We kicked off our “2000 BC Q&A” interview series with singer and songwriter PJ Pacifico. In it you learned about his thoughtful hit single “Every Little Heartbreak”, the toll the pandemic had on his personal and professional life, and how he reflects on life before COVID-19.
But that was just a portion of our excellent conversation.
Here in the Editor’s Cut of THIS INTERVIEW you get to find out why he wrote “Every Little Heartbreak”, his thoughts on taking risks, and his reaction to what we think of his name! THIS is for YOU!
PJ, what inspired your song “Every Little Heartbreak”?
I wrote it with my friends Garrison Star and Valerie Broussard. They’re both dear friends of mine and I’ve collaborated with them both a bunch. Valerie and I are in a band called Signals In Smoke together, and the session was booked for the band. Through different arrangements and experiments with vocals it ended up being a solo song for me. We wrote it at the top of the lockdown last year. It was pretty much inspired by what we knew because it was all new and we didn’t know how long it was going to last.
It was thoughtful for the three of you to write something that encouraged thoughts of brighter days.
We wanted to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel and that, one day, it would be over. We knew people would come out swinging, wanting to leap and takes risks and have a good time. We wanted to create something positive and uplifting after one of the strangest years I think we’ve all had ever! We just wanted to boost some spirits and let them know how much life can be fulfilled by taking a risk in anything – whether it be a relationship, a job, or moving across the country.
Not only so you make cool music, PJ, but you have a cool name! When we first heard it we thought, “Yo, PJ Pacifico sounds like a luchador!” You have a very professional-wrestler-sounding name! Have you ever been told that before?!
[Laughing] No, that’s a first, for sure! It’s my dad’s name, so I’m a junior. PJ stands for Paul Joseph. Yep, that’s my legit name.
Can you just hear the announcement though? “Making his way to the ring … PJ PACIFICOOOOOOOO!”
I can! [Laughs] That’s right up there with Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka!
Yeah, it is! And it might even be the same amount of syllables!
Exactly! And it’s a tongue-twister, that’s for sure.
Okay, PJ, let’s really get into it. Tell us what you miss most from life before COVID-19.
The time to internally look inside ourselves and really have some alone time and some quiet time. I didn’t realize how precious that could be.
It was super scary at first because we didn’t know what was going on, how to go about it and what the new routine would be. But once I got the routine down, once I figured out the human video game called grocery shopping, I kind of appreciated the solitude.
So, I guess, unknowingly, I missed the solitude and really checking myself because I didn’t have nothing else to do besides write songs and decide what I was going to eat.
Where were you when you learned about COVID-19 and how did you respond?
I was coming back form L.A. and the masks started popping up a bit and the hand sanitizer. This was like late February. I kept hearing about it. It didn’t really hit home, and I didn’t really think it was that serious, nor did I think it would make it to the states. But eventually, obviously, it did. That really hit me on the way home from L.A and I started to freak out. That’s when it became real.
People I knew started getting it. I started really bugging out because I don’t have a spleen, I went through cancer and that’s high risk.
What, for you, have been the personal and professional benefits, and setbacks, from the pandemic?
Personally, to look inside myself and figure my stuff out that I needed to do. Professionally, I found a group of my co-writers and producers, and we all wrote and recorded remotely. I must have written 25, 30 songs during lockdown, and recorded and handed them all in for sync to get pitched for TV and film.
Our band, Signals In Smoke, me and Valerie Broussard just hunkered down since we were just going to sit at home. We know each other so well, it was kind of easier to work with someone on Zoom writing a song and recording a song. And we said let’s bang out a record. So, we’ve got like two records of material ready to go when the time is right! She’s got her solo stuff going on and I’ve got mine. After our solo projects are done, we’re going to release some band stuff. And out of all of these sessions came “Every Little Heartbreak”! Professionally, that was cool.
As far as setbacks, I missed my friends. I missed the people that I love! I missed my parents for 10 months; I couldn’t see them!
I got lucky enough that my girlfriend lives close enough that we could do the smart quarantine thing with each other and her family and be smart about it and go back and forth.
I missed all my friends in Los Angeles. I’ve got a ton of friends in Nashville that I’m used to working with at least once a month or every other month. And that was cut off. Even my local friends. Everybody I love I couldn’t see! That was my setback, personally.
Do you have faith in the vaccine?
I do. I believe it was made with the best intensions. I don’t think anyone had the intension of wanting it to fail. It’s been tested and proven, so I’m going to take it. Just being high risk, I don’t have the immune system a lot of people do. I think for a person in my position I would have been foolish to not.
Who do you talk to the most to keep your spirits up and help you stay optimistic?
My girlfriend, hands down!
I talk to my dog; I’m pretty sure he understands every word I say too. But mostly my girlfriend. She’s my best friend, soul mate, everything that you could imagine and then some. There’s an angel on Earth just for me.
Has the pandemic caused you to value your life and the lives of others more than you did already?
Yes. Definitely. It taught me not to take any day for granted.
Before the pandemic and having gone through cancer, and struggled with alcohol as well, I realize that every day is a gift. You just have to appreciate every day and realize how lucky you are. And tell the people you love that you love them. Hang out with them as much as you can and put your damn phone down and look them in the eyes!
At the same time thank God for technology through all this, with Zoom and Facetime.
At the end of all this, be more present.
What about your immediate surroundings have you become more aware of?
Hmmm… That’s a good one.
I’m a big yogi and big walker/runner. On a run or walk on the street or in a store, there seems to be more eye contact when passing people. There’s more interaction. Before the pandemic there was more staring down. These days people wave even when they’re across the street, which I think is cool. There’s more human interaction, as far as I can see, which I love. That makes me feel more alive.
What’s something that had to change because of the pandemic that you hope doesn’t change back once it’s over?
All the weekly Zoom calls that I have with friends and family.
It doesn’t have to be every week, but I think it’s healthy to have some sort of routine with your family and friends and people that are important to you. I hope the communication doesn’t end. |THIS.
THIS INTERVIEW with singer and songwriter P.J. Pacifico: The 2000 BC Series
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
Post-Credits Bonus:
