Patrick Paige II, bassist and former member of the critically acclaimed band The Internet, has stepped away from the group after more than a decade. Releasing his solo project Love You, Mean It following a relocation to Atlanta, Paige is redefining his musical identity and focusing on uninhibited production, solo writing, and creative freedom.
The Bottom Line
- The Departure: Patrick Paige II has officially stepped away from The Internet after over ten years, though he confirms the band members remain on good terms and still share matching tattoos.
- The New Era: His latest 11-song solo project, Love You, Mean It, serves as an ode to the South and a journey into personal accountability.
- The Core Focus: While comfortable on stage, Paige states that his true passion lies behind the scenes in writing and producing music.
Trading the West Coast for a Southern Fresh Start
For more than ten years, Patrick Paige II anchored the groove of The Internet, laying down foundational basslines for fan favorites like “Special Affair.” His reach extended far beyond the band’s core catalog, too. In 2022, a song he co-wrote for singer Sabrina Claudio became “Plastic on the Sofa” on Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning album Renaissance. Yet, this whirlwind of industry success prompted an internal pivot.
Seeking to remove himself from the familiar environment of his native Mid City neighborhood in Los Angeles, Paige packed up and relocated to Atlanta nearly four years ago. The cross-country move was not just about a change of scenery; it was an intentional strategy to reset his creative compass. “I be chilling. I go hiking. I be at the wing spots. We do regular sh-t,” Paige explains, noting how everyday frequencies directly permeate his lifestyle and translate into his music.
Confronting the Mirror on Love You, Mean It
Atlanta acts as both a literal and emotional backdrop for Paige’s latest artistic phase. His 11-song album, Love You, Mean It, leans heavily into introspection, exploring themes of romance, masculinity, and internet culture. Relocating to a new city allowed Paige to work through mental blocks in therapy and shed creative limitations.
“I think that just me as a person I’ve just been removing a lot of boundaries around myself, a lot of ceilings and just understanding what I’m capable of,” Paige notes. This uninhibited recording process is vividly captured in a nearly six-minute visualizer shot across Atlanta locations—including the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, where a bedazzled “Atlanta” hat rests on a rock. In the title track, Paige lays his mindset bare: “Hey, I got something to say that’s real and I don’t want to waste time. I done held the mirror up to people. Now it’s time to face mine.”
Behind the Board and Beyond The Internet
Leaving a foundational collective like The Internet is rarely simple, especially given the band’s history. Paige fondly recalls recording their 2018 album Hive Minds in between rounds of laser tag and video games as a career highlight. But looking back at his departure, he insists the prevailing emotion is simple: freedom. “We are all still good. I still love them and we all still have matching tattoos,” he says. “I just took some time to myself. That’s it.”
As he maps out his next creative moves, Paige’s ambitions lean heavily toward studio collaboration rather than traditional frontman duties. While a recent Red Bull On the Record session in Atlanta featured him performing tracks alongside interviewer David Dennis Jr.—complete with an auto-tuned, hazy cover of Gucci Mane’s “Pillz” as a nod to his childhood southern inspirations—the studio remains his true sanctuary.
| Milestone | Context & Contribution |
|---|---|
| The Internet Era | Served as bassist and core member for over a decade, contributing bedrocks to tracks like “Special Affair” and the 2018 album Hive Minds. |
| Songwriting Acclaim | Co-wrote “Plastic on the Sofa” for Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning 2022 album, Renaissance. |
| The Atlanta Relocation | Moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta nearly four years ago to pursue personal growth and a clean slate. |
| Solo Breakthrough | Released Love You, Mean It, an 11-song project accompanied by an Atlanta-based visualizer exploring Southern life and emotional accountability. |
Collaborators are already taking note of his sharp artistic direction. Atlanta-based songwriter and producer Bowie notes that Paige “is precise, but at the same time he understands the importance of creativity and freedom so he’s going to let you do your thing, but he knows what he wants.” For Paige, the future is about leaning into that exact balance. “The artist sh-t is cool but my favorite thing is producing and writing, if I’m being honest,” he admits. “I’m just excited to explore more of myself. I’m still learning, but so far I like what I see.”
