Pamela McNeill

By Elizabeth Nitz

   Pamela McNeill started rocking early. By sixteen she had her own band in Minnesota playing cover songs in local clubs. At the same time she was writing and performing on the piano. Eventually she put the two together, formed her own band, and began to acquire a large following.
Her first CD, 2 Sides to Every Sky, was a benefit for the United Way and they took care of production, booking, and promotions and she took care of entertaining the audience. The proceeds went to the charity but the crowds remained loyal. Her new release, American Breakup, is entirely her own project, produced by her husband Dugan McNeill.
Pamela took time from the full-time job of being an independent artist to talk to FEMMUSIC about the creation of the album, which is for sale through her website at pamelamcneill.com

FEMMUSIC: Can you describe your songwriting technique?

Pamela: Sometimes I have a title in mind but lately I find myself just going with the flow and the words just come to me. But whether or not I have a title, I basically sit down at my piano/work-station, close my eyes and really take whatever emotion I’m feeling at the moment and just let go. A lot of times the song will come very fast. And I’ve learned to finish the lyrics right away! It’s always hard to try and come back to whatever frame of mind you were in when you were first writing something. Still, I will maybe change a particular word here or there, but I love it when you sit down and it all just comes to you! It is such a magical experience. Pulling words and notes out of thin air….

FEMMUSIC: What was the best experience making American Breakup?

Pamela: There were so many! I think just getting to work with my band so closely was very inspiring. To see them at their very best, and to know that they were so inspired themselves really made me happy. And having real string players on my record was always a dream of mine. It’s pretty emotional getting to hear your own songs come to life.

FEMMUSIC: What was the biggest challenge making American Breakup?

Pamela: I guess the financial hurdles. We put everything we had into this record, including our hard-earned savings. But sometimes you have no choice. By doing it ourselves, we knew we would be able to make the record that we wanted to make and that is really the most important thing to us.

FEMMUSIC: Give me a bit of background on the breakup that inspired this whole project.

Pamela: Well….this relationship was quite a few years ago. When it ended it absolutely destroyed me. Writing songs became the only way that I could even talk about it. The songs were my therapy and eventually helped lead me to this record. It was such a healing and cathartic time making American Breakup.

FEMMUSIC: Who are the musicians who worked with you on this? What did they add and how did they help create the final versions of the songs?

Pamela: Robert White, who’s been a friend of mine for quite awhile played all the drums and percussion. What I love about his playing is how he is not only the most musical drummer I’ve ever met, but he can also just lay down a great 4/4 groove! Solid and “purrtty “all at once! Bill Brown on Hammond B3 is very well known the country over for his amazing chops and knowledge when it comes to the B3. Working with him in the studio (and live) is like watching Michelangelo paint! Always classic and beautiful with just a hint of turpentine! He also added that gorgeous Waldorf synth line in “Thank You For Breaking My Heart.” Jay Graf on guitar….well, what can I say? A true artist who has the most passion of anyone I’ve ever met for his instrument. This was his first recording project and he truly amazed everyone with his depth and emotional outpouring. I knew he would be great! Dugan McNeill (my husband) on bass guitar. There will never be another Dugan. Totally original, with enough conviction to make a believer out of the devil, herself. A great, great player. But what’s more are his arrangement and production skills. We recorded 96% of American Breakup at our home studio and I could not even begin to tell you the thousands of hours that he spent working day and night, being the perfectionist that he is. He always has the most amazing ideas and also knows to a fault how I envision my work. We really make a pretty good team. I’d also like to add that the players in my band are some of the nicest people you could ever meet in your life! I am a very lucky girl.

FEMMUSIC: Talk to me about “Peace At Last”, the final song on your album. What is it about? What inspired it?

Pamela: My record was almost completely tracked. My songs had all been written. Then I was sitting in my little “blue room “(studio) and it suddenly occurred to me that I wanted to have almost a prayer for the end of the album. And it was in that moment that I realized that the pain of this breakup, that had been such a part of my life for so long, was gone! Somehow I had worked through it. And so the song just appeared. It was so perfect. The perfect “amen.” I kind of think the line,”…desperate angels sing Gloria!…” was a gift from those very desperate angels themselves. The ones who never gave up on me! I hope that doesn’t sound crazy, but that’s how it really feels to me.

FEMMUSIC: What one thing would you like to change about the music industry?

Pamela: Probably the state of radio. It would be nice to have at least one station in each city devoted to new and unknown music. And it would be good to hear more than the same 10 songs over and over again on the other stations!

FEMMUSIC: As a woman in the music industry, have you been discriminated against?

Pamela: Oh yes! First off, more often than not people assume that you’re “just the singer” and wonder who writes your songs for you. More specifically, I was trying to get a gig at this certain venue here in Minneapolis and I was told that the club “already had its female act!” I think it’s hard for anyone in this business. It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, it’s a gut-wrenching, soul-trying landscape and that’s why it really matters how we as musicians treat each other.

FEMMUSIC: What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

Pamela: Believe in what you do. Don’t try to take over the world right away. Figure out what it is you most want and develop a plan to get you there. Do you want to be an independent artist or do you want a major record deal? Do you want to have a band and play out and slowly build a following or are you afraid of heights? How important is lots of money? Above all, believe in yourself and don’t take candy-coated words from strangers (unless of course they want to be on your mailing list!)

FEMMUSIC: Will you be touring? What will your schedule be like?

Pamela: Upcoming – Most of our shows will be throughout Minnesota and the Minneapolis /St. Paul metro area. Last year we toured all over the US. I’d love to get a US tour together again this year….we’re always looking for new and exotic places to play!