Mike Patrick - Yamaha Experience Day

We're excited to announce we are having Mike Patrick visit us in-store on February 7th in collaboration with Yamaha. Mike is an experienced synth player, who has toured and performed with some massive names such as Ed Sheeran and Jake Bugg. So to help you get to know Mike before then, we've asked him a few questions. This is only a short read, we hope you enjoy!

Q1: When did you first start playing?
I first started playing the keyboard when I was a kid. There was an old organ my dad had brought, and I was drawn to it pretty early on—just messing around at first, trying to figure out melodies by ear. I didn’t think of it as ‘learning an instrument’ back then; it was more about curiosity. Over time, that curiosity turned into practice, then into writing and playing with other people, and eventually it became something I couldn’t imagine not doing.

Q2: Who were/are your biggest influences?
I spent a lot of my early years in church. So my first real influences were gospel artists (Ron Kenoly, Kirk Franklin) as well as local musicians in my town. I think influences can come in all different shapes and sizes as well as different places and capacities.

Q3: What has been the highlight of your career?
I believe I have a few highlights. One of the main ones is becoming an ambassador for Yamaha synths. My father passed down his favourite Yamaha synth to me when I was very young. Since then, I’ve always loved playing Yamaha and hope to continue.

Q4: Worst gig/moment of your career?
The worst gig of my career is definitely a theatre show I was asked to cover. There were 25+ songs and only one real in-person rehearsal. On the night nobody told me I had to also act as well as be mindful that the piano I’d be playing would literally move around the stage automatically.

Q5: Any advice for starting/aspiring musicians?
Start where you are and use what you have. You don’t need the best gear or perfect training—just time and consistency. Learn your instrument well enough that it disappears and you can focus on the music. Play with other people as early as possible; that’s where you really grow. Don’t wait for permission to call yourself a musician—if you’re making music, you already are. And most importantly, enjoy the process. If you love it, you’ll stick with it long enough to get good.

Q6: Who would you love to work with in future? 

I think I’m less interested in chasing big names and more interested in working with people who have something real to say. In the future, I’d love to collaborate with artists who blur genre lines—singer-songwriters, producers, and players who aren’t afraid to experiment. Whether that’s emerging artists or established musicians doesn’t matter as much as the chemistry. The best collaborations usually come from shared curiosity and mutual respect.