Pamela Moore. Visually, she is a very captivating woman. Her voice is one of many layers and textures. If you’re a fan of rock and metal, there’s a good chance that you have heard her voice before, even if the name is not familiar. Queensryche fans, as well as many in the metal world, know her as Suite Sister Mary. She traveled with the band bringing life and death to the character from the band’s Operation: Mindcrime works. Well, she is back in a major way and is about to unveil a new chapter in her on-going musical novel.
She is set to deliver a brand new solo album entitled Resurrection on RatPak Records. It’s her first solo outing since her 2009 release Eurameric. The amazing voice that has rocked us for over thirty years is about to show the world, yet again, why her amazing voice is one that deserves to be heard by the masses. I sat down with her on a rainy afternoon and discussed music, animated movies and asthmatic animals.
Pamela Moore: Hi, is this Johnny Price?
Johnny/RockRevolt: Yes, would this happen to be Pamela Moore?
Pamela: I’m sorry that I called a little late. That’s a really cool name by the way, is that your real name?
Johnny/RR: Yes it is and thank you; you just made my day. You have me smiling like the Cheshire cat over here.
Pamela: (Laughs) You’re welcome. So, how are you today?
Johnny/RR: Other than fighting allergies and having issues with my asthma, I am doing ok for a cold and rainy day in Virginia. How are you doing?
Pamela: I’m doing really well and I love the rain. I live in Seattle, Washington and so many here don’t like it, but I love it. My dog actually has allergies and I have to give him Benadryl. I’m a farm girl and it doesn’t bother me. I guess I was exposed to all of those elements growing up.
*At this point out interview was temporarily delayed by her dog that was having a weird, asthma like snorting fit*
Pamela: Can you hear my dog? I’m sorry. He’s having one of his attacks. It’s like a reverse sneeze and it sounds like he’s clearing his throat. He’s ok now though.
Johnny/RR: Let’s jump right into this and talk about your new album Resurrect Me.
Pamela: Have you heard it yet?
Johnny/RR: Yes I have and I absolutely love it! Joe from RatPak Records sent me an advance copy of it. I know you are anxious for the fans to hear it and so am I after getting a chance to listen to it. I am really digging “Paranoia” and “Awakening”. I think those two are my early favorites. Can you tell our readers a little about the four year process that it took to complete this album?
Pamela: I was living in Chicago and I ended up moving back home in 2008. I had a band in Chicago that I did a few shows with and one of the players in the band was Michael Posch. I was looking ahead to the next album and I was writing songs and contacting a bunch of different songwriters to collaborate to see what we could create. Michael was coming up with these great musical riffs and ideas and of all of the stuff sent into me from everyone, his were the ones that I was really able to sink my teeth into. It was a really neat balance between being able to show off a bunch of facets of my voice and my range. When I decided to move back to Seattle, I wondered if I should continue this. You know, you don’t have to be in the same room now to be able to collaborate on a song. He would send me a file and I would add my input to it and send it back to him. That’s pretty much how we created the whole album. The reason that it took so long is that I did move away, plus I also did a few shows with Primal Fear in 2009 and a tour with them in 2010, so life kind of took over for a bit. We finished it last year and it comes out this month and I think now is just as good of time as any.
Johnny/RR: It sounds like you have great creative chemistry with Michael. He’s really involved with many facets of the album including production, playing guitar, bass, keys and orchestration, as well as helping write all but one song. When did you know you tapped into something special with him?
Pamela: I approached him to ask him if he would write a few songs with me, mainly because he put together this great musical piece. You know how bands have opening songs at a concert right before they take the stage? I really loved what he did and I thought we should try doing this. Everything that he was sending me was great and there were very few that I didn’t end up using. In fact, we have about three or four other songs that are in the works for the next album. I think we were just feeding off each other and everything that we came up with was what the other was imagining. This album is the album that I have always wanted to do. I’ve always wanted it to be on the heavier side and show off my vocal range. There’s also a lot of room for me to be very creative with melody. I don’t know why things happen the way they do, but they just did, and I’m very happy with it actually.
Johnny/RR: When it comes together like that, you shouldn’t question it; just go with it.
Watch ‘Paranoia’
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Pamela: I know, right! Just go with it (laughs).
Johnny/RR: What are your plans to promote the album?
Pamela: We finished up a video here in Seattle for the song “Paranoia” which should be out any day now and I’m really excited for that to be unleashed. Right now, we are in full rehearsal and getting down all the parts that we need to. Since Michael lives in Chicago, we’ll fly him and slip right into it when we have a show. There is a plan to do some dates, but I am not sure right now if it will be a full blown tour yet or not.
Johnny/RR: Now, of all of the song titles to choose from, why did you go with “Resurrect Me” for the album title? I have a hunch that there’s a story there. Is it possibly symbolic?
Pamela: (Laughs) Actually, it is a big symbolic and it’s kind of a pun on the character that I played for so many years, Queensryche‘s Sister Mary. I don’t know if you knew the fate of her, but she ended up shooting herself. There’s a little pun as far as that’s concerned, but it also has to do with me getting back into the metal scene. You know, four years is a long time and I have personally gone through a lot of growth as far as where I am at now as compared to four years ago; so, it’s all encompassing.
Johnny/RR: Is this your first album with RatPak Records?
Pamela: Yeah, I just love those guys!
Johnny/RR: They seem like an awesome label and we’ve done some work with them already. What sold you on the idea of going with them for the new album?
Pamela: It’s all about the artist with them. Obviously, we all want to make money, but in this situation it’s all very simple. They all work their butts off, which I noticed right away. Joe, the leader of the pack, so to speak, is an exceptional person. He’s so smart and he really, really cares about each and every one of his artists that he has. He’s not going to shuffle anybody under the table and I really like that. I’d much rather have a personal relationship with someone who is shopping my album than someone who just wants to know how much money this is going to make them.
Johnny/RR: Now, I know this may be a very tough question, almost like asking a parent who their favorite child is. Is there a song on the album that really stands out to you for a particular reason? Is there one that may be more personal or have a deeper meaning than others?
Pamela: Wow, now that’s a really tough one. You know, it changes depending on my mood. Of course, I love all of them, but “Awakening” really stands out right now because it was such a fresh, impromptu version of it. I really didn’t go back and re-record too much of it. Jeff Loomis is playing a solo on it and he and I are really good friends. It’s kind of a sleeper to me because it’s kind of laid back and then it just gets more and more intense and by the end of the song, it’s really chaotic.
Johnny/RR: Do you remember the first album that you ever bought?
Pamela: Wow, what was it? I think it was Heart. Yeah, it was my friends in Heart and it was Dog and Butterfly, way back in the day (laughs). You know they just recently got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I’m totally happy for all for all of them and the girls are still so amazing.
Johnny/RR: How about a fun fact about yourself for all of your fans that might surprise them.
Pamela: Here’s something that’s on my bucket list that I would love to do. I’ve always wanted to be the voice of a cartoon character. I love watching animated films and that would be a lot of fun. It seems like it’s all the big stars that get to do all of that stuff.
Johnny/RR: Would you want to be the voice of a new character or one in a remake of something?
Pamela: I would want it to be new because I feel like I would ruin a classic one. I would want it to be new so that people wouldn’t be comparing me to someone else (laughs).
Johnny/RR: Yeah, you would probably have those purists who would complain that you didn’t pronounce something the correct way.
Pamela: Exactly! I don’t want them saying that I don’t sound as good as the original.
Johnny/RR: Well, you definitely are an original Pamela and this has been a pleasure. We wish you all the best with the album and whatever lies ahead for you.
Pamela: Aww! Thank you Johnny. I’m really excited about the album and its release. I know I said it before, but it’s the album that I always wanted to make. I’ve been getting really positive feedback so far and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. It’s weird how it all happened because it’s precariously fit in between Geoff Tate’s Queensryche and the real Queensryche. It was really planned that way, but it is a little weird. I do think that everything’s good. I thank you for wanting to talk to me and I’ve really enjoyed it. Thanks again for all that you do and for the support.
