Tyrik Patterson - INTERVIEW
Earthbound Studio: Can you tell us about how you and Doechii began collaborating with one another?
Tyrik Patterson: Last year, I was returning from Copenhagen in February. As I got off the plane, I received a call from my agent, who had heard from a director who wanted me to choreograph one of Doechii's music videos. That was our first encounter. It was very experimental and refreshing for that time in female rap. That was my first choreographic experience, so it was fascinating to observe the process of creating a music video, as I had never assisted another choreographer before that point. From there, we worked on the BET awards last year. There was no director for that performance, as it was a live show for the award ceremony. It was just Doechii and me collaborating and building the show. We didn't have any visual content. As an up-and-coming artist, she's navigating her way through the industry. The budget fits where she is now, but her talent is beyond that. Collaborating on that performance was a great experience. I find myself working with her more and more, as we both understand what it's like to have to prove ourselves amidst people not understanding us. Over time, we have built a level of trust. As we prepare for the Scarlet tour, I'm very excited. This will be our first time putting together a show without many intermediaries who could potentially steer it in a different direction. It will just be her, the musical director, and me building the show. It will be interesting to approach this as a theatrical narrative story. It will be designed for a music video but for a live performance.
Earthbound Studio: From a genre perspective, what dance styles and dance backgrounds are you planning to bring toward this tour?
Tyrik Patterson: Yeah, I don't, I don't really think like that. I don't think I approach work with an already premeditated choreographic approach because even though most of the discography will be of what's already out, the renditions or the arrangement may be different; it may call for something different. So, I think if I go in with a concrete vision of my involvement, then I would be thinking from a lens that was trying to prioritize what I was already planning to bring before I even knew what I needed to bring. So I think more so with, um, once everything is concrete, I ask, okay, what is this song asking for? And if this rendition does have a hint of house, then we'll take it there. If it does hint at this, we can take it there. But I also wanna make sure that when choreographing, you also kind of have to be cognizant of the artist. Doechii is very narrative, and she is very devout in her acting abilities. She's a great performer, and I wanna make sure that the story is not sacrificed just because I wanna be a dancer. So, I always allow the vision to take its own shape before I begin to see what is deserving.
Earthbound Studio: How does your role as a choreographer contribute to the overall creative process and vision of the project?
Tyrik Patterson: I would say my voice is a vital part of her process because, as a choreographer, I care about the vision and how we are telling the story beyond the actual steps. But if I'm creating the steps with this theme and alignment, then I'm definitely going to check on the creative to ensure that the scene matches what we're illustrating as dance artists and that the styling is not too restrictive so we can hit this shape that is appropriate for this part of the song. I aim to ensure that every department achieves this cohesiveness. So, my voice in this team is important because I'm not just a choreographer. I understand the vision as a whole, and I understand her at this point, and I understand our bigger mission, which is to change the world, and I can do that.
Earthbound Studio: How does Doechii’s identity impact how you choreographed the Scarlett Tour?
Tyrik Patterson: Yeah, she's also another black queer artist. So I think the intersection of that is just so one-in-one that I don't even think it's a conscious effort to figure out how to make this even blacker. Or how do we make this even more queer. I think it's just as simple as “this is just who I am, and I naturally dance with a dip in my hip. I naturally dance with a sauce because I'm from Dallas, Texas.” In the south, I naturally dance with a twain because that's also how I talk. So all that naturally translates, and it's unspoken yet understood in the room. That room, specifically. So, I would say the choreographic approach would just be merely responding as naturally and organically as possible because there’s nothing I have to put on or perform. It just is; it just is. And she just is, which is reflected in the music, too. So it will be fantastic to watch how that collaboration between race identity and natural superstar persona will exist amongst everyone in the room.
Earthbound Studio: Do you find yourself in a position where Doechii has a certain level of respect for you that allows you the creative capacity to fulfill your ideas?
Tyrik Patterson: Building a relationship on trust, it's a specific thing, a personal thing, you know? And I'm just so thankful because it's not like I've been trying extra hard. It's all about giving my all when we work together, speaking up about what I think works, and bringing my expertise as a choreographer. It's all about having those open chats, bouncing ideas off each other, and seeing how we can collaborate. And let's not forget about the dancers, too; their input is just as important. If they feel a certain way or they're hitting a move in a certain way, who am I to say it’s not fire? So that becomes a part of the show. And giving everybody ownership has always been what we're about. So, I'd say it's the openness, the willingness to listen, the humility, and just honoring the bigger vision that has strengthened our relationship and trust.
Earthbound Studio: What do you want the audience to walk away with from this tour?
Tyrik Patterson: I would want the audience for this tour to walk away with a sense of understanding of who she is as an artist, who she is as a person, and who she is musically. And I would want them to walk away with a sense of who her team is, too, because I think the team that we have right now with us is very family-like; we understand each other and what each other brings to the table. And I think there's also a challenge within the team to make sure that we're always giving our best. So I want them to see that Doechii is headed to the top. Just by seeing her performance and then also the show's cohesiveness, which only speaks to the team's craft as well.