CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/JOHN JAQUES Of Patrick Kratzer, a critic wrote: ‘There is serious talent here in the writing and composing . . . This song is huge!’

Teen tuned in to music

Singer-songwriter enters business with flourish

By JON MICHAEL POMPIA
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

At the age of 18, local singer-songwriter Patrick Kratzer already has made a mark in the industry.

A senior at Pueblo County High School, Kratzer has been playing guitar and writing songs since age 12. What started out as a "few basic chords" and simple tunes has progressed, in a relatively short time, to national-level songwriting expertise.

Case in point: One of Kratzer's original compositions, "No More," reached the final stage of the VH1-affiliated "Song of the Year" online songwriting contest.

"I was ranked in the top five in the world for the month of May 2004," Krazter said of the song, which blends an edgy, urgent groove with heartfelt lyrics that, on first hearing, seem to tell the tale of a love gone wrong - with Kratzer getting the raw end of the deal.

"Actually, the song was inspired by a former music teacher who didn't live up to promises he made to me," Kratzer said. That classroom incident obviously left a bitter taste in Kratzer's mouth. But rather than dwell on it, he committed his raw emotion to tape, and the result was nothing short of top-drawer.

"Your lyrics have a soulful edge on this song. The lyrics are simple and honest. Great writing," wrote a contest judge who critiqued Kratzer's piece. "Your melodies on this song blend to make a wonderful, soulful rock ballad in the grain of 'Counting Crows.' Your vocals are fairly tight here and the melodies carried by each instrument blend well.

"There is serious talent here in the writing and composing . . . This song is huge! I love it!”

Not bad for a self-taught teenager's first foray into the fiercely competitive world of songwriting.

"I was surprised to have the song selected," Kratzer said of the tune, one of four submitted. "This was the first contest I've entered and I've only performed a few times, at the Irish Pub, during the open-microphone sessions."

But Kratzer is more than a one-trick Hornet. A 10-track disc of original songs - which feature Kratzer on vocals, guitar, bass and drums - showcases a writer with an incredible flair for melody, song structure and edgy chord changes.

And more than one song is ready for the airwaves.

"This is up to par with any other alternative ballad currently being played on radio," the contest judge wrote about another Kratzer song, "For Me."

"This song just needs some cleanup and it will have huge marketability. Your writing and composing are superb."

And vocal ability? This boy can really belt it out with some forceful emotion.

Influenced by such musical heavies as Led Zeppelin, Goo Goo Dolls, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Caroline's Spine, Kratzer's style nonetheless remains his own. One can, however, detect a definite John Mayer/Jack Johnson vibe in many of the songs and vocal inflections that mirror the power of Brad Arnold (3 Doors Down) and Dallas Smith (Default.)

"I don't want to be like everyone else," Kratzer said. "I like listening to others, but I want to make my own contributions to music."

Presently working with a drummer in hopes of forming a band, Kratzer remains committed to the art of songwriting. Expect to see a professionally recorded disc on the market soon and, quite possibly, more accolades from the contest circuit.

For more on this up-and-coming singer-songwriter, visit http://www.kratzermusic.com/.

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