Today we’d like to introduce you to The Wildlands.
The, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
For Brian Patterson, music has never been just something to listen to—it’s a lifelong language. Singing and writing since he was fifteen, Brian has always viewed songwriting as a profound way to connect with the world and the people around him. That same deep-rooted passion is shared by guitarist and backing vocalist Dean Short. The two have been collaborating for over a decade, navigating the highs and lows of the music scene together. After a few early projects naturally ran their course, their enduring creative bond laid the vital groundwork for their most authentic venture yet.
By mid-2024, as their previous project began to wind down, Brian and Dean found themselves sitting on a collection of new songs they believed in deeply. Recognizing the need for a fresh start, they formed The Wildlands. The early lineup featured keyboardist Matthew Schmid alongside Dean’s wife, Tasha Short, who had transitioned over with them from their prior project. During this initial phase, the group released their intimate acoustic single, “Darlin,” planting the first flag for the band. Eager to fully flesh out their sound, they welcomed drummer and percussionist Pierre Restel in the summer of 2024, followed shortly by bassist Emily Mamone in the fall. The chemistry was instantaneous. While Brian and Dean brought a strong foundation of material, Emily introduced her own incredible original songs to the repertoire, and Pierre provided invaluable instincts for rhythm and arrangement, turning the group into a highly collaborative collective.
Emily having previously written and booked studio time for 3 original songs prior to joining the band brought those songs to The Wildlands and offered them to be some of the bands first recordings. In the fall of 2024 they went into Cafe Solo Studios in Denton Texas and recorded the full bands first 3 singles, 1. Change, 2. Mr. Bones, and 3. Whispers in the Dark, all of which would be released in the first half of 2025.
Eager to capture this creative synergy, the expanded band headed into the studio in April 2025 to track the foundations—drums, acoustic guitar, and bass—for eleven original songs. However, finding a unified sound is a delicate process, and the months that followed brought significant challenges. Over the summer and fall of 2025, navigating the project’s evolving direction ultimately led to Tasha stepping away due to creative differences. It was an undeniably difficult and emotional period for Dean and the rest of the band as they processed the shift in both their personal and professional dynamic. Around the same time, the unavoidable circumstances of life led Matthew to amicably depart as well.
Navigating these growing pains, the remaining quartet—Brian, Dean, Pierre, and Emily—regrouped to focus on their path forward. To ensure they had the time and creative freedom to meticulously craft the remaining instrumentation and vocals, they brought the project home to finish tracking at Brian’s home studio called Fever Wolf Studios. Balancing studio time with gigging heavily across their local scene, the band made the strategic decision to distill those massive recording sessions down to a tightly focused 5-song EP. Bringing the record across the finish line in early 2026, The Wildlands proudly released their first single off the EP, “Fever Wolf,” followed by the evocative second single “Mountains” in April. Now, with their highly anticipated EP slated for release in May 2026, the band remains grounded in their love for the craft—resilient, eager for the future, and ready to share their stories with anyone who needs to hear them.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
“Honestly, no road worth traveling ever is. We’ve definitely had our share of detours and roadblocks to get to where we are today. For Brian and Dean, playing together for over a decade meant going through the natural lifecycle of a few bands that just fizzled out. It takes a lot of resilience to keep starting over before you finally find your true footing.
But the most profound challenge we faced as The Wildlands was definitely during the summer and fall of 2025. We were right in the thick of this massive ambition to record eleven original songs. During that process, trying to find our unified sound became really complex, and it ultimately led to Tasha stepping away due to creative differences. That was an incredibly heavy, emotional period for all of us, but especially for Dean. When you blend marriage, close friendships, and art, the lines are deeply intertwined, and navigating a shift like that is undeniably painful. Losing Matt to the unavoidable circumstances of life around that exact same time felt like a double blow. We found ourselves at a very real crossroads.
Logistically, we also had to face the reality that our initial recording plan was just too sprawling. We were burning out. We had to take a step back, bring the production home to Brian’s Fever Wolf Studios, and make the tough, strategic call to distill those eleven tracks down to a highly focused five-song EP so we could actually get our art across the finish line.
But looking back, those struggles are exactly what forged the core of who we are now as a quartet. It forced us to strip away the excess, lean into our authenticity, and rely entirely on the creative chemistry the four of us had built with Emily and Pierre. That friction and that journey are really the heartbeat behind our latest single, ‘Mountains.’ It’s all about facing those daunting, massive obstacles in life and choosing to climb anyway. We wouldn’t be standing where we are right now, gearing up to finally celebrate this EP release with everyone at Four Bullets Brewery on May 14th, if we hadn’t navigated that rough terrain together.”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Brian Patterson (Lead Vocals/Guitar)
“By day, I work as a Salesforce Administrator for a data center warehouse company. It’s a very structured, analytical role—managing complex databases, streamlining systems, and making sure the backend of the business runs flawlessly. But my heart has always been rooted in music and human connection.
Outside of the corporate world and The Wildlands, I also run Brian Patterson Music where I write original songs for tv/film and I also run a new business called BE A Song with Emily Mamone where we specialize in Custom Wedding Songwriting. We work directly with clients to write and record completely tailored, original songs for their big day. I am incredibly proud of the fact that we provide something wholly authentic. In a world that is so quick to rely on AI or take the easy route, we believe in sitting down and doing the real work of returning to our roots and crafting genuine, handcrafted music. What sets me apart is probably that duality: I can organize massive amounts of technical data by day, but my true drive is capturing raw emotion, creating a great hook, and playing pure, unapologetic rock and roll.”
Dean Short (Guitar/Backing Vocals)
“I’m a custom pool designer, which is incredibly fulfilling work. My specialty is looking at an empty, sometimes chaotic backyard and envisioning a functional, beautiful oasis. I handle the spatial planning, the aesthetics, and the structural flow.
I think what I’m most proud of is the tangible result of that work. There is nothing quite like taking a blank canvas of dirt and transforming it into a space where families are going to spend years making memories together. Honestly, the design process mirrors how I approach playing guitar in the band. You have to build a solid foundation, layer the right textures, and know exactly when a space needs to be filled and when it needs to breathe. What sets me apart in my field—and in my playing—is that meticulous attention to detail and my dedication to the overall vibe and flow of a project.”
Emily Mamone (Bass Guitar)
“I own and operate my own professional corporate photography company. My daily focus is on branding, visual storytelling, and capturing the authentic human element within a corporate setting.
I am fiercely proud of having built my business from the ground up. It takes a lot of hustle, client management, and creative vision to run your own ship. Interestingly enough, that entrepreneurial spirit crosses over into music for me, too. Alongside my photography and playing bass for The Wildlands, I partner with Brian in our Custom Wedding Songwriting business. Whether I’m looking through a camera lens to compose the perfect shot, or locking in with Pierre to build a tailored rhythm section for a song, my specialty is establishing the foundation and framing the subject in its best light. I think what sets me apart is that multi-disciplinary artistic eye—I’m always looking at how the individual pieces serve the bigger picture.”
Pierre Restel (Drums/Percussion)
“I work as a professional advertising associate. My day-to-day revolves around communication—figuring out how to take a complex message or a brand’s identity and deliver it to an audience in a way that truly resonates and makes an impact.
I’m most proud of the campaigns where we manage to cut through the noise and connect with people on a genuine level. Advertising is all about pacing, rhythm, and knowing exactly what moves people—which is exactly how I approach playing the drums. You have to know when to pull back, when to lay down a steady groove, and when to hit hard to drive the point home. I think what sets me apart in my professional work, and behind the kit, is my intuition for the audience. I’m always focused on the ‘why’ behind a project, ensuring that every beat and every message serves the ultimate goal of the campaign or the song.”
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Brian Patterson (Lead Vocals/Guitar)
“For me, happiness usually lives somewhere between a great adventure and the comfort of home. I absolutely love traveling with my wife—getting out there, seeing the world, and just breaking away from the routine. It’s incredibly inspiring and feeds right back into my writing. But equally, I find a lot of peace just being at home, hanging out with my wife and our cats, and unwinding. Ultimately, what makes me happy is authenticity. Whether it’s experiencing a new culture, writing a song completely from scratch without cutting corners, or just plugging in a guitar and playing loud, unapologetic rock and roll—I’m happiest when things feel genuine, grounded, and real.”
Dean Short (Guitar/Backing Vocals)
“My family is my absolute anchor. I have an amazing wife and kids, and at the end of the day, coming home to them is what brings me the most joy. Especially after navigating some of the heavier, more difficult seasons we’ve had both personally and as a band, you realize what truly matters. In my day job designing pools, I build spaces for families to connect, and I try to create that same environment in my own home. Happiness for me is a house full of life and noise, watching my kids grow, and knowing that I still get to carve out time to stand on a stage and play guitar with people I consider family.”
Emily Mamone (Bass Guitar)
“Happiness, for me, is all about capturing and being present for the fleeting moments. Having a spouse and kid changes your perspective completely; you realize how incredibly fast time moves. Because I spend my days behind a camera lens for my photography business, I’m always looking for that perfect, authentic snapshot of life. I find that same joy at home with my family, and in music. Whether I’m spending a quiet Sunday with my spouse and kid, helping write a custom song that will become a core memory for a couple on their wedding day, or just locking into a heavy groove on the bass with Pierre—happiness is being fully present in those beautiful, collaborative moments.”
Pierre Restel (Drums/Percussion)
“It really comes down to connection and finding the right rhythm in life. Being a husband and a Dad is the absolute best part of my world. In advertising, I’m always searching for the ‘why’ behind a campaign, but in life, my family is my ‘why.’ They give purpose to everything else I do. Happiness is seeing my kids thrive, sharing a quiet moment with my spouse after a chaotic day, and balancing that with the creative outlet of this band. There’s a very specific joy in sitting behind the drum kit, watching the crowd react to a song we built together, and knowing I have a solid, loving home to return to when the show is over.”
Pricing:
- Full Band 2+hour show $5,000.00
- Trio 2+ hour show- $3,000.00
- Duo 2+hour show- $2,000.00
- Solo 2+ hour show- $1,000.00
- Shorter shows $500-$1000 less
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thewildlandsband.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlandsmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Wildlands-61566743428841/
- Twitter: https://x.com/wildlandsband
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewildlandsband
- Other: https://linktr.ee/thewildlands?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=8ded5776-3133-4b1b-979e-8410a9ca1ff8
