By: Evelyn Hart
Long before mindfulness became a buzzword and long before wellness culture turned yoga studios into billion-dollar businesses, Patti Spadaro understood something simple but profound: music has the power to transform people.
For Spadaro, that realization has shaped an extraordinary life. Over the years, she has built a career as a guitarist, songwriter, yoga instructor, meditation teacher, and college educator. Yet despite the many directions her life has taken, a common thread runs through every chapter of her story: a desire to create connection, inspire others, and help people discover a deeper sense of balance.
That mission is perhaps best embodied in her latest single, “Mystic Misfit,” a song that feels both intensely personal and remarkably universal.
“I’ve always wanted to do something positive in the world,” Spadaro says. “I love music and playing for people, watching people dance and enjoying listening. I love the way music makes me feel, inspired, energized, uplifted. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to share that feeling with others.”
Her path toward combining music and mindfulness began years ago while she was studying at the prestigious Musician’s Institute. Among the technical classes and performance lessons, one weekly meditation course quietly changed the trajectory of her life.
“It helped me clear my head and find some inner peace,” she recalls. “It also helped me play and perform music in a relaxed and focused way.”
That newfound sense of presence became essential as Spadaro balanced the demands of life, career, and eventually motherhood. After the births of her two daughters, she stepped away from performing and began attending yoga classes to recharge and reconnect with herself.
Then fate intervened.
When the owner of the studio she attended announced plans to move away, Spadaro made an unexpected decision: she took over the business herself.
“I just couldn’t imagine this special place closing,” she says. “I wanted to keep it going both for myself and for my community.”
That decision opened another chapter in a life defined by creativity and service. Soon, acclaimed teachers were traveling to the studio to lead workshops and classes, while Spadaro was teaching yoga, guiding meditation sessions, and performing live kirtan music. Eventually, the local college where she still teaches approached her about joining its faculty.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the studio to close, Spadaro once again adapted. Drawing on her experience as both a musician and a mindfulness practitioner, she created a course titled Mindfulness in Music.
In many ways, the class brought her full circle.
“Music can be helpful when practicing yoga and meditation, and yoga and meditation can be very helpful for musicians,” she explains. “Sharing them makes them even better.”
That philosophy runs through “Mystic Misfit,” a song inspired by Spadaro’s lifelong journey toward self-acceptance.
As one of only three women among approximately 700 guitar students during her years at the Musician’s Institute, she often found herself standing apart from the crowd. What once felt isolating eventually became a source of strength.
“When I was young, I struggled to fit in,” she says. “As I grew older, I learned to really value and appreciate who I am.”
The title itself tells the story. “Mystic” reflects the spiritual side of her life, while “Misfit” embraces the uniqueness that has defined her artistic journey.
“We all have unique traits that set us apart,” she says. “I think it’s important to celebrate and appreciate our individuality.”
The song’s emotional centerpiece arrives in the repeated phrase, “Meet me in the middle,” a lyric that resonates on multiple levels. For Spadaro, the “middle” is both a physical and spiritual destination, a place of equilibrium, compassion, and authenticity.
Music, meditation, nature, friendship, art, and love all contribute to that state of centeredness.
“If people make an effort to relate in this way and find solutions together, perhaps we can make the world a better place,” she says.
That idea also forms the conceptual foundation of the song’s striking music video.
Filmed by David Heath, the video transforms Pittsburgh itself into a character within the story. Beginning at dawn, the camera follows Spadaro as she crosses one of the city’s iconic golden bridges, guitar slung across her back, eventually arriving at the Point, where Pittsburgh’s three rivers converge.
The symbolism is unmistakable.
The rivers become metaphors for convergence, balance, and connection. Reflections shimmering across the water suggest introspection and self-awareness. Birds passing overhead and flowers blooming along the path create moments of synchronicity that reinforce the video’s themes of mindfulness and presence.
“It was like a personal journey to the center,” Spadaro says.
Just as the city serves as a backdrop for her work, Pittsburgh itself has played a defining role in shaping Spadaro’s artistic identity.
While she has performed across the country and shared stages with celebrated artists, she remains deeply connected to her hometown. Pittsburgh’s rich musical culture, encompassing rock, blues, folk, jazz, and improvisational music, has fostered a sense of camaraderie that continues to inspire her.
From legendary venues such as Moondogs, Club Cafe, Mr. Smalls, and the Thunderbird to major festivals like Hartwood Acres and Light Up Night, Spadaro has experienced every level of the city’s vibrant creative ecosystem.
“It’s really cool to see several bands get together and put on shows together,” she says. “There’s a real feeling of camaraderie.”
Teaching has also transformed her understanding of creativity. Although she describes herself as naturally introverted, years spent leading classes have broadened her perspective and deepened her appreciation for music’s healing potential.
“I think music helps people relax and clear their heads,” she explains. “Deeply listening and paying attention to all the little nuances going on in a piece of music is a great way to be in the moment.”
Today, Spadaro counts two recent releases among her proudest achievements. “Glass Shatters,” featuring several Pittsburgh women musicians, celebrates empowerment and resilience, while “Mystic Misfit” distills decades of artistic and personal growth into a single composition.
Even after years of performing, teaching, and creating, her passion remains unchanged.
She still treasures the exhilaration of improvising an unexpected guitar solo. She still loves seeing audiences dance and sing along. Most importantly, she continues searching for new ways to inspire others.
Perhaps that’s why the closing image of “Mystic Misfit” feels so fitting.
Imagine taking a walk beside one of Pittsburgh’s rivers as sunlight reflects across the water. A guitar rings out softly in the distance. The city is waking up, and for a few brief moments, the noise of everyday life fades into the background.
That’s the experience Patti Spadaro hopes listeners will find, not simply entertainment, but a moment of connection.
A moment of stillness.
A moment in the middle.
And perhaps, if only for a little while, a chance to discover that being a mystic misfit might be exactly what the world needs.
