Pamela Pachal

Pamela Pachal is learning her limits.

The Fredericton singer is recording her second album with her band Pamela Pachal and The Dirty, and she's learned some lessons since the first time album. The main one? Don't stress.

"Right now I'm looking for producers to individually produce certain songs. I did the last album by myself and it was too stressful. It almost killed me," she says.

Joined by Joe Brown on bass and drummer Sean Keenan, Pachal rounds out the sound on guitar and keys. But her bluesy vocals are the key ingredient, both as an acoustic solo act and on stage with her band.

Originally from Saskatchewan, Pachal first landed in Fredericton to visit her brother who was stationed at CFB Gagetown. She liked the city so much she decided to stay. After five years of performing, she's fallen in love with the people of Freddy and revels in their appreciation for her art.

"Fredericton is such a music community and people want to see live original music. That's one thing I really love about it."

That hasn't stopped Pachal from taking her act on the road. Last summer went on a cross-country tour in a mini van with a built-in box in the back for the nights they couldn't find a couch to crash on.

Pachal plans to have the new album out by the end of 2011, but she's trying not to put too much pressure on herself.

"You put a deadline on it and it's always three months after that - no matter what."

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Friday June 24
Pamela Pachal and The Dirty w/ The Stogies and Ben Caplan
The Capital Bar Complex
362 Queen St., Fredericton
459-3558 - HERE Magazine

Pamela Pachal is about to embark on a national tour.
Saskatchewan native Pamela Pachal has been living in Fredericton, N.B. for about two years, trying to build her music career.

She had quite the journey along the way, however. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology at Northeastern University in Boston, Pachal moved to Toronto to train and try out for the Canadian National Women’s hockey team. After being cut in 2007 she decided to switch her focus back to music.

From Toronto, she moved to Grande Prairie, Alta. where she recorded her debut album Chapter 1. The album was released in 2008 and it was during her tour for that release that she stumbled upon Fredericton. She has scored music for film and theatre and been invited to New York City where she was nominated for a songwriting award.

Pachal is about to hit the road on her second cross-Canada tour, this time with drummer Sean Keenan. She fills us in …

1. I understand you moved to Fredericton from western Canada almost two years ago, and before that you graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology. Where are you from originally, and how did you wind up on Canada’s east coast?

I am originally a prairie girl from Saltcoats, Saskatchewan … the home of…. beer, curling, hockey and cows.. But I haven’t lived back home since high school.

It’s kinda random how I ended up in Fredericton. I just finished up my solo cross-Canada tour in 2008 and came to Oromocto where I planned on staying with my mom for a couple weeks. Long story short, I fell in love with Fredericton and decided to stay… Fredericton has such a great arts community and it really is an amazing city with amazing people… who wouldn’t fall in love with it?!?!

2. How would compare the music scene in Fredericton or on the east coast with what you’ve seen elsewhere?

Fredericton is incredibly saturated with not only musicians and artists but with fans of music and art. That’s a rarity… usually (from my own experience) when a city is filled with musicians, it’s lacking with music fans, and if there’s no fans there’s really no chance for a musician to grow.

3. Coming in from outside the region, did you find it difficult to entrench yourself in what was going on in these parts?

It’s always hard to be accepted into a new scene. It really does just take time … and you got to give the community that time. *The quickest way to be rejected is to push being accepted.*

That and you have to be alright with starting at the bottom. That can be hard for some people. To go from playing regular paid gigs to doing open mics again. Me, I’m OK with it, I love open mics. I still go to open mics to try new stuff out or to just relax and jam with other musicians.

4. When did you first get into the music “business” and what was the first major lesson you learned?

I first really got into the business when I moved to Grande Prairie in 2007. Up until then I was just writing and playing in my room.

I’ve learned A LOT since then… here’s just a few key things I’ve discovered:

First, getting your van broken into and laptop stolen while playing in Montreal is actually not that uncommon.

Second, don’t assume anything when playing at a new venue… ask every detail you can think of … how many mic stands do you have? Is there a place to park? Do you have someone working the door? Am I playing at the sketchiest bar in downtown Vancouver, and should I bring mace?

And thirdly (more serious), be persistent….. you’ll never book a first-time show just by sending one e-mail. Keep phoning and e-mailing until you get a response, and if they tell you “No,” try again in a month or so… you wouldn’t believe how many venues have turned me down the first time and then booked me a month later.

5. Do you have any specific goals for your music?

Yes, I want to be very rich…. but I’ll settle for not being homeless.

Honestly, I would love to be a full time songwriter/composer. I really do enjoy performing but my utopia is when I’m writing. Whether it be my own (traditional) music or scoring for film… I just love creating. That’s my long-term goal.

Short term, I want to kill it on this upcoming tour and after that hopefully find a producer, studio and financial backing to record my next album.

6. You have a brief cross-country tour planned over the next month or so … is this the band’s first? How do you feel as you get ready to embark?

This will be the band’s first, not mine though. I did a solo cross-Canada in 2008.

I’m so stressed. Putting together a tour is the hardest thing. Once the shows are all booked I’ll be really excited… but not until then. That said, anyone want to be a manager/booking agent??!?! haha

7. What song, album or artist have you been listening to most lately?

That is a very hard question… I like and listen to everything… and I mean everything. For instance, just the other day I was listening to an old recording of Phillip Glass’ Candyman Theme, followed by Miley Cyrus’ Party in the USA … yes, I have a Miley Cyrus song on my iPod, I’m not ashamed. haha

But I just recently was introduced to Jonny Lang… love his voice!

8. What does the immediate future hold for you and your music?

I really don’t know…..

Look at that, you asked a question I can’t even think of a smart-ass answer for. - EastCoast Noise

Pamela Pachal is about to embark on a national tour.
Saskatchewan native Pamela Pachal has been living in Fredericton, N.B. for about two years, trying to build her music career.

She had quite the journey along the way, however. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology at Northeastern University in Boston, Pachal moved to Toronto to train and try out for the Canadian National Women’s hockey team. After being cut in 2007 she decided to switch her focus back to music.

From Toronto, she moved to Grande Prairie, Alta. where she recorded her debut album Chapter 1. The album was released in 2008 and it was during her tour for that release that she stumbled upon Fredericton. She has scored music for film and theatre and been invited to New York City where she was nominated for a songwriting award.

Pachal is about to hit the road on her second cross-Canada tour, this time with drummer Sean Keenan. She fills us in …

1. I understand you moved to Fredericton from western Canada almost two years ago, and before that you graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology. Where are you from originally, and how did you wind up on Canada’s east coast?

I am originally a prairie girl from Saltcoats, Saskatchewan … the home of…. beer, curling, hockey and cows.. But I haven’t lived back home since high school.

It’s kinda random how I ended up in Fredericton. I just finished up my solo cross-Canada tour in 2008 and came to Oromocto where I planned on staying with my mom for a couple weeks. Long story short, I fell in love with Fredericton and decided to stay… Fredericton has such a great arts community and it really is an amazing city with amazing people… who wouldn’t fall in love with it?!?!

2. How would compare the music scene in Fredericton or on the east coast with what you’ve seen elsewhere?

Fredericton is incredibly saturated with not only musicians and artists but with fans of music and art. That’s a rarity… usually (from my own experience) when a city is filled with musicians, it’s lacking with music fans, and if there’s no fans there’s really no chance for a musician to grow.

3. Coming in from outside the region, did you find it difficult to entrench yourself in what was going on in these parts?

It’s always hard to be accepted into a new scene. It really does just take time … and you got to give the community that time. *The quickest way to be rejected is to push being accepted.*

That and you have to be alright with starting at the bottom. That can be hard for some people. To go from playing regular paid gigs to doing open mics again. Me, I’m OK with it, I love open mics. I still go to open mics to try new stuff out or to just relax and jam with other musicians.

4. When did you first get into the music “business” and what was the first major lesson you learned?

I first really got into the business when I moved to Grande Prairie in 2007. Up until then I was just writing and playing in my room.

I’ve learned A LOT since then… here’s just a few key things I’ve discovered:

First, getting your van broken into and laptop stolen while playing in Montreal is actually not that uncommon.

Second, don’t assume anything when playing at a new venue… ask every detail you can think of … how many mic stands do you have? Is there a place to park? Do you have someone working the door? Am I playing at the sketchiest bar in downtown Vancouver, and should I bring mace?

And thirdly (more serious), be persistent….. you’ll never book a first-time show just by sending one e-mail. Keep phoning and e-mailing until you get a response, and if they tell you “No,” try again in a month or so… you wouldn’t believe how many venues have turned me down the first time and then booked me a month later.

5. Do you have any specific goals for your music?

Yes, I want to be very rich…. but I’ll settle for not being homeless.

Honestly, I would love to be a full time songwriter/composer. I really do enjoy performing but my utopia is when I’m writing. Whether it be my own (traditional) music or scoring for film… I just love creating. That’s my long-term goal.

Short term, I want to kill it on this upcoming tour and after that hopefully find a producer, studio and financial backing to record my next album.

6. You have a brief cross-country tour planned over the next month or so … is this the band’s first? How do you feel as you get ready to embark?

This will be the band’s first, not mine though. I did a solo cross-Canada in 2008.

I’m so stressed. Putting together a tour is the hardest thing. Once the shows are all booked I’ll be really excited… but not until then. That said, anyone want to be a manager/booking agent??!?! haha

7. What song, album or artist have you been listening to most lately?

That is a very hard question… I like and listen to everything… and I mean everything. For instance, just the other day I was listening to an old recording of Phillip Glass’ Candyman Theme, followed by Miley Cyrus’ Party in the USA … yes, I have a Miley Cyrus song on my iPod, I’m not ashamed. haha

But I just recently was introduced to Jonny Lang… love his voice!

8. What does the immediate future hold for you and your music?

I really don’t know…..

Look at that, you asked a question I can’t even think of a smart-ass answer for. - EastCoast Noise

Pamela’s style cannot be put into boxes,...



.......I firmly believe Pamela will have a flowering career ahead of her and hopefully the world will hear more from Pamela Pachal. - Gigs N Reviews July 2008

....Pachal is a multi-talented woman. On her debut album, she sings all original pieces in a throaty voice, and also plays guitar and keyboards. She also used her training in music technology to mix and record tracks on her own CD.




link to full article:

http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=233&x=story&xid=409128 - Encore! Alexis Kienlen- July 3/2008

CHAPTER 1
Pamela Pachal
Independent

8-out-of-10

It is always interesting to review a CD after having an opportunity to interview the artist, and especially after having had the opportunity to hear them live, (in this case at Rayzr's Pub in Yorkton), before spinning their CD. That was the way things played out in the case of Pamela Pachal's debut CD Chapter 1.
The interview let me in on a couple of Pachal's secrets, including what is something of a late turn to music after an extended shot at women's hockey including a try-out with the Canadian National Team. The later start perhaps gives Pachal a slightly different take on her debut CD. At least it comes off as a more mature take on music than you sometimes find in a debut. That isn't to say the material isn't contemporary. In fact, Pachal does a nice job of putting a modern music twist on a style that also has clear ties to blues and folk.
As for hearing Pachal live, well it spoke volumes to the passion she has for her own music. Almost without exception, her strongest songs through two sets were songs from her debut disk, or new material she is working on for her next recording. When she turned to covers, the effect of her presentation took a noticeable dip. Stick with your own tunes on stage too.
While Pachal, like most artists, was hesitant to pick a favourite cut off the CD, she did admit to a special place in her heart for Peggy (Perfect), a song written for a mentally challenged adult Pachal had worked with. Both on the disk, and on stage, this one comes across with definite emotion.
That said, Peggy (Perfect) is not the best cut here. The best include a pair of songs, both with mature content names that preclude being printed here. Yes there is profanity here, and the songs come across as real, and relevant to the times, because of it.
Love Song, Superman, Give Me Your Night, and Butterfly, also warrant mention among the 13 cuts here, all of which Pachal wrote and produced.
Overall, Pachal has a nice voice, compelling lyrics, and straight forward but effective instrumentation, which combine to create a fine first CD. I certainly recommend this one, and look forward to her follow-up effort.
Check her out at www.myspace.com/pamelapachal

-- CALVIN DANIELS

-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Sept. 24, 2008 - Yorkton, SK. Canada - Yorkton This Week

....Often compared as a musician somewhere between Alicia Keys and a female version of Jack Johnson/Bob Dylan/John Mayers (Take your pick), Pamela Pachal is all original on her own. Banding together a couple of merry men on bass and drums to play with her in this year’s showcase, Pamela is primed to turn a few more heads on her way out of town and prove that luck and opportunity are how you create it.



link to full article;

http://www.peacestartsathome.ca/?page_id=24
- Peace Starts at Home Festival