Born into a Chinese-Australian family, Patrick is a singer-songwriter from Hobart whose music blends folk, pop, and jazz with his classical music upbringing. It wasn’t until medical school that he discovered songwriting as a lifeline.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I grew up in Sandy Bay before moving to Mount Stuart, where I’ve remained since. I like both areas but still carry a feeling of being uprooted.

You’ve been quietly honing your craft in Tassie’s indie music scene, and now releasing your debut singles throughout 2025. How does it feel? It’s been a long time coming. I’ve written enough songs over the last decade to fill a show and tell a good story, and these debut singles feel like the first chapters. As much as it feels like I’ve been on this path for years, it’s still just the beginning. I want to share what it’s like to navigate family tradition and personal expectations, especially in a migrant household.

Tell us about your debut single, If You Were the Man. It came from insecurities I’d carried since my teens, particularly around masculinity. I’ve always been short, skinny, and bookish, and at the time, being male in the public eye often felt negative. So I came up with my own version of what it means to be masculine. I decided it was about being responsible, trustworthy and committed to follow through with actions that align with your values. Those things came into play for me when I was struggling through med school and unsure if I would be able to see it through. I also had ambitions for releasing my own music and was not sure how these two areas of my life fit together. Finding my way through that struggle and learning to balance both became cornerstones for what the song was about. You can blame others for when things go wrong but if you can own up to your shortcomings and try to improve the situation, that’s the only way you can dig yourself out of any hole. I hope for anyone paying attention that’s a good take away from the song.

What can you share about your next singles? They’re recorded and mastered; now I’m figuring out release order over the next five to six months. The four songs will be enough for a teaspoon-sized project; an EP. They’ll hopefully act like a taster, that gives a range of flavours for what listeners can expect my songs to be about; stories from Asian diaspora, family tradition, personal insecurities, and love. Certainly, one song’s a reflection on my insecurities, another is a love song, a third is an ode to my siblings and the fourth is more lively and adventurous; something to dance to.

How do you balance medicine and music? I’m a prevocational doctor, with work that changes every few months—sometimes 9-5, sometimes shift work. Shift work makes music easier to fit in, but even when it’s harder, I can’t go without it. I’ll squeeze in an evening to play with friends or lock myself in the bathroom to write. I think of life as a star moving at different speeds. You can’t do everything at once, but you can return to what matters. It’s okay to put things down and pick them up

What’s next, and how can people listen? My music’s on most streaming services, but Bandcamp is best if you want to support directly. I’m hoping to play more live shows, which started with the Australian Songwriter’s Wax Lyrical event at the Maypole Hotel in August. There will be more down the pipeline so stay tuned.

Who do you admire? My siblings.

Favourite podcast or TV show? TV: Doctor Who (I’m a faithful Whovian). Podcasts: History of Literature or Dissect.

Secret vice? Collecting Transformers, though I don’t think that’s a vice.

What are you reading now? Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong, Us by Terrence Real, and weekly Shonen Jump manga.

Do you have any pets? No, but my partner does—shout-out to Sooty Lucy the best cat.

First job? After Year 12, I worked at Mures as a dish pig and served ice cream.

Daily news/social media habits? Pretty bad. Should probably go offline.

Favourite place for…

Breakfast: Saigon Art Gallery Café. It’s my favourite place; it fills me with creative inspiration and I usually get the salted matcha and ube cheese cake. The best.

Lunch: Ranita Ramen. The most satisfying bowl of noodles.

Dinner: Capital.

Dream holiday destination? A road trip around Europe.

Favourite Tasmanian secret? Thing: Hobart House Concert Collective. Place: Burnie.

Parting words? Don’t give up on your creativity!

Patrick’s next single will be released on 5 November and he has an upcoming show at Kickstart Arts on Saturday 6 December.