Q: Welcome back, Pascal Dennis! It’s fantastic to have you with us again. Since our last conversation, a lot has happened in your musical journey. To kick things off, could you share some highlights or pivotal moments that have shaped your artistic path since our last interview?
A: My pleasure, Hana, thanks again for having me. What’s the biggest highlight for me? Our Crazy Angels band & songs just keep getting better. Our players are pure dynamite & it’s wonderful to watch them grow. They can play in any style I write – Country, R & B, Jazz, Latin, Rock & Roll. Working with them is a pure joy, and I want people to know how great they are. Our enterprise began, and will always be, a labor of love. But something extraordinary is happening, and marketing is going to be a major focus going forward.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Pascal Dennis in three words?
A: Eclectic Alt Retro. We build on the past to spring into the future. We take classic genres and transform them into something new and fresh. We respect our audience & know they’re smart & discerning. So, our songs are maybe longer and the ideas more complex but they’re fun & sound great
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: We’ve launched the Pascal Dennis Music podcast and every week we release a new podcast video & a series of highlight clips. Our goal is to share the background story behind each song, as well as, writing, production and playing tips. We’re also connecting with our fans through lyric videos & video snippets and other content. (Our social media handle is pascaldennismusic, by the way) As I said, our enterprise remains a labor of love, but something extraordinary is happening, and I want people to know about it.
Q: You have just released your new album, ‘Love is a Drug from Hell’. Is there a story behind it?
A: ‘Love is a Drug from Hell’ is about the various forms & expressions of love – gentle love, crazy love, lost love, toxic love, love within a family, comic love, friendships. The album essentially chronicles my adventures & misadventures and is inspired by Shakespeare’s marvelous play, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Q: What is your favorite track from the album and why?
A: Rattlesnake Road – it’s an over-the-top, raunchy autobiographical Texas style blues. It pulls in Dante’s Inferno, Greek mythology and the Count of Monte Cristo.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album, “Love is a Drug from Hell”?
A: Every Friday our producer, the great David Logan, and I meet. I usually bring along rough sketches of my latest composition, prepared in my home studio. David & I then do triage & put the songs in Priority Productions, In the Pool, or Needs More Work. Then we select songs from Priority Productions based on the theme of the album. We ask one of our players to organize & lay down the core tracks. David & I review arrangements week after week, and polish till we’re ready to launch. Then we’re into final mix & confirmation, which means we pull in our friends & family to listen, give feedback and find any glitches. We aim to complete a song per month, and release a new album & string of singles every year.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for Pascal Dennis so far?
A: ‘Ballad of the Red Sea ‘, the closing song on our first album (Crazy Angels). I played the song at a small gathering of friends & family including many of my two daughters’ friends. The song is set in the Sinai Desert, is based on true events, and is about my coming of age & finally making sense of my childhood. Many of my daughters’ friends have told me it’s their favorite song, and has helped them through dark moments in their lives.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: ‘Come to Your Window, Sarah (Spadina Serenade)‘, from our first album (Crazy Angels) which is the story of my family. The song is set in 1952 in Toronto’s Kensington Market, among the migrants and so-called ‘displaced persons’. Our videographer, Levi Miucci, has made an especially beautiful lyric video too. Angel in the Snow is also very close to my heart. It’s set among Venezuelan refugees and is dedicated to my Latin American friends and all the good people who have fled extremism.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Pascal Dennis’ unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: I think of a song as a movie – a series of images. I usually begin with a title and a story I want to tell. Then I’ll pick a style or genre that best fits the story. As I said, I’m blessed because our Crazy Angels band can play virtually any style I select – and make it their own. The music & lyrics usually evolve together. To me a song is like a mosaic – you have to find stones of the right shape, color & texture, that fit the chord, extension and emotion. It takes endless polishing, but when you stand back and take it in as a whole, it’s very satisfying.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for Pascal Dennis and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: My aspiration is to continue to grow with these marvelous young musicians. And to share our band’s incredible achievements with as many people as possible. Thanks again, Hana, for a great chat.
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