the music scene, is very frank about his Christian orientation.
His first highly professional record as a solo artiste, 'Special love', was released on June 2 last year, on Ray Hayden's secular Opaz label ('The sound of urban London'). His second record ' I will go', was released on the same label last summer resulting in television appearances and a 12-track album including these two singles is now about to be released.
Patrick runs his own business, Mare Street Studios, an academy for training singers. Converted in 1990, he attends the Light of Life Christian Fellowship in North London.
I thought Patrick might have some helpful thoughts for other Christians concerning the music industry, and may stimulate Christians to pray for the modern music scene.
Before becoming a Christian, Patrick used to play the guitar, but after his conversion he gave up music and it was not until he felt that the Lord was directing him to become a singer that he took it up again: 'I was really into getting to know the Lord, getting into the Word, you know: establishing a personal relationship with the Lord really. I actually dropped music; I was doing music before. When the Lord called me, I was in a band called Concept and I decided to just turn my back on what I was doing. Obviously the guys, you can imagine, who were non-Christians, weren't very happy and I just wanted to find out about this God that I was hearing so much about.
'When he started to reveal what he wanted me to do, I was a bit reluctant at first and after he showed me some, if you like, encouraging things, I decided to obey him and he's got me to this point.'
Guidance
I asked Patrick if he was open, even now, to the possibility of the Lord moving him into some other sphere of service, and he replied: 'Let his will be done.'
Patrick sought his pastor's advice concerning the guidance which seemed to be indicating a musical career, and found his pastor supportive and keen to ensure that everything should be based on the Word of God and committed to the Lord in prayer.
Patrick appeared unconcerned about material success, but rather to fulfill God's purpose for his life: 'It's not relevant whether or not it goes to Number 1 for me. My job is just to spread the gospel to the nations of the world and bless somebody with what I do and glorify the name of the Lord Jesus. But if it goes to Number 1, so be it.'
His music style, which he calls 'gospel/R&B' although it incorporates a rap element too, has been influenced by a number of artistes around in the 1980's, including big bands such as Slave and Cameo but also solo artistes such as Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. On the rap side, he has been influenced musically by the late Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, although he is not uncritical: 'Obviously I'm not too keen on the lyrical content of the modern-day artistes especially R&B and rap; it seems to be slightly one-sided and that's why the Lord's called me to just give a spiritual balance to the music industry, just to show an alternative.'
Asked whether his music has a message for the young people of today, he replied: 'I believe so. Where I'm coming from is just to give a little spiritual dimension/balance/an alternative to what's happening at present. Because what's happening is that they're being fed with one side of life, if you like, so I'm giving them an alternative.
A lot of the rap artistes have a major influence on the kids of today. And what are they doing? All they're doing is the music and the video or whatever - the kids don't know them personally. So obviously we need some people on the Christian front to compete with that.'
Significantly, he places great emphasis upon his lyrics, commenting: 'I've made a conscious decision to write on things that are quite positive in nature, uplifting in nature, and also glorify the Most High God.'
Witness
He is concerned about his witness to non-Christians through his music: 'The people have marketed the record as a gospel record, but also as a 'normal' record, if you can use that term. And so what's happening is that people as far afield as Northampton, Manchester, Derby and Swansea are all hearing the record - non-Christian people as well. I've had interviews with non-Christian DJs etc., and so in that way I'm already witnessing to non-Christians, unbelievers, and that's my job done.'
As this would involve touring and promotion, I asked Patrick how he planned to cope with the pressures of this: 'Well, by the grace of God really. I run my own business as well, so it's hard work but the Lord's called me to do it, so if he's called me to do it, he's already provided the way for me to succeed and maintain, if you like, my sanity. I believe when God calls somebody to do something like this, he obviously vets them first, he takes them through a training programme away from what he's been so he knows that by the time he lets you go you won't let him down. There's no doubt about it, the music industry's the enemy's territory. And the fact that I've never really wanted to be a singer, so I'm coming from a different angle, plus I've got a big family, four sisters, that will keep my feet on the ground anyway.'
Also aware of the need for a daily walk with the Lord, Patrick believes that the elements in his spiritual life necessary to maintain and grow in his relationship with the Lord are: 'Reading the Word; fellowship with your brethren; praying and fasting; and praising God.' Then I asked him about the difficulty of fellowship while touring around the country for at least a month entirely with non-Christians, and his answer showed that he had already considered this problem: 'Well, number one, I've already made it a prerequisite that the majority of the band has to be Christians. If you went on holiday for a month, what would you do? Would you find a church, a local fellowship on a Sunday, and fellowship there, or would you just be on your own and have a quiet time with the Lord on a daily basis?'
When asked what advice he would give to a Christian who is interested in going into the music industry and breaking into the secular market, he said: 'OK, I would say that you have to put the Lord first - you have to be called by the Lord, because it's not somebody who's a brilliant singer that God will use - that doesn't always follow. You just need to be willing to be used and the Lord will use you. The Lord says we've got to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and then all other things will be added to the individual. So we need to make sure we obey the Lord - obey his Word, follow him, and then doors will be opened.
But I think that the emphasis should not be made on breaking into the secular market. I think what should be happening is that you do whatever God wants you to do, and then if he sees fit and that's what he wants to happen - you breaking into the mainstream market - then so be it.'
Pointless without God
As stated earlier, Patrick's additional work is the training of singers and he is available to train people of all kinds for singing: 'We have a course that runs for about a year. And we look at all the areas of being a modern-day vocalist but obviously we have people from different backgrounds. Some people just want to build confidence; some people actually want to make a career of it; some people just want to sing in front of their families. I had one lady ring in and say she just wanted to give her husband a birthday present!'
As Patrick takes up his position in the front-line in an industry where Christianity is so often perceived as a fashion crime, he is certainly not mistaken when he states: 'Without the Lord, it's pointless me doing this.'
Patrick can be contacted at: Mr P. Jean-Paul-Denis, Mare Street Studios, Unit 307-308, 203-213 Mare Street, Hackney, London, E8 3QE (Tel. 0181 533 7074). People can attend for a year or for as many or as few sessions as they like. The cost is £16.00 - £18.00 an hour, which is below the normal going rate.
His record 'Special love', is available from good record shops through Awake Records, 21 Sherard Road, Forest Gate, London, E7 8DM (Tel. 0181 552 5051, Fax: 0181 552 1530). The CD single costs £2.70 (Opaz OPH006CD) and the 12" vinyl is £2.60 (Opaz OPH006).
Mike Taylor
Home
Archives
Subscriptions
Adverts
Find a church
About us
Contact us
Site Map
Printable