Local singer/songwriter Tomás Pagán Motta, who released his debut solo album earlier this year, will at our Luce Unplugged on June 11th. His cozy, mellow vocals are certainly a perfect fit for the acoustics in our space. Tomás is busy preparing for a tour this fall, but took some time to answer a few questions for us.
Eye Level: What's coming up for you?
Tomás Pagán Motta: I'm working on my September tour. I'll be passing through cities where stations are playing my album, covering a lot of ground in the South, Midwest, and West. Trying to get everything together in time is an intense process. Somewhat inadvertently, I've also been writing a lot of new material, honing it for the next record. I'll play some of it on the tour in addition to the latest record. I've got some summer dates happening as well: I may do a small Mid-Atlantic bunch of dates to stay warm.
EL: Describe your songwriting process for us?
TPM: It's varied and unpredictable —sometimes, pieces come in batches and other times, entire songs appear. The lyrics always come along with the music for me, sometimes in pieces and sometimes whole. The feeling comes, and then it's a matter of keeping the physical discipline to receive it and figure out the melodies and notes.
EL: What's your favorite D.C. venue?
TPM: The 9:30 Club, hands down. It is staffed with the most professional and competent people in the business. The sound is incredible, onstage and off. The folks there treat you with such respect. It's a special venue and a special community. There are some other really solid smaller clubs which I frequent, like The Rock and Roll Hotel and DC9. There are some interesting house venues popping up, but I haven't experienced them as a performer yet. That could change this summer.
EL: What can we expect from your Luce Unplugged show?
TPM: Weaving acoustic guitars, vocal harmonies, space, atmosphere —lots of sound. We're going to vibe out the place.
EL: You have a pretty unique sound. What goes into that mix? Do you find genres more useful or limiting in describing your sound? What's the most ridiculous way you've heard it described?
TPM: With this last album, it was a lot of really good microphones, really good musicians, recording live and to tape, capturing performances rather than perfect takes. I worked with a trusted engineer at Wright Way Studios in Baltimore. I don't really pay attention to labels. I'm not sure people really care about them at this point, with music streaming services just shuffling through stuff that loosely sounds like another genre. Maybe people are more open. I call it neo-folk for lack of a better word. I wouldn't say it's ridiculous, but someone did say my voice sounded like a trumpet.
Music begins at 6 p.m. Prior to the set at 5:30 p.m., a Luce Center staff member will give an art talk on Howard Finster's VISION OF A GREAT GULF ON PLANET HELL, a piece selected by Tomás. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase from a cash bar.
