Glenn Pattison

Songs, Silence, and Singing to Trees

Music has been part of Glenn Pattison’s life for as long as he can remember. He began playing at the age of six and was writing his own songs by twelve, largely because, as he puts it, “the tunes in my head refused to stay quiet.”

Uncle Glenn singing for Nature

His musical curiosity has never been confined to a single style. From folk and rock to world music, each new influence became an invitation to explore a little further, write a little more, and listen a little more deeply.

Receiving Self realization opened an entirely new chapter. In the 1990s, Glenn travelled to Nagpur, India, to study Indian classical vocal music. There, immersed in ragas and meditation, his relationship with music changed profoundly.

"Learning ragas has been less about collecting techniques and more about developing patience, sensitivity, and a deeper relationship with sound itself," he says. "Each raga feels like its own landscape, with a mood, a time, and a story."

Those experiences gradually transformed his songwriting. Today his music blends the intimacy of folk with subtle influences from Indian classical music, creating songs that are reflective, understated, and quietly uplifting.

Among his most treasured memories are the occasions when he played with bhajan groups for Shri Mataji.

In Shri Mataji's presence

“It never felt like a performance,” he recalls. “The music didn’t belong to any one of us, it felt shared. It wasn’t about perfection, but about intention and presence.”

That experience continues to shape the way he approaches every song.

Glenn Pattison with Nishat Khan and Steve Day

"Now I pay much more attention to what a piece carries, not just how it sounds. I try to make sure there’s a certain vibration in the music, something balanced, supportive, and quietly uplifting. Some songs are written especially for seekers, gently pointing towards the Spirit without needing to explain too much."

His latest release, Thoughtless,is a reimagined version of an earlier composition that has evolved over many years. Earlier recordings, including his lo fi album Peace, have also begun finding new audiences through digital streaming platforms, with more archival material gradually being released.

Listen to Glenn Pattison on Spotify

As for live performances? Glenn is currently on an exclusive tour of forests, fields, and open skies. His venue of choice is nature itself, after all, trees are excellent listeners, never interrupt, and always stay for the encore.

For young musicians, Glenn’s advice is both practical and deeply rooted in his own experience.

"If you want to learn music, I would recommend exploring Indian classical music, as it has a strong connection to the kundalini and to our inner spirit, and can be a very deep foundation. Western classical music, especially piano, is also an excellent foundation in its own right. If you learn a piece or a song, try to memorise it rather than relying only on reading it. In that way, the technique becomes less of a barrier, and there is more space for your attention, and your spirit, to express itself more freely through the music."