Pamela Sue Mann

interview by Dina Di Maio

You recently sang backup for Suzanne Vega’s new album songs in red and gray and toured with her in Europe and New York.  What was that like?

Suzanne Vega is a master songwriter, as well as a very lovely person. I am so thankful to Suzanne for allowing me to sing with her. I originally met the producer of her album ("Songs in Red and Gray") Rupert Hine through a friend, months before they began recording. He asked if I was a singer/songwriter and then asked for a CD. When Suzanne's album came along he asked if I might like to try some B.V.'s as she had recorded her lead vocals for the album and was out of the country performing in Europe. I went over to Rupert's studio and sang some lines along with Suzanne's voice so he could hear if the tone of my voice matched up with hers well enough and ... lucky me ... the rest is history! I learned so much from that experience, and the performances I was singing back up on as well.  I even got to be in a video for "Last Year's Troubles" (a song off that album) as a backup singer...that was filmed by her brother, the late Timothy Vega. Incidentally, Tim was a brilliant artist in his own right. There is currently an exhibition of his works at Here in New York City, which I would highly recommend seeing. Suzanne is very special and very timeless. I am a huge fan!

I had a band in Virginia that was full of talent as well as drama. We were together a few years and got signed to an independent label. We were 80% finished with our debut album and some of the members quit. The label shelved the project until we replaced them and in the meantime there was much bickering and the not-so-loving aspects of people came out. I hung in for a while and then decided to leave the band, the state, and to never form a "band" again! I finished up Berklee College of Music and moved directly to New York City. Six months later I got the Real McCoy gig and lived like a happy side person for a spell. When the tours ended I decided to do two things: The first was to start a solo project and work with musicians who were willing to be a part of the project (kind of like a band only without all the commitment). We became The Goodies, Calliope, and Cosmic Kin ... and finally pamelasuemann emerged. The other was to work for an indie label so I could know how it was done. Here I am now ... a bit wiser, blessed with brilliantly talented friends  (Gerry Leonard, Byron Isaacs, Doug Yowell, Jay Bellerose, Paul Bryan, j9, Matt Johnson, Jeff Allen, Kevin Killen, Pete Keppler, Jimmy Zhivago …) who greatly inspire me and will even play with me, and still I am trying to get better at everything I do. My first solo record, pamelasuemann, was recorded in 1999, and this year I signed with a label in South Africa, distributed through Sony. We re-released the album over there for 2002 and I added two remixes, one by Malcolm, the other by j9. Fingers crossed!

 
Your music has been described as having elements of folk-rock, electronica and your voice breathy and enchanting--"ethereal pop."  You’ve been likened to Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, the Cocteau Twins, Natalie Merchant, Shawn Colwin--who all have different styles. What or who do you feel has influenced you musically? And what do you consider your music to be--if it were categorized?

Pamelasuemann began as "ethereal pop." I feel the overall sound is gaining in dimension if you know what I mean. How about Punk Faerie Ghost Pop? My voice is stronger than when I first started; actually I have a bit more confidence now as well. As an artist grows I believe the many sidedness of the person also becomes more obvious, which makes for a more interesting, honest, and more dynamic experience for the listener. As far as whom I have been compared to, that is a double-edged sword. People need a frame of reference
when digesting a new artist. Perhaps it helps us to explain to others and for us to understand something new in a safe way. Sometimes singers do sound a lot like other, more known singers, perhaps even trying to emulate them. That can be a curse though.
Honesty and trying to find one’s own voice I believe is the most rewarding type of evolution. I definitely have my influences. Most of them are male singers like Mark Hollis and Bryan Ferry. I use to try to stay away from listening to Tori Amos or Sarah McLachlan so I would not sound too much like them, but now that I a little more secure
in myself as a person and a vocalist I am less paranoid about that.  I now openly admit to being in awe of Kate Bush!

I love a story that makes you lose yourself in the beauty, wonder, believability and intensity of it! I love the Jean Cocteau adaptation of Beauty and The Beast for this reason! When something created from ones imagination becomes an undeniable truth...or when one taps into an existing reality that is not easily perceived. And after they go there and bring it back it is again undeniable. I am not sure how straightforward all my lyrics are, but I try to dig in and pull something genuine out. I am a human being, I believe in the magical, the tragic comedy, and waking from a dream of a song and writing that song from memory if I can. And at other times the songs are personal and relational. I write to express, to communicate with myself, and to communicate with others. When I am so wrought with raw emotion ... it seems the one thing I can accomplish is a song. It has been this way since I was very little.

I began recording my next album "L'eouf" which is being produced by Gerry Leonard aka: Spookyghost http://www.spookyghost.com. There are about 40 songs which need to be widdled down to the best 10 or so and we are jumping in as soon as we get upstate ... the album is being recorded in a 100 year old (former) train station in upstate New York. I am certain there will be many logs on the fire, many cups of tea, and much silliness in the days to come. We will most likely mix it somewhere in New York City, but we are in the mysterious early days. I am very excited! My next gig is at Bar B as headliner for an Indie Girl showcase. For more info please check my website!