Pamela Bedwell and Pammie Kakes Ensemble
"I grew up in North Carolina reared by a colorful family. They included funeral directors, preachers, textile factory workers, rum runners and nurses. The common denominator was their love of storytelling and singing in four part harmony. They instilled in me as love for both which is a wellspring for my songwriting."
For fans who have never heard your music, can you pick three words to describe it?! If three words just aren't enough then tell us more!!
One word has been consistently been used to describe my music - Sassitude. Although,I have been told that my songs are simple yet complicated with a twist.
What is your favorite part about being an artist? Is it songwriting, performing, recording, something else?) Tell us why.
Crafting a song is an obsession. It goes beyond writing lyrics and a simple melody. I enjoy finding the voice that will best carry the message of the lyrics. Sometimes that is a solo project; sometimes it is found working with other songwriters.
Can you tell us what being in the recording studio is like for you?
I find the brick and mortar studio to be more clinical than a home based studio. No matter the location, I spend little time in the recording booth. My projects have an incredibly lean budget so I prepare for a one-and-done vocal session.
Okay, this a fun question. When you are not doing music, what else do you enjoy doing?
Volunteer work is important to me. It keeps me humble and affords many opportunities to harvest song hooks. I also enjoy piddling in other creative outlets such as fabric art.
Who do you admire most in the music scene today and why?
There isn't one artist that I admire more than any other. Each is unique in their talent and their trajectory to recognition as an artist of merit. I study songwriting from those who do it well, song arrangement from those who excel in that art and from performers how to best deliver the song's message. What I admire in each is their tenacity and courage to be vulnerable in this hypercritical society in which we live.
Can you tell us what song you've written that is the most emotional and describe the meaning behind it?
It is a song that will be released on a future EP. "Rodeo Bar and Grill" (rodeo is pronounced row-day'-oh) is about a woman who could not compete with the rodeo for the love of a man. She does not age gracefully and spends her nights at Rodeo Bar and Grill taking what attention she can buy. It is a story about how people waste their lives waiting to be reclaimed.
Are you working on any new material right now or what's in the works for the upcoming year?
Yes, there are several projects in the works. Because I have difficulty staying in one musical lane, each project is different. Just completed a children's book with the same title as the Christmas song. A song titled "Good Times" is scheduled for release early Spring. It has a South African - Brazilian jazz vibe. Two EP projects also scheduled for early Spring release are co-write projects. One with tongue-in-cheek titles like "Hung-Over at the Church" and a more sombre project with a British artist. We crafted songs from poems my son wrote as a teenager.
Tell us where fans can access your music.
My songs are available on all streaming platforms. I have recorded as The Pammie Kakes Ensemble, Pamela Bedwell and Pammie Kakes Ensemble and just Pamela Bedwell.