 
Published: October 26, 2008 9:11 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA
(Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight
P.J. Pacifico
|
| |
 | |
|
P.J. Pacifico
| |
Singer/Songwriter P.J. Pacifico has the type of kindred spirit that is easily translated through his music. While listening to his soulful acoustical vocals and deep meaningful lyrics, one is easily captivated by the music of P.J. Pacifico. Recently, Junior's Cave spent some time with him via online and discovered the many sides of him. Enjoy!
Isaac: Elaborate on who you are and your upbringing.
P.J.: I was born and raised in Norwalk, CT. A small city about 45 minutes outside of NYC. Ice hockey took up most of my youth. I played year round from age 7 to about 17. I studied drums during that time as well, while singing in high school choirs. My Mom was in barbershop quartets and she held rehearsals in our kitchen growing up, so I guess that's where I first heard harmony and started to understand it. I couldn't bring my drum kit to my college dorm room, so I got an acoustic guitar as a graduation present and taught myself to play. I remember learning "Brown Eyed Girl" and thinking that this is what I want to do for the rest of life. The thought of being able to pick up a guitar and being able to sing and perform a song was life changing. Then, once I realized I knew enough chords to sing about 50 songs, I started writing my own songs. One thing led to another and I ended up starting a band with my best friend, Craig Newman. We toured the east coast for about 8 years and did a couple overseas stints entertaining the troops in military bases. But, that band soon fizzled. Jimmy quit, Joanie got married....should've known we'd never get far. I continued writing over the years, got picked up by Viper Records in 2005, and I just released my second CD for them. It's an EP called Almost There.
Isaac: Was there any one musician that spoke to your heart so profoundly, you were
inspired to do your own thing?
P.J.: Yeah, definitely. It's just hard to pick one of them. First, I guess, was James Taylor. My aunt was a hippie and she'd always come to family gatherings and play him, or Fleetwood Mac or CSN. I really dug my Aunt, rest her soul. In a way, she's the reason I took the music route. Especially, the reason I have a love for the acoustic guitar and songwriting. Combined with my Mom's vocal influence and my Aunt's introducing me to the greats, I believe that's why I'm an acoustic singer/songwriter. Anyway, first was JT, and then came Paul Simon and Jackson Browne. I can remember hearing The Pretender for the first time and being blown away how you can sing a story. You Can Close Your Eyes by JT also amazed me. Then one day I realized, I can sing and I know a few chords, why can't I try this? So, I did and here I am. I started off writing my first songs only knowing 6 or 7 chords. That's all you really need to know to start off.
So, to answer your question, the one musician would have to be JT.
Isaac: Which singer/group would you say you would most like to do a duet with?
P.J.: Jonatha Brooke.
Isaac: What singer/songwriter do you most connect with?
P.J.: Martin Sexton. I've never met him, although I've spoken with his wife, but he and I share a lot in common. Listening to his lyrics is a way of getting to know someone, for me. I feel like I already know him. He's taught me so much about expression, lyrics and melody. Most importantly, he's taught me how to be true to my own self, and I am extremely grateful for that. I'd love to shake his hand one day and thank him in person. I didn't really grasp all that he is talking about in his songs until I had a change last year. I've been sober since November of 2007 and it has changed my life so amazingly. Most importantly, my performances.
Isaac: Out of your entire song collection that you've written thus far, which song(s)
would you say is/are the most personal/meaningful to you?
P.J.: The most personal is easily "Incognito". It's off the new EP and I wrote it this time last year. It came to life right before a life change for me and it was my way of announcing it, I guess. People have told me that I really spill my guts in that song, and I guess I do. Sometimes you have to with songwriting. "Incognito" is also about the love of my life and the scary thought of losing her.
Another personal one is "Can You Come Out & Play Today". That song was written at a time of denial for me. Every time I sing that song it's so obvious to me that I was in a dark place when I wrote it. I knew a change had to happen, but it took me a few more years after I wrote it to actually make the change.
All my songs are personal and meaningful to me, but those two stick out the most.
Isaac: Which singers/groups do you enjoy/like from some of today's music genres?
P.J.: I absolutely love The Kooks. I think their latest album is brilliant. I didn't get all the hype about "My Morning Jacket" at first, but now I find myself cranking them whenever I hear them. The Hold Steady is another one of my faves these days. I really hope to catch them live soon. I can already tell they'd be a great band to see live. Amos Lee's new album is terrific too. I played last night in Delaware at an Americana Festival and caught Girls Guns and Glory, a band out of Boston. They blew me away.
Isaac: What charities are you involved with or support?
P.J.: Back in June I performed with my band at Kayak For A Cause in my hometown. It was a great event which raised a ton of money. The Wailers and Ryan Shaw were on the bill too.
Isaac: Have you (or would you ever consider) writing a song about any of today's
particular world issues/problems? If so, what world issue would speak to you the most to
write about?
P.J.: In my years of songwriting, I've never written a song about today's issues. That will change in time. Sooner than later. I lost my cousin when he went to fight over in Iraq a couple years ago. I know a tune will come one day about how it all went down. I wasn't as close with David as I should've been. That song will be my first on the subject of war and how I feel about it.
Isaac: Why should people listen to your music?
P.J.: Because then they'll come and see me perform live, and my live shows are different than listening to one of my recordings. I just got off the road from doing a bunch of dates in the south east. In every city I hit, I won them over. Mind you, they weren't all packed houses, but in every city I connected with someone that was in the audience. I know this because they came up after the gig and told me. I thrive on playing for someone who has never heard me before. Nine times out of ten I have someone tell me how much they relate to one of my songs because of how personal I can be in the story I'm telling. That is a feeling that I couldn't even begin to describe. Hearing someone say that they love one of my songs is unreal. And, we're both happy; they heard the music first, came to the show second, and got to tell me afterwards. I love to stick around after a gig and talk to people. Not just about music either.
Also, because my music has a little something for everyone, no matter what type of music you like.
Isaac: What has been the greatest moment for you as an entertainer thus far in your career?
P.J.: Opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd with my full band last June was pretty sick. To play before legends like that is an incredible feeling. I opened for Little Feat at The Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY with my old band. That was pretty amazing. A great band and a legendary theater all in one.
But, hands down has to be singing the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden. First of all, to be honored to sing that song is one thing, but to do it at the "world's most famous arena" is a memory and story I'll have forever. I got to do it on three separate occasions too. I still can't believe I did it sometimes. It was kinda surreal.
Isaac: How far into the creation of a song do you share any of it with anyone? Who would
you play it for? Would it be a chorus, a verse and chorus, or a complete song?
P.J.: I don't play a song out in public until it's done, usually. I also write alone, so I go back to it many times before it becomes complete. A song always changes a few times for me before I get a final product. Sometimes it changes a bunch of times. Maybe I'll play an idea of a chorus for the guys at rehearsal. That's about it.
One of these days I'm going to write a few in the studio and capture them immediately. Really capture the first moment of the song as it's created. I'd love to try that style of writing.
Isaac: How much do you let others "mess around with" one of your new songs?
P.J.: All the time. I bring the skeleton of a song to the guys in my band, and they apply the layers. I have so much faith and trust in the members of my band that I rarely have to tell them how to play one of my tunes. They get my writing and style, so they fill it right in. That's hard to find. I love my band and they get my songs to the next level. Their suggestions are always spot on. I'm wide open to that. It's almost like I bring a tune to rehearsal and say, "here's a new one...it goes like this....whadya think?". The words and music are still there, but what they've added makes it all come together. I have a perfect band for me. I call them gladiators, which they are.
Isaac: Do you have to be a tortured soul to be a singer-songwriter?
P.J.: That's pretty deep. I'll leave that up to the listener to answer that one.
Isaac: Do you prefer to write music from your own personal experience, life's issues, or a little of both (explain why)?
P.J.: I always write from personal experiences, it's impossible not to. I've also writen a bunch that I've completely made up. Authors write fiction and so do songwriters.
Isaac: How long does it take you to process your emotions and turn them into songs?
P.J.: It's different every time. Sometimes months and sometimes five minutes. I've learned that you can't sit down and say "I'm going to write a song now." At least for me, it doesn't work that way. They just come out of nowhere, usually fast. Sometimes I'll have a melody and chord progression for months with no lyrics though. I'm talking about putting the words together. It's fun to experiment w/ melodies. The hard part is putting ideas into words sometimes. Ben Kweller once said that it's very difficult to get what you hear in your head to come out on the record. I couldn't agree more.
Isaac: The best piece of advice you actually followed?
P.J.: Follow your dreams. My father told me that I should always be happy in life, no matter what. He and my Mom have also supported the idea of a career in music since I began all of this. I love my parents for having faith in me and giving me the freedom to choose a life of pursuing my dream of making music for a living. Right now, I just released a new EP, I'm in the middle of touring to support it, I'm a working musician, I'm healthy and I have my girl right next to me. Life is pretty great right now.
Isaac: Give Shutouts to your family and friends.
P.J.: I love them all! They've supported me all these years and I wouldn't be here without them.
Isaac: Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?
P.J.: Touring as much as possible. I just got back from the southeast and it sounds like I'm leaving for the west coast in a few weeks. And getting my full length CD together for a spring of '09 release. My main focus is hitting the road. I love to perform, I love to travel and I love to have people hear my music live. Hopefully, I'll be in a club or coffee house near you. Please check http://www.myspace.com/pjpacifico for all tour dates. That site is the most up to date always.
P.J. Pacifico and his band
P.J. Pacifico
| 
