Freshly Pressed – Dom Pavic’s New Album: Early in the Morning, Late at Night

Canadian singer-songwriter Dom Pavic recently released his debut album, Early in the Morning, Late at Night, featuring the infectious focus track “When It All Runs Out”. We caught up with Dom to chat about the new music, his songwriting process, and which concert venue is on his bucket list.

FTS: What was the creative process behind the album, Early in the Morning, Late at Night?

Dom Pavic:  The album itself was pieced together of songs I had written years prior and had been sitting on them and not doing anything with the tunes but letting them age. One day it hit me, I told myself “ ok pal you can keep writing all these songs you love playing, hearing and are confident about all you want; however… if you don’t record these then in the basement is where they will stay forever”  so I said alright fuck it, let’s take a whack at this, I’m going to record a full length album and once it’s done if nothing comes of it at least when I’m shitty and old I can have this momento of my music when I was a young man taking the world head on full of piss and vinegar.

Once recording started I dropped a few tunes because I had written new songs during this process that were a better representation of my creative self at that time. So week by week I’d walk into the studio with a new idea/ song and we would start recording and producing it almost immediately after the ideas were written.

I came up with the  album title after realizing when I do most of my writing, like most creatives / artists out there our brains fall into this artistic vortex in the late hours of the night, for me my sweet spot is 1-3 am.

Hence the title “ early in the morning, late at night”.

From The Strait: Tell us about the album’s focus track, “When It All Runs Out”.

Dom Pavic: I wrote when it all runs out in 2012. The short and sweet about the song would be getting bored of the relationship you’re in and losing that loving feeling. The chorus speaks about love getting old and fading away between two people and in turn; the relationship being threatened by one of the persons entertaining somebody new that has walked into their life, someone who gives you that honeymoon phase feeling that has dissipated in your current relationship. The first verse uses phrases like “ van broke down ran out of gas again” and “ ran out of words that you said were once true” to speak about love wearing out between two people. The second verse brings us to a situation where many people have been before, going out to your local bar in your hometown and seeing your ex with someone you know, and having to accept the gutting feeling of what is about to transpire. 

FTS: Every artist has their own way of creating songs – what is your songwriting process like?

Dom Pavic: My songs will either start with a melody that has popped into my head and I form everything off of that. Sometimes I’ll pick my guitar up and slide into whatever sequence my fingers feel like doing and I’ll get lucky and hit the right first 2-3 notes and start building off of that. I always write the arrangements and melodies first, lyrics are always the very very last thing I do. The majority of lyrics on all my phone recordings/ ideas are just mumble lyrics with a melody behind it.                         

A good chunk of songs on this album I wrote the lyrics when it was time to record vocals. I’d have a chorus or one line in a verse that’s been lingering and I’ll build off of that fairly quickly.

FTS: How do you gauge personal success in music?

Dom Pavic: It depends if you’re looking at it from a business point of view or emotionally. Business side of it: you’re generating a live-able revenue from performing your music, you are able to sell your music commercially and you have created and marketed a brand for your image that appeals to masses which influences how others perceive your music  and are  more inclined to spend money on your live performances / vinyls/ Merch based on how you deliver yourself as an artist. For some, being an asshole works for others having a sense of humor works. 

Emotionally: I would gauge success by how many people are familiar with your music, having people tell you they were able to relate to your songs and or the songs have found a spot in their life where it has a personal meaning to them.  

FTS: If you could play any music venue anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Dom Pavic: Massey hall is on my bucket list. The history behind it.  It’s always been a venue where you could hear a pin drop. If you’re playing Massey hall , every single eye in that room is on you and absolutely tuned into what you are doing. The people are there to listen to your every note, and you’re not the background music at some venue where people are gossiping about their day over some beers and remember to clap when the song is done.

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Check out “When It All Runs Out”, the focus track from Dom Pavic’s new EP, Early in the Morning, Late at Night!

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