Page 49 - ION Indie Magazine JulyAugust 2020

Interview by Marty Haviik
www.arizonathunderphotography.com

Self-funded, self-taught, self-promoted, and on a solo “Pedal to the Metal” tour, Pamela
Jean is sweeping the nation in her 20-year-old car, accompanied by her one-eyed dog,
and a collection of cassette tapes in the glove box -- telling her story, one song at a time.

Pamela Jean originally hails from Minnesota but has called 5 different states “home” at
different points in the past 16 years. Pamela has seen it all and shares her life through her
music. Along the way, she has opened for such notables as Ryan Chrys & The Rough
Cuts, The Little River Band, Bubba Sparxxx, Devon Wade Band, The Good Ol' Boyz, and
The Hardways.

Pamela has released 2 original EPs, produced 2 music videos (“Gemineyes” and
“Falling”), and has embarked on several tours. She is a two-time KPRI Homegrown Artist,
a WNYR New York Emerging Artist, a singer/songwriter, and a Nashville recording artist.
Pamela is on her journey to the stars.

Her Nashville-recorded EP “Searching For Utopia” spawned several songs that received
significant radio airplay: “Falling,” “Gemineyes,” “Small Country Town,” and “Nothin’ To Do
With You,” were featured on K102 Country (Idaho), KPRI (San Diego), KZUU 90.7
(Pullman, WA), and WNYR (New York).

I was fortunate to catch Pamela at Thunder Canyon Brewstillery with Ryan Chrys & The
Rough Cuts during their tour stop in Tucson, AZ. I did not know that she was going to
perform, and as usual, with my “talk to everybody” personality, I went up to her and started
chatting. That is when I realized that she was performing tonight.

Her set was fun and exciting, and in-between songs, she was funny! On stage it was just
Pamela and her acoustic guitar. Her music was heartfelt, her strong vocals shining through
as she spun her beautiful stories -- melodic tales that have been told throughout the
Western states.

At one point during her show she started talking about a serious issue…domestic violence.
Pamela left an abusive relationship and it ended up being the slingshot that catapulted her
love and passion for music into a reality. Pamela did something that can be hard for most
of us…to start over. She quit her job and turned her dreams into something huge for her.
I learned that her slogan, “Pedal to the Metal,” was designed to inspire people to be brave
and have the courage to leave abusive situations and go after their dreams…and never
look back.

Photo credit Adaeze Opara Photography