When a song sits on a cassette tape for nearly five decades, it usually stays buried. But for Canadian artist TomCattt, that old recording became the anchor of a farewell project he felt compelled to finish.
New indie-pop recording and official music video preserve a song written in the late 1970s as the third and final release in a personal tribute series.
ONTARIO, CANADA, October 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — TomCattt, the musical alias of Thomas Patton, has unveiled “Jenny Said,” an indie-pop track that originated with Dan Wayne Dunlop (October 4, 1957 to November 17, 2012), a lifelong friend and creative guide. The song arrives alongside an official music video, “Jenny Said (OFCL),” and serves as the concluding piece in a three-part tribute honoring Dunlop’s artistic legacy.
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The backstory here is a lesson in analog preservation. Dunlop first laid down “Jenny Said” on cassette in the late 1970s, using a drum machine, guitar, and his own voice. Patton initially tried to salvage that original tape with artificial intelligence tools, but the effort didn’t work out. So he pivoted, recruiting fellow musicians to rebuild the track from scratch. On the new version, Patton takes charge of lead and harmony vocals, harmonica, and keyboards.
For Patton, this goes beyond nostalgia. It’s an act of creative preservation — a way to ensure that a friend’s work outlives the physical tape it was stored on.
“Jenny Said” follows two earlier tributes, “Young Love” and “Out In A Week.” Collectively, these three songs form a bridge between Dunlop’s original vision and a fresh generation of listeners, reimagined through modern recordings and visual accompaniments.
The friendship at the heart of this project stretches back to junior high, when Patton and Dunlop first crossed paths. They became close in high school, and their bond deepened over decades of shared experiences, music-making, and jam sessions.
Patton also points to Dunlop as the reason he got his first taste of film work in 1985, appearing as an extra in “Busted Up,” a feature starring Irene Cara, Stan Shaw, and Paul Coufos. Dunlop was an assistant producer on the film and also acted in it.
Dunlop’s creative range was wide: comedian, cartoonist, singer, guitarist, puppeteer, film producer, radio host, cameraman, and editor. Patton remembers him as a fiercely independent thinker with talent and generosity in equal measure.
The lyrics of “Jenny Said” carry credits for both Dunlop — known as Fastmandan — and Patton, writing as TomCattt. The song paints a picture of an ideal girl and the world Dunlop dreamed of sharing with her.
Production took place at TJP Entertainment in North York, Ontario, and Pezmosis Music Productions in Oak Ridges, Ontario. Patton handled production, engineering, vocals, keyboards, and harmonica. Bernie Serrao contributed bass guitar, Nick Kellie played electric guitar, and Mark Pezzelato performed drums while also managing mixing and mastering at Pezmosis.
Beyond the audio, Patton designed the album cover and shot the photography. The music video extends the tribute visually, offering another entry point into Dunlop’s songwriting.
Completing “Jenny Said” closes a deeply personal chapter for Patton. His hope is simple: that Dunlop’s art reaches people who never had the chance to meet him.
Patton’s own path to this moment was anything but direct. After 37 years in the federal workforce, he returned to creative life in 2013. A rented keyboard became a lifeline during a difficult stretch, reconnecting him to music and setting him on a new course as a singer-songwriter.
Since then, he has built a body of work that spans recordings, videos, and independent projects. As TomCattt, he blends songwriting, production, and visual storytelling with a hands-on DIY ethos.
While this marks the final installment of the tribute series, the music itself remains a lasting marker of a friendship that started in school and never faded. “Jenny Said” is available now via the following link:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/tomcattt/jenny-said-feat-dan-wayne-dunlop-2
Earlier releases in the series are also online:
“Young Love” song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIhUxBvzfLQ
“Young Love (OFCL)” music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixPj9zwcTik
“Out In A Week” song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ot44wXovQo
“Out In A Week (OFCL)” music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcHY4EX7BUK
ABOUT TOMCATTT
TomCattt is the independent project of Thomas Patton, a Canadian singer-songwriter, producer, and video creator. After retiring from a 37-year federal career in 2013, Patton rebuilt his creative practice around songwriting, recording, and visual media. His music draws on pop and indie-pop influences, personal stories, and emotionally resonant themes. Through his releases and videos, he continues to grow his own catalogue while honoring the work of artists who shaped him.
Official website:
https://www.tomcattt.com
For more on Dan Wayne Dunlop and his creative output, visit http://www.dandunlop.com.
Thomas Patton
TomCattt Music
Why it matters: In an era where old recordings are often lost or forgotten, Patton’s decision to manually rebuild a friend’s cassette-era song — rather than relying on AI restoration — keeps a personal, human touch at the center of musical preservation. The tribute series ensures Dunlop’s voice reaches listeners decades after it was first captured, and it underscores how creative friendship can outlast technology.
