1-Sep-2005 :

When listening to Pamela's 'Song for Europe' debut 'Play on' (Paul Giordimaina / Fleur Balzan), it is apparent that Pam has a professionally trained voice. She can take the listener on the sweetest of journeys as she glides from low to high keys or from a mellow to joyful mood with apparent ease. Thus an already excellent song is made even more pleasurable thanks to Pamela!

Hi Pam. Do you attribute your success to a sound musical background and lengthy hours of training or would you still be the same Pamela we know today without professional practice?

Definitely not! Voice Training is the most essential part in a singer’s career! Like any other profession, a singer has to have a knowledgeable background of what the process of singing entails. Unfortunately, many think that singing is just about opening one’s mouth and getting some notes out (in tune at least!!)… but it is far more intensive than that.

I've attended countless singing lessons by an internationally known teacher, and I also focused my thesis on singing techniques and vocal hygiene and their awareness amongst Maltese pop singers. As you can imagine, this took many, many long hours of research, but it helped me a great deal in further developing my knowledge of singing and most of all the necessary technique. However, musical background and innate talent are also very important for a person to be a good singer and musician.

Were there any other contributing factors, such as past contests or performances, which encouraged you to try harder and work your way to success?

Well, I started off singing when I was just 12 years old and my first public appearance as a soloist was in San Lawrenz festival which was held in this same village in Gozo. Such small festivals helped me in better recognising my talent and also develop more confidence on stage. However, what made me try harder and get me this far was definitely my love for music. I always wanted to do music and I worked hard for it and here I am.. I still have a lot of objectives to reach yet I’m very happy with what I achieved till now and will continue working hard for it.

And your musical background isn't just about singing since you're also a very talented musician. Which musical instrument do you treasure most? Is there another instrument you'd love to learn in the future?

I started learning music theory when I was just 5 and continued for 8 years. I studied the violin for 6 years, however I quit this instrument and no longer play it. Then I started learning the guitar which I still play when I perform in hotels.

Well if I had all the time in the world I would learn several instruments not just one, yet the piano always remains my favourite instrument as it gives so much emotion especially in the hands of an excellent pianist. I still hope that one day I’ll start learning it.. It’s never too late to learn something you’ve always wanted to!! I just need a lot of time for me to practice this instrument, and at the moment I’m leading a very busy life so…..

Photo: Pamela with singers, Eleanor, Paul, and Mike

Photo: Pam with Paul and photographer Joe Smith at CD launch

How did you meet Paul Giordimaina and Fleur Balzan and what makes you stick to their team as opposed to experimenting with other songwriters/performers?

I first met them when Paul called me to see if I was able to sing his song in the preliminary phase of the Malta Song for Europe this year. Knowing this team’s reputation and amazing songs, I instantly took the opportunity. I went to their house and they made me listen to the songs which were ‘Words of Love’ and ‘Play On’. They gave me the songs to practice them at home and had to go back after 2 days for them to listen to my interpretation. I had worked really hard on both songs as I loved them instantly. And in fact, they liked both interpretations, and both songs were amongst the finalists in the festival. And from then onwards, we kept working together and I can say we’re a great team!

They support me a lot and always give weight to my ideas even though they are far more experienced. I thus feel a sense of belonging with them, and cannot imagine myself with any other team at the moment. They are every singers’ ideal team and I feel very lucky to have met them at the right time!

As a singer I cannot ask for more; great songs plus a great team supporting me in every single manner;; they know my kind of music inside out.. I don’t think I couldl gain more by experimenting with several composers.. I think it’s ideal to work with a team that produces REAL music and one which suits me perfectly. ...and stick to it.

You've been working on a new musical video of the song ‘Play On’ as well as a new CD single ‘When All is Gone’ and shall also be representing Malta at the Golden Stag Festival this September. What does working with Paul and Fleur on important projects like this feel like?

Paul and Fleur are superb artists and know their profession very, very well. They tackle every bit of their music with great professionalism and that’s something I admire so much in their great sense of teamwork. Paul is a fabulous pianist as well as an exceptional musician and composer - plus my favourite male singer on the island!! (What more could you ask for in life ??) His musical compositions are also my favourite genre of music (black music) and it’s a great honour for me to work with such a great musician. Also, he knows exactly what a singer passes through before, during and after a performance (as he’s a singer himself) and thus knows how to encourage me as a singer in the exact way possible.. few words but very helpful.

Fleur is a great lyricist and she manages to express herself so well in her lyrics. She’s not just a writer but a SONG writer which makes the whole difference. I give her some hassles in a way to write certain vowels especially when they occur in high notes (because of the voice technique I use) and she always manages to get the best out of the song. Also she’s a great producer and manager. She even produced and directed the music video of ‘Play On’, and as anyone can see, it’s a great piece of work, showing in vision what the song is all about.

You are still very young and yet you've accomplished a lot already. And it’s not just about music since you also recently graduated as a 'Speech and Language Therapist'! You must be a very organised and ambitious person with precise targets and deadlines :) Is it so?

Hehe!! If you ask this one to my mother she’ll probably tell you “ORGANISED????” as my room says it all!! But I’m really working hard on that one! However in music yes I am organised and ambitious and I aim for all the targets that are possible for me to reach. Being a full time singer (as I’m not working as a speech and language therapist at the moment), means being very busy with many activities which can be hard work. However the trick is to manage time appropriately. Obviously yes I have a lot of targets and deadlines, yet with wise scheduling I always manage to fit in everything, including enjoying my family and a social life with my friends.

Given the opportunity to experiment with a radically different style of singing would you take it?

As long as the style of singing suits me, yes I would why not? But it has to be good music i.e. I have to like it. One that touches me emotionally... If I had to try a change in style I would go for something that suits both my voice and personality. I guess it’s healthier that way. In fact I have been singing in hotels since I was 13 and obviously I sing various styles of music, and I learned a lot from it. I think a singer just has to be able to identify what’s good for his/her voice and use the proper voice technique and above all, sing with his heart, and he’ll do great!

Pamela's new CD single out now

Do you enjoy spending time alone with just your thoughts? What makes you unwind and relax best?

I LOVE spending time alone! If you ask my friends about me I’m sure that above all they’ll tell you how sometimes I’ll be chattering with them and all of a sudden I drift off in my thoughts without even realising. Sometimes I even move away from where I’ll be just to have my time alone, even if my mind is just blank. I relax most either in a relaxed wine bar, with a glass of wine or any other drink and good company. Or just somewhere relaxed (even at home), just me and my book! And I can spend whole days like that!

Shall we see more of Pam the songwriter in the future? Do you intend to go it alone one day?

Well this is quite a tough question because I’ve haven't focused on my own music for some time now and I’m really happy with what I’m doing at the moment. Yet I can never say that I won’t write any songs again. I express myself mostly through my music and so it is impossible for me to block this inner energy. However, I guess working with a team, and especially the team I’m working with at the moment, is healthier and I feel that I'm learning a real lot. This can even help me in any music I might compose later on. I don’t know what the future might hold for me, yet I just hope I’ll keep doing good music!

And now for our very serious question Which of the following would you judge as 'worst that could happen' half way through an on stage performance for a national audience? - (TOUCH WOOD, FINGERS CROSSED, GOD FORBID!!) :

THE FIRST ONE NO DOUBT!!! I have a phobia for cockroaches and yes it’s the worst thing that could ever happen to me on stage. I found a kind of solution for all the others, yet you really don’t want to see me when I see a cockroach let alone if it ever dares to touch me!! Maaaa!!

How would you react in that case?

It actually happened to me once while I was singing in a hotel. I just saw a cockroach crossing in front of me, I just left the microphone on the floor and went running out of the room as fast as I could (with high heels you can imagine). The pianist remained there with his mouth open not knowing what had happened and people laughing! Yet I think I’ll faint if it ever had to crawl up on to me!!

What is the wildest thing that ever happened to you?

No comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ?

Thanks Pamela!
Interview for Manicmalta.com by Richard Borg on 1-Sep-2005