We’re looking forward to introducing you to Patrick Tarnowski. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Patrick, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
After a couple years of grinding, my son and I have successfully finished watching all of Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super. Dragon Ball Z has been one of my favorite IP’s since I was a kid and it was very exciting for me when my son wanted to start watching it with me. I have been waiting since Dragon Ball Superhero to watch it with him, that will be the first thing in the series we will have watched for the first time together.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Patrick Tarnowski, I am the founder of Unsigned Pop Punk. Unsigned Pop Punk is a music community dedicated to building up the music scene from the ground up. We do that mostly through our playlists on Spotify, the Unsigned Pop Punk Podcast, content creation, and events that we host.
I have been involved in the music industry for over 20 years in some fashion but mostly as a touring musician until the pandemic. I had just gotten home from tour in March right as the world shut down and needed to find new creative outlets during that time. I found that, although I love being in a band, touring, writing, and recording music, I found that I loved sharing my knowledge with other people and had a passion for helping the next generation. With that, Unsigned Pop Punk was born.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I have for the most part been stubbornly independent with who and how I want to be. I am open and honest with being myself, and the more that outside factors try to tell me who I need to be, the more I push back against it, sometimes to a fault.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I feel like I have many mistakes and wounds that have helped shape and define who I am but my earliest would be when my mom died when I was 18 years old. I don’t think losing a parent when you are young or really at any age is something that truly heals but it is something you can grow from. When I was young, I was arrogant, spoiled, self centered, and brash. I didn’t always treat everyone the way they should be treated, especially my mom. After becoming a parent I learned that even though I could be mean and selfish, she loved me unconditionally. After she passed away I learned how to love harder and deeper, it taught me to treat my friends and family better and to not take advantage of them. Now I 100% have fucked that up along the way as well, but I have always been passionate towards the people I love.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
With Unsigned Pop Punk, we are committed to making our platform free for bands. What that means is, we will never charge you to be on our playlists or for us to promote you in anyway. Being in a band is expensive enough!! Between all of the gear you need, merchandise that you need to buy in order to sell to make money. Recording your album and songs, whether that’s in a studio or the gear you need to purchase to record yourself. A vehicle to tour in. Gas to travel. On top of all of that there are constantly people trying to get money from you, managers, promoters, other organizations like ours who promise you BIG BIG things but never deliver. Paying to be on their playlists when its just bot listeners anyways. We won’t do that and we never will. We just want to help you be heard. I want to help you the way I was never helped. Even if it is just me listening to your music, I will do my best to try and help you.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
I am out of my depth daily. I just keep swimming and treading the water. Continuing with the water metaphor, when I started Unsigned Pop Punk, I just dove head first. I really didn’t know what I was doing and I didn’t know where it was going, I just knew I wanted and needed to do something. Today, I still don’t know where I am heading, I just keep swimming. The things we are doing today, may not be the same things we are doing tomorrow, next week, or next month. The music industry is constantly changing and as long as I have the ability to still be here, I will.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unsignedpoppunk.com
- Instagram: @unsignedpoppunk
- Twitter: @unsignedpoppunk
- Facebook: @unsignedpoppunk
- Youtube: @unsignedpoppunk
- Other: EVERYTHING we are one is @unsignedpoppunk and can all be found on our website
