Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Josie Pace. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Josie , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you’ve thought about whether to sign with an agent or manager?
After working with Ken Roberts (producer and keyboardist) on creating our own unique sound and releasing singles to gain momentum, we decided it was time to find a record label and release our first full length album. Being a younger band, creating music that really pushes the envelope and wanting to stick with creating music that we enjoy first and foremost, signing with a more independent label would be the smartest move. A label that lets us take creative control but helps and works with us to reach our audience, without setting creative rules and stopping us from doing what we love. We were approached by a few bigger labels and we talked with them a few times but nothing seemed to fit. Until we talked with Negative Gain Productions. One of the leading independent labels in the Industrial genre. Roger Jarvis and Micah Skaritka met with Ken and I a few times and we just clicked. Such a dynamic duo who is set on helping new artists get to the next step in their journey. After about a month of talking with them, they offered us a record deal. Being such a life long dream I definitely got a bit teary eyed. Pushing through this industry is hard work and it’s very rewarding just inching ahead and making a path for myself. After signing with Negative Gain, we finished the full length album and released it just months after signing.
Josie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Josie Pace, I am an alternative/ electronic musician. I have been creating music throughout my entire life. When I was younger, I took guitar lessons and worked on songwriting and strengthening my voice. I always knew that the music industry was for me. I could just feel it. I grew up on Styx, Joan Jett, Prince, The Eagles and dove into the emo scene while in high school. Rock music has always been my goal, but I wanted to stand out as well. After meeting Ken Roberts, I dove into bands like Nine Inch Nails, IAMX, and Depeche Mode. Ken and I found our sound as quite literally, Electronic Rock. Deep unique writing style, classic song structure, electronic synth madness and heavy hitting live drums. We create music that we enjoy, and it’s icing on the cake when others enjoy it too. That is something that we are very proud of, staying true to who we are as artists and creators. I think that’s also my first piece of advise for anyone trying to push into the music industry. Stay true to who you are and the rest will follow. People can tell when things are forced or fake. Staying true to who you are will get you a very long way. We work on creating and running our business, 24/7. I knew from a young age that making it into the music industry would be hard and can’t be half-assed. You’re either all in or you’re all out. I don’t have a plan B. I put everything I am into my craft because it is all I want to do for the rest of my life. Honestly, that is one of the most scary parts about being in the industry. I am putting myself out in the world 200% just to inch forward in my career. I have no safety net, and while that pushes me to work hard, it also becomes overwhelming at times. I try to take a breath and trust myself. There are a lot of people who enjoy what I do and the songs that we create, and I always try to keep pushing even when the waters get rough.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
While being locked down in 2020, I wasn’t able to get to the studio for a good 2 months. I was staying in Clarkston at the time and while I had my guitars and was able to write, the unknowing and unclear future of the world was a bit of a downer to say the least. After a bit of a breakdown, being overwhelmed with my unsure future, I decided that no matter what was happening I had to adapt and make it work. I made time every day to work on my writing and Ken and I tried working on music over the phone. After a few months, I was able to make it to the studio and work on music. And geeze did we work on music. We took all the time that we had from being locked down and wrote, recorded and shot music videos for 5 new songs. It was a major push to get us to the point of looking for a record label an releasing our first full length album.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, for me at least, is being able to perform live. To be able to pack a venue with people who are there to support you and love what you work so hard to create is humbling. The energy of the crowd and listening to them sing the words that I wrote, watching their faces light up with something I’ve created. There is nothing that comes close to that feeling.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.josiepace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiepacemusic_official_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JosiePaceGSM
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaceJosie?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JosiePace/featured
Image Credits
Wil Foster of Rock Candy Photo Scott Sprague