Clear Blue Skies Today is a masterpiece. Pamela has outdone herself creating an
album’s worth of fun, catchy songs that make this album an instant classic. It
frankly sounds like a greatest hits album; it is that good. I’ve had various
songs running around in my head for weeks since hearing it for the first time. The
album captures the feel of summer time on the surface and at a deeper level. There
are several song titles that build up the theme like Oceans, Sunny Days, Hot in the Sun,
and Clear Blue Sky Today. Throughout the album, though, the music has a carefree,
happy feel one might have coming home after spending a day at the beach. I spoke
with Pamela recently and asked her about her new release: Not much time has passed
since your last original album, Random Harvest.
When
did you start working on Clear Blue Skies Today?
This collection of songs were written and recorded last summer, (2010).
Much
of the album has a relaxed, warm, happy feel to it. What was going through your mind
when you wrote these songs?
I
decided before writing the album that I did want a summer album of tunes. I wrote the song
Oceans a few years prior and decided I wanted the whole album to reflect my new adopted
state, which is Florida. I wanted the album to reflect the endless summers I’ve felt
down here for the past ten years. Interesting
choice of words there. I take it your “state” also speaks to your state of
mind since moving south? Yeah,
both (laughs).
Did
you target a genre of music when you wrote the songs? Yes,
I decided that I would let the songs progress in more of a pop rock style and wanted to
write songs that were very catchy. Usually I stop myself from writing very catchy
melodies, but this time out I let it happen, even encouraging myself to let go and do it.
There are quite a lot of strong songs on the album.
What
are your picks for the singles? “You Make Me Feel Special”, “Don’t Let It Go”,
Here I Go Again” & “Hot In The Sun”.
Do
you usually allocate time for songwriting, or do you tend to wait for inspiration to
strike? I’ve
always been able to write songs at the drop of a hat, but stopped writing for a while,
busy with other aspects of music (teaching, producing, performing, etc). This project I
set it up, I wrote a song and then recorded all the parts. Each song were written,
recorded and mixed in seven days. That meant I didn’t have time to ponder lyrics,
composition or any of the parts. It was all done very quickly and I think as a result the
listener can hear the fun, and looseness on the tracks. You
play all the instruments on the album, including drums. Tell us about some of the
instruments you used on the album. I
play on this album Electric, Acoustic, & Classical Guitar, Tenor & Soprano Guitar,
Bass Guitar, Drums as you mentioned, Piano, Keyboards, Violin, Ukulele, Greek & Celtic
Bouzouki, Mandolin & the Charango. The
CD case is filled with fun candid photos. Tell us a bit more about the pictures you
chose and the inspiration behind them. Well
let’s start with the cover with me and my Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar against a
clear blue sky. Back cover swimming in the ocean. Inside walking on the shoreline
posing, leaning against my bike out on a long ride, and posing with some tropical plants.
All the pictures taken in the last few years except the front cover which was new for the
album.
Will
fans be able to hear some of these new songs live soon?
Well as you know I am performing locally as solo artist. I do perform "Don’t Let It Go” and
I will be posting a live video version of that on YouTube shortly. The other
song, “You Make Me Feel Special”. I’d like to do the whole album live
and do shows around that.
You
can checkout Pamela’s performance schedule, videos, albums, etc on her website:
www.pameladavis.net
