Josie Pace is a great artist that weaves in and out of different electronic inspired tracks and makes some very impressive music. From track to track, she always hits that party vibe hard or heart felt rock and roll whenever you listen.
Josie is definitely one of the rising stars of the alternative electronic world and one to keep a close eye on as she will soon be touring North America with Aesthetic Perfection!
As the saturated synths rise behind the lyrics “Just take your stamp off my design” on Josie Pace’s driving single, “Battleground” we immediately understand this is not an artist who is weak when abandoned. Instead, this Detroit artist’s music represents a piece of her solitude. The blistering glow of downtempo post-industrial beats, electro-pop melodies and layered soundscapes are home to Josie’s captivating lyrics; she is a songwriter in the purest sense. The result is a pulsating sound that will haunt you with vulnerability while basking in Josie’s world of self-reflection and unapologetic rock and roll attitude that Detroit is legendary for.
When musician and producer Ken Roberts saw an acoustic performance of Josie on Facebook he was blown away, the raw and intimate performance captured the one thing all songwriters strive to achieve “believability”, and he knew he had to work with her. The two started working together with Josie’s songs as the foundation. As an accomplished guitar player, Josie molds and refines her songs acoustically only to tear them apart with Roberts’ unique production style and his ability to create dark beats with grinding synths that compliment Josie’s voice well. Songs quickly formed into a unique sound that pull from the likes of Depeche Mode and IAMX yet contain a high art fashion swagger as if you just bumped into David Bowie at a Halston Party.
From the beginning, the style and the art of the music have been just as important as the melody and soundscape. Josie’s latest music video “Pure Morning”, featuring another collaboration with fierce femme fatal Sammi Doll (IAMX and Kat Von D), draws audiences to her unique brand of electronic rock and visual artistry. That theme continues with the videos for “Perfect Replacement” and “Fire” where fashion and desolation hold hands with Josie’s in-your-face performance. The singles, “Underestimated”, “Storm and Stress” and “Future” all test Josie’s artistic style and the ever present desire to give her audience something fresh, new and authentic. The album “IV0X10V5”, was released with Negative Gain Productions in February 2022.
Josie carries the same commitment of style and artistry to her high-energy live performances. She has shared the stage with Combichrist, Powerman 5000, Stabbing Westward, Tim Skold (Marilyn Manson, KMFDM), <PIG>, Daniel Myer (Haujobb, Architect) and Davey Suicide and has also performed successful headlining shows in New York, Detroit, and Los Angeles. With future songs and videos in the works, Josie Pace will continue the legacy of great Detroit Rock and Roll.
Interview
Q. Hello Josie, I’ve followed your music for a couple of years now so it’s great to get to chat with you. For those unfamiliar with your however, please can describe your music and what you represent?
A. My name is Josie Pace and I am an Electronic Rock artist from Detroit MI. I write songs about hardships and perseverance throughout life. I love writing in such a way that I can connect with the listener and they can interpret the song to fit their reality.
Q. You’re about to tour with Aesthetic Perfection, please tell us about how that came to be, and how you’re feeling about it all?
A. I am so excited to be touring with Aesthetic Perfection! From the very beginning of creating this music Daniel Graves of Aesthetic Perfection has supported us and added a lot of my music to his playlists. We have talked throughout the years and we had mentioned that we would love to head out on a tour with him at some point.
Excitingly, he contacted us early this year and offered us direct support on the American Psycho North American Tour! I was so excited then and even more so now.
This will be my first tour and I know that it will be a new experience and an exciting challenge. I am ready to get on the road and meet a lot of my fans that have stuck with me throughout my journey and throughout Covid, and I am hoping to make some new fans along the way as well!
Q. I know the great album IV0X10V5 only came out in February but do you have any more upcoming releases in the works?
A. I do! I am currently working on an electronic EP, sounds that are a bit similar to the album but with a fresh twist! We are hoping to play one of these songs live on the American Psycho Tour. I am also in the works of an acoustic EP, we are working on some of the songs I wrote previously that didn't work well when transposed to electronic songs. And we have talked about creating an experimental EP later next year! Diving into the weirder side of our inspiration and creating something extremely unique and different.
Q. When did you first discover alternative electronic music and what turning point in your life got you into making this music?
A. I was raised on classic rock mostly. Anything my parents listened to in the car was what has been engrained in me. Styx, Prince, Joan Jett, The Eagles bands like this. I still love these bands and tons like them. But growing up in the original scene and emo era really sparked my interest with a lot of bands that had me hooked on alternative music. Green Day, Blink 182, Hawthorn Heights, Escape the Fate, Muse. I took aspects of everything and every genre that I enjoyed and started writing at a young age. I think it’s silly for people to only pull inspiration from one genre. I love a lot of different kinds of music and I think that's one of the reasons my music has great crossover potential.
Q. What is the most important aspect of creating music for you and what driving force keeps you going with making new music?
A. Creating music always starts with some sort of inspiration. I draw a lot from my own life experiences and I feel like the bones of the song are the most important. When you have a strong foundation of lyrics, melody and structure on guitar (or any other instrument) you can take the song into any direction that you choose. I feel like what keeps me creating music is the never ending supply of experiences that happen throughout life. Writing is a form of therapy and it really does help to create when something is weighing heavy on you.
Q. If you could collaborate with any artist of your choice, who would it be?
A. I think it would be awesome to work with Jack White. He has done so much in music and has crossed over so many genres, I think it would be extremely unique to work with him. Plus we are both from Michigan and have that midwest work ethic and that Detroit sound as well.
Q. Have you ever had a particularly touching fan moment that has stuck with you?
A. I have a lot of interactions with my fans in every aspect. Live or social media. A particularly touching moment for me was at my album release show at Bar Sinister in LA. It was a very important night for me, being my first full length album release. During the entire set there was a fan right up at the gate almost bending over it the entire time reaching toward me with their hand for the whole set. They screamed and cheered the loudest out of the hundreds in the crowd. During the outro of the set, I say my thank you’s and hype them up one last time. But I reached out to shake their hand and the reaction was heart melting. The smile and the joy that I saw is something I will never forget. When you dream about performing and doing this your entire life, that interaction is something you only really dream about. Being so important in someone's life that just holding their hand brings joy.
Q. If only one person attended one of your performances, who would you want that to be and why?
A. If I could bring Bowie back for one of my performances I would. He was such a forward thinker and had such a presence about him it would be so cool to get his feedback on the songs and lyrics especially.
Q. Who are your favourite Hero/s and Villain/s?
A. Deadpool is my favorite anti- hero. I have a TON of Deadpool comics and I’ve always loved his quick wit and dark humor.
I think my favorite villain would have to be The Winter Soldier, although he’s only a villain for a short while when he's brainwashed. But c’mon a BIONIC ARM? Loved it.
Some of my favorite hero’s are The Teen Titans. I grew up watching the cartoon and I always loved Raven and Beast Boy. I don’t discriminate when it comes to Marvel or DC or whatever. If I like it, I like it!
Q. What are the best things about the alternative music scene for you, and is there anything you'd like to see change for the better?
A. I think one of the best parts about the alt scene is the empowerment and the strength. There are a lot of alt artist that are sincerely creating music that uplifts and sets an example of..
“Even though you've been put through it, we can get out together”.
I think one thing I’d like to see change for the better is inclusion. I feel that genres in general have become very clique like. There are so many people who think that you can only like one type of music and one type of music only. I love all kinds of music and I encourage everyone to step outside of your comfort zone and dive into new things!
Q. Is there any life advice you could give that being in music has given you?
A. Be authentic. It is a bit of a struggle when you work in the industry and you’re told by people you work with that you should be more like “this” or be more like “that” smile more, or smile less, write about this instead, I love that but change everything. It
happens…ALL THE TIME. And you just have to stick to your guns and be you. People can tell instantly when you aren't comfortable or you are trying to be someone that you’re not. Whatever it is that makes you, you is what people will gravitate to.
Q. Anything you would like to say to your fans?
A. THANK YOU. Honestly, I work very hard to create this music and of course I will always create music. But YOU are the ones who push me farther than I could ever get on my own. I love meeting you and hearing your stories and taking photos with you all. I try to respond to as many comments and messages that I possibly can. I appreciate every single one of you and I cannot wait to meet you all one day.
Josie Pace Website
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