We have all experienced the life-altering affects of the pandemic. In THIS INTERVIEW you’ll learn its toll on recording artist P.J. Pacifico.
The singer and songwriter of hit single “Every Little Heartbreak” took time to answer our “2000 BC Q&A”, reflecting on his life before COVID-19 and how things have changed personally and professionally since.
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 from 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 [bandmate 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.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
