Josie is an electronic rock artist from Michigan. Josie’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. Josie never does things halfway, she likes to make a point to always go the extra mile in creating an experience that is moving, exciting and thought provoking, even if it means being polarising.
“After 6 years of the hardest, most fulfilling, exciting and rewarding work of my life, I am so excited to finally be releasing my first full length album, titled ‘IV0X10V5’ (pronounced noxious). I am immensely proud of every single song on the album and I have been so blessed to be surrounded by people who believe in me and work just as hard as I do.” – Josie Pace
What do you enjoy most about being an artist?
There is so much I enjoy about being an artist. There are a lot of things to love. I love the release and almost therapeutic process of writing my songs on the guitar, I love experimenting with my vocal melodies, tone, texture and attitude while recording, I love creating music videos to go with all of my songs! But I think what I love most is performing them all live. The rush of adrenaline and the insane energy coming from the crowd and the meaning behind all of my songs is addicting to say the least. I love sharing an incredible moment with people who support my music. The feeling is unlike anything else, and I think most artists would agree. It is the greatest feeling I have ever experienced.
Have you got a ritual of sorts when writing and thinking about your music?
When writing the songs, I do have a bit of a ritual or routine that I work off of. I prefer to be absolutely alone while writing, I don’t even like having others in the same building. I live quite close to my studio I record at so I walk over with my guitar at night and try to write while no one is there. I prefer it to be dark. Somehow it is a bit easier for me to envision what I want to write in a dark or dimly lit room. I always write with pencil or pen and notebooks, the only time I type the songs out is when they’re finished.
As for the writing itself, I start off playing different progressions and finding a sound that fits how I’m feeling. Once I’ve got something to work off of I record the entire session on my phone and sing whatever melody and lyrics that pop into my head. When I like something, I stop and write it down and play off of it until I find another line I like. Just building the song line by line.
What about your music is rebellious, unconventional, or unusual?
I think something that is a bit rebellious about my music is that I don’t like to pigeon hole my art, I create whatever I feel and however it turns out is how it turns out. I don’t create for others. I create for myself and what I love. And if others enjoy it? Icing on the cake.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I have been given comes from my parents actually. Always say thank you. I remember every birthday or holiday, or event, or whatever was happening. We would go out and get a pack of thank you cards, and we would write a little thank you note in them and send them off. I still buy thank you cards and gifts and try to send as many out as possible to people that have helped me grow in my career. Wether it be label owners, managers, collaborative partners, whoever! Saying thank you goes a long way.
What is your favourite song to perform?
It is so difficult to pick! I think my song “Brain-dead” off of my album IV0X10V5 which is a bonus track on the CD, is my favorite to perform right now. The lyrics themselves mean a lot to me and resonate with me very deeply. And on top of it it is a banger of a song. At the end I go into a repetitive french lyric section and I’ve played with the delivery of the lyrics so much and I’ve actually found a new way of using my voice and the attitude behind the lyrics. I feel like I’ve learned a lot just by performing this song. It’s also heavy and weird and hard and the French just makes it almost an art piece to me.
What is the most useless talent you have?
I would say my most useless talent is whistling. I am a fairly good whistler and I whistle a lot, so much so that my producer jokes about recording a “Josie Pace Whistles the Best of Josie Pace” album.
Do you have a cherished childhood teddy bear or other stuffed animal sitting on your bed at home?
I have collected plushies since I was a kid, and I have a few from my childhood that are very special. But one comes to mind as the most cherished. I have a ratty old leopard cub, who’s nose is falling off and its a little matted. But it was gifted to me from my parents after performing at my first talent show when I was about 8 years old.
What would be the ideal food to have cooked for you on a date night?
My ideal food cooked for me on date night would have to be farfalle pasta al dente, with a homemade sauce, maybe a glass of red wine and fresh bread. And of course, a nice cup of coffee afterwards and maybe a cannoli or two.
What’s your most expensive piece of clothing?
My most expensive item of clothing is a cherry red spiked leather jacket- which cost me $300. I bought for a really important performance. The jacket weighs about 5 pounds and is covered in a ton of 2-inch spikes on the shoulders and down the arms at the cuffs of the sleeves. It is my favorite leather jacket, but man is it hard to perform in!
If you could learn any language fluently what would it be?
I would love to be able to speak any language other than english fluently! I am currently learning Russian. I love how strong, beautiful and badass the language is. I had always wanted to learn but I deterred myself because I thought it would be too difficult. But my new year’s resolution is to learn Russian fluently.
