CLAY — Adjusting to life amid a pandemic has proven to be challenging for everyone, so Patrick Grimes decided to deal with that stress through music. The Clay resident, who performs under the name Wires Don’t Talk, released his latest single “Step Away” on July 2. The song reflects on the stress that comes alongside over-analyzing oneself, something Grimes has been dealing with while adjusting to life post-vaccine.

Grimes watched his musical career blossom after graduating from college. From his home studio in Clay, Grimes created Wires Don’t Talk. Inspired by the likes of Gorillaz, Daft Punk and American producer Mike Dean, Grimes invites his friends to write, record, produce and mix their music. Though a one-man show, Wires Don’t Talk allows Grimes to bring in his friends and their varying skill sets to complement his own.

Behind the music is an eclectic artist who encourages discourse on mental health. The name “Wires Don’t Talk” comes from Grimes realizing his ability to share his emotions through music.

“All of my music … that I’ve written with friends, that I’ve just written on my own, it’s never fun. It’s positive, but sometimes it talks about really, really serious things, and the sad truth of it is no one respects mental health right now,” Grimes said. “If I get up on stage or I go to someone and say, ‘Hey, I get really anxious sometimes,’ someone would go, ‘I don’t know, I don’t have that problem.’ But if you strum a guitar and sing that you’re anxious, people go, ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool, play it again.’ So, it was that idea that the wires don’t talk, they just make noise.”

When COVID-19 sent the country into quarantine, Grimes used the time to hone his production skills and make higher quality content. However, the pandemic took a toll on Grimes’s mental health as he found himself anxious and stressed about the world around him. “Step Away” illuminates his experience as he transitioned from life in quarantine to being vaccinated.

“When we say step away and free your mind, it’s that idea that you got to give yourself a break. You’ve got to stop being so analytical of yourself and instead of just saying, ‘Oh, that was stupid,’ or, ‘Oh you have anxiety — what’s wrong with you?’ Maybe just relax. Maybe love yourself, maybe don’t go inside your mind and just start punching up a storm,” Grimes said.

“Step Away” is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. Grimes is releasing a music video on Aug. 20.

“This video was a collaboration between myself and a longtime friend and director Alex Russo (Utica native),” Grimes said. “Alex describes the video as one that explores the relationship between an artist and his work, how that creative symbiotic relationship can become parasitic, and the importance of keeping your priorities straight and your mind healthy.’”

Alongside the single, Wires Don’t Talk will be releasing an album and in 2022, Grimes hopes to release solo projects he’s been working on. Through his music, he hopes to inspire listeners to be themselves regardless of outside opinion.

“I hope that I can inspire folks to kind of be a bit more open about themselves, be more of themselves, hopefully talk more about mental issues that we all have and not make it so toxic.”

To learn more, visit wiresdonttalktheband.com.