Hanford High grad sings of a ‘Girl Like You’ in new release

Animesh Pattanayak didn’t take piano lessons growing up.

Instead, he’d hear a song on the radio and sit down at his keyboard, learning to play it by ear.

Now a student at the University of Idaho, Pattanayak is still using his natural talent to make music.

But the 20-year-old is writing his own songs. Pattanayak recently released the tune Girl Like You on digital platforms.

It’s a catchy pop jam inspired by his girlfriend. “I’ve been searching for a girl like you/Been around the world a time or two,” he sings on the track. “And I saw you from across the room/Just had to find a way to say hello to you.”

He’s proud of how it turned out. “It’s a song I’ve been writing for a long time now. I’m really excited about it,” he said.

Pattanayak grew up in Richland, graduating from Hanford High School in 2015. He’s studying computer science in college.

With his busy class load, music is something of a refuge. It’s a chance to relax and explore his creativity.

It’s also a way to express himself. “Whatever you’re feeling, you can express it through a song. I’m excited to share that with people,” he said.

Pattanayak often collaborates with friends Mike Retnuh and Frederik 500. He plans to keep making music for years to come.

“I’ve met so many people and forged so many friendships because of music. It’s really opened up a lot of opportunities for me,” he said.

Pattanayak’s Girl Like You is on SoundCloud at soundcloud.com/animeshpatt/girl-like-you. It’s also available on platforms such as iTunes and Spotify.

This story was originally published November 22, 2017 at 12:18 PM with the headline "Hanford High grad sings of a ‘Girl Like You’ in new release."