New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Singer-songwriter P.J.
Pacifico bears his soul on the stark, upcoming, five-song EP 'Ready To Run', out May 5th on Viper Records. In lengthy interviews, below,
Pacifico discusses the cathartic nature of the new tracks, and the liberating sonic departure that accompanies them. Leaving his familiar acoustic guitar-driven sound behind,
Pacifico embraces loops, drum beats and synthesizers to accompany his clenched, storyteller's approach to the upcoming collection.
On the EP's emotional, centerpiece song, 'Among The Living',
Pacifico -- a cancer survivor who has never tackled the subject in his music -- finally faces his survivor's guilt. Huffington Post premiered the track, below. AXS featured
Pacifico via an in-depth interview, and premiered his haunting song 'While You Were Looking Away' - the article follows. Listen to the two highlight tracks, here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMIB8KflPzw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v-L1i7QuyM
Upcoming
Pacifico tour dates include May 7th at Ridgefield Playhouse in CT (with Antigone Rising,) and May 22nd at Bluebird Café in Nashville (a Razor & Tie songwriters' circle, hosted by Pacifico). More dates will be announced soon. Visit https://www.pjpacifico.com/index.php/tourdates for updates.
AXS - Interview & exclusive premiere: P.J.
Pacifico gives AXS a preview of his new EP
By Laurie Fanelli - 4/20/15
https://www.axs.com/news/interview-exclusive-premiere-p-j-pacifico-gives-axs-a-preview-of-his-n-49699
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v-L1i7QuyM
Singer/Songwriter P.J.
Pacifico is gearing up for the release of his new EP Ready to Run, a personal project that speaks to the cathartic nature of hope in the human experience. The EP is being released via Viper Records on May 5 and it features production from the brilliant Garrison Starr & AG.
Pacifico took time out to share some of the inspiration behind Ready to Run with AXS, as well as drop the exclusive premiere of his new track "While You Were Looking Away."
AXS: Thanks for taking time out to answer a few questions! First off, congratulations on the new EP Ready To Run which is coming out on May 5. Can you tell us a bit about the lyrical and musical themes of the release? P.J. Pacifico: Thank you for chatting with me, Laurie. I appreciate your support and I'm grateful for the opportunity to talk about the new EP. The lyrical themes of the release are the most honest I've ever sung. They touch on new love, old love, survival, determination and hope. The past couple of years have been important ones for me. I went through some life changes and changed my outlook on a lot of personal goals in my life. After learning what I don't want going forward and letting go of a lot of stuff that I didn't need to hold on to, I more importantly focused on what I want to achieve. But, I had to make room by letting go of some personal clutter to do so. I set some new goals and met them through creating the music on the new EP. These songs mean the world to me and I'm so proud of them. It's a completely new sound for me lyrically and musically, which is a result of being out of my comfort zone. I saw an image recently of a circle and inside it said "your comfort zone" with an arrow extending from the center of it. At the tip of the arrow read "where the magic happens." That image says it all. The thrill of taking a leap and a risk with a new sound pushed me and energized me to explore places I've never been to before, musically and lyrically.
Quite honestly, the producers (Garrison Starr & AG) got everything out of me. It was there, I just didn't know I had it. They believed in me and I felt it.
Everything a producer(s) is supposed to be, right? Exactly. They rule, and we will discuss them at length before this interview is done, don't you worry. We were all pretty much on the same page as far as musical influences go, too. We listened to a lot of stuff before each writing session and mostly had a
Peter Gabriel/TV On The Radio/Sting/Paul
Simon gumbo as the vibe we were going for. And the music of the 80s, of course. Most of my favorite music of all time came out in the 80s, which all three of us grew up listening to. I really wanted to put the acoustic guitar down for this one, so to speak, and let the music come out in an organic (even though I hate that word) kind of a way, which it certainly did. The release was also completely co-written between myself, Garrison Starr and AG. I sang at both the absolute top and bottom of my vocal range, using vocal techniques I've never tried before. The topics of the songs are ones I wanted to tackle for a while, especially "Among The Living." I learned stuff about my voice that I never knew I had before. The girls got stuff out of me that brought me to tears numerous times during the writing and recording process.
This whole EP is a release for me. It's a way of telling myself (and the universe) and hearing myself say that I'm ready for what's next and what there is to tackle to get what I want. That there is a reason for everything that happens and I've learned that holding on with hope and patience will always reveal the reasons why certain things happen the way they do. Drop all negative thoughts and energy while envisioning the outcome you want. You already have what you want. It's there. Just go get it. Anything is possible in this lifetime with a positive outlook and drive. This release is proof for me. I remind myself of these things every day since creating this EP because it's the exact outcome that I wanted. It's the intention I set and saw before the creative process started. I'm continuing to learn that anything is possible.
AXS: I love the song "All for Something." It has a cathartic element that evokes happy tears. How do you find that perfect balance between happy and sad? Pacifico: Wow, thank you so much for those amazing words. "All For Something" is the mother ship of the EP. It was the first song we wrote and what triggered Viper Records to get behind us creating more music together. Once I heard a rough mix of what we made during our first writing session I knew we weren't done. It was like nothing I'd ever been involved in before and I only wanted to make more of it. We all did. Viper's response to the first listen of "All For Something" was simply "write another". Two weeks later I was back in Los Angeles to write and record the remaining four songs with Garrison and AG. "AFS" is a nice balance of happy and sad, you said it perfectly. But there's hope in there as well. The lyrics were written in more of a dialog style for me. Writing down the exact words that would come out of my mouth instead of trying to be too cryptic and poetic. Just plain honesty. And these days I have positive hopes and strive to get better in all aspects of my life. So to answer your question, hope is the balance. By throwing hope into the mix it becomes the mother ship of both emotions. Everyone can hold onto hope and belief no matter if they're happy or sad in order to progress.
AXS: I understand that the song "Among the Living" is about your experience with cancer and the lingering survivor's guilt. Did you have any hesitations about sharing such a deeply personal experience with the world? Pacifico: Yup. It was tough discussing the subject at the writing session with the girls, first of all, and I consider them family. But I also was greatly intrigued with the idea of telling my story through a song, but again, with a light of hope added. Forgiving myself about surviving cancer is something I work on every day and I've gotten a lot better at it. This song started it all for me and kickstarted dealing with what I've held in for so long. And the thrill of letting it all out fueled me. It was also a feeling of knowing that it was all about to come out after 20 years. I knew once we got on the subject and they were getting me to open up that it was all about to go down. Finally. So it was pretty f**king emotional for me. I will never forget that day. It's easily the most therapeutic song I've ever recorded. And the most I've ever opened about the subject. It's a special song to me.
AXS: How important is collaboration to your writing process in working with Garrison Starr and AG on the new tracks? Pacifico: It is extremely important. And relatively new to me. I've been co-writing now for a little over a year and I absolutely love it. It's certainly the best way for me to learn and improve. Every writer brings something different to a session and working together to make the best final product is very rewarding to me. When everything aligns and a great song comes out I always lose my shit. I'm blown away by the magic. I take writing songs together with someone very seriously and it's changed my writing process completely. There was definite magic during the sessions with Garrison and AG. The five songs revealed themselves to us and finding power in that immediacy is what is so special. The flow kept us going and I've never been so comfortable being outside of my comfort zone in my entire life. I can't wait to make more music with them one day.
AXS: You recently received a licensing deal with Razor & Tie? What does that mean for you and the future of Ready To Run? Pacifico: Yes, I signed a licensing deal with Razor & Tie
Music Publishing a few weeks back. I really like the team they have and I have written with many of their writers and producers. It's a nice fit and I can't wait to see what happens. It means that the songs from Ready To Run and some others from my catalog will be pitched for placements in film, TV and commercials. I'm proud to have Razor & Tie representing me in that process as well as being assigned to write for certain projects. I'll continue to co-write even more in the years coming up in Nashville and LA while still remaining an artist. I'm extremely happy where I am right now and I only want to hone my craft and continue to progress.
AXS: Viper Records has been releasing such great music lately. How did you get involved with the label? Pacifico: Thanks! I'm blessed to be on such a great label. Back in 2005 I was kinda lost in many ways, especially musically, but I managed to record some acoustic demo's of some new songs that I had written. I started working at Viper as a label manager in April 2004 and found the right moment to play the demo's for Jonathan Stuart, the owner. He said if I could have the songs produced a little more with a band and a little more polished, he'd release them on Viper. That was all I needed to hear and I officially became an artist on Viper in 2006. I quit drinking alcohol, thank God, in 2007 to focus even more on my career and I couldn't have made a better decision. It made me realize what I had in my hands by even being on Viper in the first place was rare. If I had continued drinking I would've pissed it all away. I'm so grateful that Jonathan
Stuart and Immortal Technique (president) have believed in me enough to let me grow as an artist and songwriter over the years. I wouldn't have any of what I've discussed about my career in this interview if it weren't for those two men. I remind myself of that a lot.
AXS: What's next after Ready to Run is released? Will you head back into the studio or hit the road out on tour? Pacifico: I head to Nashville after the release for a week of songwriting, I've got some summer shows lined up up on the east coast and there are plans being discussed now for a fall tour of Europe. So a little bit of both are in the works. But right now I'm focusing on writing the best songs I can. A Ready To Run Vol. 2 perhaps? I'm not afraid to throw that out there at all.
**** Ready to Run by P.J.
Pacifico will be released on May 5, 2015 via Viper Records. Check out the AXS exclusive premiere of Pacifico's new track "While You Were Looking Away" above and click here to keep up with
Pacifico on Twitter.
VENTS MAGAZINE - INTERVIEW: P.J. Pacifico
By RJ Frometa - 3/19/15 https://ventsmagazine.com/interview-p-j-pacifico/
Hi P.J., welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
I've been well, thanks. It's been a busy couple of months but i'm grateful for it all. And thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me.
Can you talk to us more about the story behind your latest track 'Among The Living'? I heard it has to do with your battle with cancer. You heard correctly. I had Hodgkin's Disease when i was 19 and the treatment and protocol spanned about a year or so. I learned a lot during that time. a lot. the first thing i learned is that every day is truly a gift. It takes a life threatening situation for that statement to really sink in. At least it did for me. Not everyone can really grasp how important being healthy is until you aren't. Since being diagnosed i've looked at life a lot differently and that i'm damn lucky to be here. Another thing i learned during that period is that not everyone survives. A couple of people who were close to me lost their battle with cancer back then. We were going through treatment at the same time for different types of cancer, but we had each other for support. Since their passings i've suffered from survivor's guilt, wondering why i was lucky and they weren't. It can eat away at you sometimes, but by getting this song out of my system after 20 years, it certainly is a huge exhale. I can't say that i'm 100% over the guilt but i'm pressing on and working on getting over it. Guilt is when you have done something wrong, and survival certainly isn't wrong. i have to accept that i'm here for a reason. We ALL are. We all have a purpose and anything is possible. Life was made for living. That's the message. I was fortunate enough to co-write 'Among The Living' with Garrison Starr and AG. It was an intense writing session. I had a lot of tears and even tracked vocals with some still flowing, but it was a great release. I can't thank Garrison and AG enough for getting it out of me.
The single comes off your upcoming EP Ready to Run - what´s the story behind the title?
I'm at a point in my life where i'm free to go anywhere i want, permanently, to further my career in music. The many writing trips to LA and Nashville that i made last year opened up a whole new world for me and i definitely caught the songwriting bug. I just got a licensing deal with Razor & Tie, the new EP comes out May 5th, and still deciding if i'm moving to either Nashville or Los Angeles. So right now i'm ready to run (…and write and write and write). Also, Ready To Run is the last song on the EP and i thought it would make a strong and fitting EP title as well.
How was the recording and writing process? I heard you were out of your comfort zone?
I was completely out of my comfort zone and luckily it went quite well. i was on a writing trip in Los Angeles in the later part of November last year and was lucky enough to write with Garrison Starr and AG. I had written a few songs with Garrison in the past and we'd toured together a bunch, so she set up a write with the three of us. The first tune we wrote together was All For Something. AG finished a mix and when we all heard it we were pretty pleased. i sent it to the label (Viper Records) and the response was "i love being blown away…write another". By the following
Thursday i was booking another flight back out to LA to write and record an EP with the girls in December. Another week in January to wrap things up and here we are. AG and Garrison also produced the EP. So, i was out of my comfort zone by having no songs prepared, first of all. I've never approached a recording that way before. I usually go in with a least a handful of songs ready. but writing with these girls as we recorded was pretty amazing. Their chemistry together is like no other i've seen. No matter if it's on stage as their band, The Silent War, or at a writing session, or having a glass of wine, those two girls communicate and work with each other on such a professional level. It's no bullshit whatsoever with them. and i loved that. so on top of that, they also had me covering subjects i've never covered before and singing in a part of my range that i've never really explored before. they were getting me to take a risk and a leap with a completely new sound which i absolutely love. It was such a therapeutic way to record a batch of songs. At a perfect time in my life. And i love the girls like family. I can't wait to make more music with them.
Where did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics? Do they all deal with struggles in your life or 'Among The Living' is an exception? I think in the past my songs have leaned more towards the struggles, yes. the struggles with life and all that comes with it. All of the ups and downs. 'Among the living' is an exception in a lot of ways. That's a rare one for me. Easily, it's the most personal song i've ever released. It's deep and dark but extremely positive as well. I wanted this new batch of songs to be as uplifting as possible. And strong. But to answer the other part of your question, it's a little easier for me to write when i'm hurting or struggling in some way. i think every artist feels that way at some point. But a happy song comes out as well every now and then. I think I Want Your Love and Ready To Run off of the new EP are the most positive songs i've ever released.
Will you be hitting the road this year? Yes. The tour plans so far are for
Europe in the fall. No dates in the States yet, but they're in the works.
What else is happening next in P.J. Pacifico´s world? I'm headed out to Los Angeles next month to start writing some more songs with some folks. along with making some tour plans to promote the new EP. But first i'm gonna finish the other half of this sandwich.
Huffington Post Premiered the lyric video for 'Among the Living - 3/3/15, By Mike Ragogna:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ragogna/feeling-you-chats-with-kc_b_6789116.html (scroll down to view)
Huffington Post included this text from Pacifico: "This is the most important song I've ever released. It's been inside me for 20 years, and I've wanted to write it since my chemotherapy ended. I've learned to forgive myself for surviving and have finally accepted that I've done nothing wrong by doing so. It was an extremely therapeutic song to write and an intensely emotional songwriting session, to say the least. Battling cancer made me the person I am today, and actually helped me in many ways. But the focus isn't only on me or my personal experiences. I've learned that we are all among the living and we all should live life to the fullest. That's the universal message of the song, and it means the world to me." Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMIB8KflPzw
Pacifico recently debuted another one of the new songs, 'All For Something', via social media:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPchKY0E200
The 'Ready To Run' EP emerged from writing and recording sessions
Pacifico completed in Los Angeles in late-2014/early-2015 with artists Garrison Starr and AG, two long-time friends/collaborators, who also provide background vocals and production on the tracks. "They completely took me out of my comfort zone from the very beginning. First of all, I didn't touch an acoustic guitar during the entire recording of this EP. This project is more about turning knobs and pressing keys. They made me think differently, sing in a style that I've never touched on before, write the most honest lyrics I've ever sung and most importantly, they encouraged me to take a risk with the new sound."
In other
Pacifico news, a new licensing deal with Razor & Tie has just been confirmed, and international distribution is set for 'Ready To Run'.
Visit: https://www.pjpacifico.com
Visit: https://www.viperrecords.com/artists/pj-pacifico/
https://www.facebook.com/viperrecords
