Massachusetts native Michael Pace likes to think of himself as a bit of a walking contradiction. You don’t often hear of hockey playing, rock and roll loving, northeastern born and raised, cowboy song loving artists breaking into the Nashville country music scene. While not entirely unusual, Pace credits this sense of individuality to his upbringing. Much of his childhood was spent in the suburbs of Boston but he always looked forward to the weeks he would spend in Arizona with his grandparents, enjoying the landscapes by day and watching westerns at night. Pace quickly realized his love for classic country western songs and the rich narratives that echo throughout the Texas scene, which have become his focus when writing songs, including his latest single “Even Elephants.”
Simply put, the song is about dementia. Pace unexpectedly found himself writing about the debilitating disease after hearing the news of his Grandfather’s diagnosis only a few months ago. The realization triggered a series of memories that came flooding back and inspired him to put the pen to paper so-to-speak. The song was meant to take on an endearing tone as if to say, “It’s okay if you can’t remember some things, even elephants forget things too.”
Instrumentally speaking, the track is simple with little production allowing the listener to not only hear the words, but feel them. It begins with nothing more than light finger picking of acoustic guitar strings and the occasion hum of a harmonica. Eventually drums and additional instruments are featured as the song progresses, carrying the weight of the lyrics to an emotional climax.
Pace kept the song simple but powerful, a combination that tears at the heartstrings in just the right way. Check out the link below for an early listen of “Even Elephants” and be sure to let him know what you think.
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Raised Rowdy Contributor ~ Sara Custance