A Journey of Commitment and Connection
Patti Smith discussing her journey as an artist, highlighting the importance of following your vision and staying true to yourself. From her early inspiration at an art museum to the unwavering confidence instilled by her artist friend and then partner, Robert Mapplethorpe, Smith emphasises the value of commitment and connection with her audience. Her insights on the complexities of being a musical artist.
Patti has long been a beacon for singers, artists, and creatives who value authenticity over perfection. As a vocal coach for artists, I often share her words with clients exploring their own artistic identity, because few people speak about devotion, vision, and bravery the way she does. What follows is one of her most powerful reflections on becoming an artist, staying true to oneself, and following a calling with absolute clarity.
Transcript:
I just do what I want, or I don’t do it. It doesn’t mean that I’m not open to things. But if I have a vision, I have to follow that vision at whatever cost.
On becoming an artist
I first vowed to myself that I would be an artist, or at least follow a calling within the arts, when I was 12. My father took us to an art museum in Philadelphia, and I saw Picassos for the first time. When I saw these Picassos, I don’t even know what came over me, but I was so transfixed, and I felt that’s what I want to do. I want to do that, whatever that is. It didn’t mean that I wanted to paint like Picasso. It just meant to give myself to this kind of vocation. And it changed my life. I mean, I was still the same kid. Same skinny, lanky, clumsy kid who just read all the time and liked to run through the fields with her dog. But in my head, I had a new profound joy that I was going to pursue this world. And it wasn’t just that I was going to go towards it. I really felt like it called to me. It was a really beautiful moment.
On Confidence
When I was younger, I would lose confidence, or sometimes I would feel shy, misunderstood, or self-conscious. And when I met Robert Mapplethorpe when I was 20, he had many qualities. Let me just put it more simply: Robert always believed he was an artist. He knew he was an artist. It was almost revealed to me in some strange way when I was 12, but he was born knowing he was an artist. He just knew it, and he had total confidence in who he was and what his vision was. Whenever I faltered, he would come to my rescue but also scold me. He really insisted that I strengthen my spine, know myself, and know my vocation as he did. Now, whenever I falter a bit, I go back to when I was 20. Robert gave me real confidence in myself, and it’s still there.
On Her Mantra
I have a bunch of them, but one of mine is simply to do good work. Do good work.
On Staying True To Her Vision
I didn’t really have blowouts with my record president, Clive Davis. He would just point me in a direction he thought would give me more success. But he always stepped back and let me take the path I wanted to take. It didn’t always make him happy, but he gave me that room. I mean, there’s no point in having a blowout. I just do what I want, or I don’t do it. It doesn’t mean that I’m not open to things. But if I have a vision, I have to follow that vision at whatever cost.
On Being A Woman In Music
I was aware that being a female, in some ways, was a detriment. But for me, it wasn’t so much that I was a female; it was the fact that I was such a weird one. I didn’t really fit in, even sometimes in the female world. That’s why I always used to say that I was beyond gender. But I didn’t let anybody intimidate me. I just realised that some things still needed work. We needed to make breakthroughs. For me, the way to breakthrough is just to follow your vision. And if it costs you a bit of fame and fortune, so be it.
On Combating Climate Change
If people just search their conscience—every individual, every corporation—and really understood that they could do better, that they could make things better, but they have to sacrifice. It’s all down to sacrifice at this point. All down to sacrifice. And we all have to sacrifice.
On Her Most Difficult Performance
The worst performance for me has been when I’ve lost my voice. I actually had laryngitis or lost my voice once in Sweden. It happened once in Buffalo, New York. I’m so stubborn that instead of stopping the concert—because I never stop them—I was trying to sing. I couldn’t sing. Thankfully, the people did sing somewhat, but it taught me I’ll never do that again because, you know, you just have to own up to it and not destroy your voice and not give people less. But I just love contact with the people and to give them some experience, some transporting experience. It was a little difficult (laughs) having lost my voice.
On Social Media
Well, I don’t have much—well, hardly any social media. But my daughter, Jessie, suggested that I start an Instagram because there were so many people that used my name and were actually pretending to be me and talking to people and making them feel like I was calling them personally, and then perhaps asking them for money. So my daughter said that I should open one myself. I didn’t know anything about the format, but I thought, “Okay, you say a few words, you show a picture.” I take pictures almost every day, so I started it and I liked it. My daughter was my first follower. Now I have, I don’t know, over a million. And I don’t know how that happened. But I like the idea of just showing an image. It could be my cat. It could be a picture of Arthur Rimbaud. It could be us performing live or some really breathtaking landscape or the women of Iran. Whatever it is, it’s a nice way to communicate directly with people. During the pandemic, it was really great because I was supposed to tour. I had a world tour, and of course it was cancelled. It gave me a way to stay in touch with people all over the world who I really didn’t know. You know, social media can be a positive tool. It can help connect people. During elections, it can… There are many, many good things about social media, but it’s also, as we all know, destructive and bullying and filled with misinformation. And it’s also taking people away from reading, daydreaming, I mean, as people are overly occupied with it and give too much importance to it. But it also has its positive side. I try to stay in touch with its positive side. Otherwise, I have my books. (chuckles)
If Patti’s devotion, clarity, or artistic courage resonates with you—and you’re exploring your own voice, identity, or creative path—I can support you in that work.
I’m a vocal coach for artists based in London and worldwide online, specialising in expressive vocal coaching and artist development for singers and singer-songwriters.
If you’re ready to deepen your voice, your artistry, and your vision, get in touch.
