Michael Pace was born and grew up in Sudbury, MA, just 20 minutes outside of Boston. While going to high school and college, Pace would frequently write poetry and sporadic lyrics. Over time, those lyrics turned into complete poems, which turned into verses and choruses. Pace would play at local open mic nights and anywhere people would let him sing and play his guitar.
It was not until his second year of college when he started considering a music career. After obtaining a degree from High Point University in the spring of 2017, Pace packed up his life and moved to Nashville. He spent his first year in Nashville focusing on his song writing and improving his craft. Pace, has released a new song, “A Few Rounds Ago”. The song records a 3-day party that concludes in waking up with a number of issues and lack of knowledge about the pervious nights. If you would like to know more about Michael Pace then check out his instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/michaelpacemusic/.
1. Hi Michael, can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you became a country musician?
Sure! I grew up just outside of Boston, MA in a small town called Sudbury. I was always really big into sports, especially Football, Hockey, and Baseball. I’ve always liked to stay active, and still do my best to get out and run or lift weights a little every day. Going into high school, I transferred to a boarding school in Connecticut, and from there went to college in North Carolina. Throughout my time being away from home, I experienced a lot of homesickness, and so I started reading books and poetry, and I still do today!
2. When did you become a fan of country music and when did you know you wanted a career in it?
Weirdly enough, my introduction to country music actually had very little to do with music at all. My dad was a chef for a good part of his life before I was born, so as a kid, he and my mom would teach me how to cook. While they were teaching me to cook, they would take turns playing some of their favorite songs on the stereo. While most of it was Jimmy Buffett and Billy Joel, there was also a lot of George Strait, Johnny Cash, and Garth Brooks mixed in. those always ended up being the songs that I would enjoy most, and in turn also the only songs that led to me burning whatever was in the oven. As I mentioned about getting into poetry around my high school years, I also started writing my own poems and lyrics around my junior year of high school. Those poems turned into songs, and when I put those songs to music, people really seemed to resonate with the lyrics. That was really when I started exploring the possibility of a music career.
3. Who are some of your musical icons?
Haha the list seems endless, really shrinks and grows depending on the day. If I had to pick, though I’d say Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Eminem, Jimmy Buffet, Eric Church, Cody Johnson, and William Clark Green. Kind of a broad spectrum, but each one of those artists had a profound impact on my life through their music
4. What is the background story behind your brand new single “A Few Rounds Ago?”
While I was in college, I joined a fraternity. Needless to say, there were a lot of questionable decisions that I directly attribute to some of the rowdier nights I had as a student. However, beyond that, the song has a special meaning to me because it’s loosely based on the night I was introduced to my girlfriend. There are some specific references in the song that are about either her or parts of the night that really stood out when I met her. That aspect of the song is really more for her than anyone else, but people can relate to it based on their own experiences as well.
5. Is there anything else new coming up with your music career for the rest of 2018?
As far as new music is concerned, I don’t have any other releases planned for the remainder of the year. With that said, I am making a trip back up to Boston in January where I’ll be playing some gigs more focused on my songwriting than just covering hit songs in bars. 2019 is already looking like an exciting year!
6. Where do you see your music career in the next 5 to 10 years?
Kind of a cliché answer, but it’s hard to determine where the next 5 or 10 years will take me. For the longest time, I thought by now I’d be playing in the NHL! With that said, I’m really confident in my music. By that time, I’d love to be consistently touring around the country playing all sorts of gigs in all sorts of places!
7. If you could a duet with a famous singer or group who would it be and why?
Probably Danielle Bradbury. I’ve always loved the passion behind her voice, as well as the command and confidence that she conveys through her singing.
8. What is one of your favorite quotes?
“Go west, young man.” I actually have a tattoo with the quote on my left shoulder! I’ve always interpreted it as “go ahead, seek your fortune.” So having it there constantly reminds me to keep chasing my dream and to keep getting better every day, either in the gym, as a songwriter, or even as a person.
9. Is there anything else you would like to share?
I’m an absolute man-child. I have a full collection of Looney Tunes DVDs, Scooby-Doo socks that I wear pretty frequently, and I’m constantly listening to Harry Potter in the car or obsessing over Star Wars. I try not to take anything too seriously, and I try not to grow up too fast. Having stuff like that around allows me to keep my imagination.
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