Happy Mondays is back at the Wonder Bar tonight for the first time in months, and show-goers will have the chance to see Pamela Flores take the stage. This Asbury Park-based band is composed of Pamela Flores on vocals and rhythm guitar, Guy Fiumerelli on lead guitar, Dan Haase on bass and Steve Honoshowsky on drums. Together, they steal your attention instantly with their R&B influenced alternative rock.
Listeners can feel the power of Pamela’s sultry, soulful vocals as she delivers emotionally-charged lyrics straight from her core. The Pop Break had the opportunity to interview Pamela Flores to discover what drives her passion to create music, the themes that pervade her lyrics, exciting new about recording their song “Burn the Ships” and much more!
I see that you are based out of Asbury Park—what’s the best part about the music scene there? The amount of talent here is unreal. I’m constantly inspired by the musicians here and it’s such a supportive community on top of that.
Do you have a favorite venue in Asbury Park? If so, what is it and why do you like it so much? I love to play The Saint & APYC. Scott and Pete have been supportive of me since I started here 3 or so years ago…the vibe is always fun and just feels like home for me.
What is the energy like when you’re on stage performing? Oh man, I am so lucky to have a great group of guys. We have so much fun and just vibe off each other. Plus they’re talented as all hell. It’s just fun; I’m either spilling my heart out on stage or laughing with them.
What do you want your listeners to feel when they listen to your music? What message do you want to convey to fans? The great thing about music is that one person can write a song that is so personal to them and have loads of people relate to it. That’s what I want. I want them to feel their story being told just as much as mine. I’ve always been drawn more to blues music for that, you can just FEEL their words, you don’t just hear it.
Your vocals are an amazing combination of soulful and sultry, with a bit of grit, and you can just feel the power and emotion in your words. Where does that power come from and how do you channel all of that energy into your songwriting? Wow thank you for that! I’m a pretty emotional writer (shocker I know) so when I write, it’s usually from something that I’m feeling at that very moment that feels much more intense than anything else. It’s kind of like writing in a journal but for all to hear.
As far as the Pieces EP that you released in January last year, are there any over-arching themes explored in these songs? Is there any track that encapsulates what this EP is all about? What are you most proud of regarding this EP? Pieces was such a learning experience for me. I had never played my own original music before and never knew how to even start with getting myself in the scene. And then I was approached by Eric Silvergold, who had heard me singing at work, had asked if I’d be interested in doing an EP and the rest is pretty much history. The songs “Pieces” and “Fade Away” are the only two originals and I couldn’t be prouder of them. “Pieces” was the first song I wrote in it’s entirety.
Now, based on videos on Youtube, you’ve been performing a couple new songs like “From Grace” and “Sugar & Spice.” What are these songs about and what do they mean to you? Will we be seeing these on upcoming recordings? Yes! I’ll actually be going in the studio the day of Happy Monday’s! “From Grace” is basically about inner demons and having moments of weakness. I think it’s one of the hardest songs I’ve written mainly because it made me face some truths I didn’t necessarily want to and it allowed me to be vulnerable and expose that part of me. “Sugar & Spice” was inspired by children who have been going to Lakehouse (where I work) who don’t come from the best neighborhoods and who seem to just be overlooked by society because of where they come from but have found their passion and comfort in music. They practice their asses off and it’s so inspiring to see them grow as musicians and as people.
Also, the description on one of your live performances on Youtube said that you were working on an LP, so it made me curious—is this true? If so, what can you tell your fans about upcoming music releases? The guys and I will be recording a single “Burn The Ships” the day of Happy Monday’s. No LP yet though haha but I will be releasing a few singles and eventually an EP within the next coming months.
Currently, what song of yours do you find yourself connecting to the most? What is it about this song that is so relatable to you right now? “Sugar and Spice” has been my favorite to sing acoustically. With everything going on in the world, it’s kind of like my way of reminding myself – and hopefully others – that we can learn from our youth just as much as they can learn from us. And that we absolutely have to do our best to leave them with a better world.
What’s the most important part about creating music? What is it all about? There has been nothing else that makes me feel so deeply as music does in my entire life. As a kid I would wake up really early and put on a Bonnie Raitt or En Vogue CD and just listen and sing along and feel what they were saying. The fact that these artists can have that type of reaction from a child is unreal. Music is a way for all of us to connect, it doesn’t discriminate and we all have our own interpretations of it. It’s a beautiful thing and I’m just happy to be a tiny part of it.
Gran talento, Pamela! Gran voz! Te felicito 🙂