Page 52 - ION Indie Magazine JulyAugust 2020

MH: On stage, I heard you briefly touch on the serious subject of domestic violence. How
has this issue affected you in your songwriting and do you help support domestic
violence groups on your off time?

PJ: Yes! I have a song that isn't released yet that explains leaving a violent, toxic relationship
and never looking back. When I got to Idaho, I didn't tell anyone but my parents where I was.
Social media thought I was in Oregon or Seattle or Spokane. The police told me to lay low online
so no one would come after me, as my ex had threatened to get people to come after me in
Pollock Pines as well as Washington. I had to change my phone number, block a bunch of
people on Facebook, and not advertise my shows. I even got a P.O. Box in Liberty Lake, WA,
and left my Cali plates on my car for over a year so he couldn't track me down. It was VERY
scary. I've never been so afraid in my whole life. My dad wouldn't take a dime back from helping
me move, so the only logical thing I could think of was to start donating 10% of everything I made
with my music to a local women's shelter. I called my tour ‘Pedal to the Metal.’ It symbolized
driving that U-Haul as far and as fast as I could to flee that guy and his toxic friends that were
threatening my well-being. Idaho was VERY welcoming! I was booking gigs like I had never
booked before. Priest River Ministries Advocates for Women is a shelter based out of Priest
River, ID, and I started sending them 10% from every gig. I started my free counseling with them
as well. I gather clothing bags from other women and bring them clothes. When I tour, I raise
money for other cities’ women's shelters. We raised $220 from a gig I played in Sacramento last
year for their local shelter and $90 for a shelter in Yuma this past tour. 1 in 3 women have
experienced domestic violence and 1 in 4 men. 1 in 7 women have been injured by an intimate
partner. A person of my size can't fight off a 200 lb. man. So, I raise my voice at all my shows,
all my interviews, and on all my stages to let other women know they are NOT alone and that
there is HELP out there.

MH: There are so many artists around this planet that it is really hard to keep up with
who's who in music. In saying that, it was such a blessing have seen you share the stage
with Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts in Tucson…a double treat for me! How was your time
with Ryan and the band? Any funny or crazy stories you want to share?

PJ: I opened for them in Spokane last summer. We all instantly became fans of each other's
music and friends. They are incredible to see live! I expected to see them pull up in a bus. Nope!
I thought I was a trooper doing a 60-day tour in a Toyota Corolla with Bella. This band was
touring the country in a small van, all together! I was impressed! They all must love each other
very much to travel like this! We kept in touch through Facebook and Ryan told me he'd hook
me up with other venues when I tour. Their lead guitar player, Jack Yoder, invited me to open
for him this past winter when he came through Spokane on his solo tour. He's a very talented
songwriter. Jesse Quandt and I opened the stage for him. (con’t)