Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pamela Machala. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Pamela, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Right now I am working on an EP titled “Taboos” due to release later this year. It will be a collection of songs about topics that are common to the human experience, but aren’t considered “polite conversation.” There’s a song that explores fear of death, another that explores jealousy, and another that is way more explicitly sexual than anything I’ve written before. It feels really important to me to record and release these songs, both to honor all facets of myself and also to let others know that they are not alone in their experiences.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I describe my music as indie soul-pop, or as a warm embrace between Sara Bareilles and James Taylor. My favorite songs have one foot in the lyric-driven singer-songwriter tradition and the other foot tapping the grooves of Motown and R&B. I pull from a variety of musical influences, from Broadway musicals and jazz to Joni Mitchell and Ben Folds and Vulfpeck.

I’m obsessed with and devoted to the craft of songwriting. I hope that I am still learning how to write better and better songs 50 years from now. It is the altar I worship at and my favorite thing to think and talk about. I love the conciseness and accessibility of song as an art form. I love how the best songs sometimes seem so obvious and simple you can’t believe they didn’t always exist. I’m a music theory nerd and love exploring how melody, harmony, and rhythm inform emotions and lyrics. I love what happens when you sing a story.

I grew up in a family of professional classical musicians and began studying piano when I was five years old. I started writing songs in high school, performed at open mics throughout college, and at the end of my senior year I played my first show of original songs. John Oliver said of an early comedy experience, “It’s probably not great that I enjoyed that as much as I did. I think I’m willing to destroy everything in my life to do this more,” and that’s exactly how I felt about my first hour of sharing my songs with an audience.

I’ve called Colorado home since 2015, and I love living here and working as a singer-songwriter and dueling piano entertainer in the Denver/Boulder area.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Patreon is a really cool & revolutionary platform that allows people to directly support the artists they dig. I am on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/pamelamachala) and post new, exclusive content there weekly. Patrons get first listens & looks at new songs, music videos, podcast interviews, and announcements. A thriving creative ecosystem is only possible when creators have enough support & freedom to create!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Songs are really, really important to me. My favorite songs have walked me down the aisle, comforted me through breakups, turned my mood around on a bad day, and been there for me like old friends. I make songs to pay that forward. If I can do for someone else what my favorite artists have done for me, there’s nothing more meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: pamelamachala.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/pamelamachala
• Facebook: facebook.com/pamelamachala
• Twitter: twitter.com/pamelamachala
• Youtube: youtube.com/pamelamachala