by Amelia Vandergast, cross posted from A&R Factory

While most artists rely on assimilation to reach the same affecting heights as their influences, that isn’t the case for Pam R. Johnson Davis; she shows the capacity for true originality within the organically expressive fluidity of her sound. Her latest single, Up & Down, produced by Mico Davis, is a testament to her ability to tease genre-fluid artistry into raw emotion.

With a standing ovation-worthy vocal performance, she tempers the rhythmic complexity of the instrumentation beneath her, pouring every note straight from the soul. There’s a reason her music has travelled across 120 countries and amassed over 122,000 streams—whether performing original compositions or classics spanning Aretha Franklin to Garth Brooks, her presence commands attention.

As a singer, songwriter, poet, and historian, her work has already earned two Global Music Awards, and Up & Down only cements her reputation further. The track traverses the highs and lows of a perpetually precarious relationship with unparalleled grace, carried by husky powerhouse vocals and jazz-tinged progressions.

Whether she’s behind the mic or not, Pam R. Johnson Davis carries a room-lightening energy, and through Up & Down, that presence becomes almost tangible. Your speakers won’t just pulse with the smooth syncopated grooves—they’ll radiate. For anyone who has ever suffered from romantic whiplash, this is a lesson in healing that should be mandatory.

Up & Down is now available to stream on all major streaming platforms. Find your preferred way to listen on the artist’s official website.

I worked really hard for this book. The writing of these poems over two years (and the way some of them like "How to Build a House" vulnerably cracked me wide open). The editing process, the cover design, the press & interviews, the BOOK TOUR...and yet, when I looked at the magnitude of this beautiful canvas...I felt like I didn't deserve it.

"Why is the cover so big?!" I nervously asked DeMico.

He cocked his head and looked at me curiously. He paused a beat before simply replying, "Because this was a big accomplishment and you deserve to be celebrated."

*cue the waterfall of tears*

I don't know about you, but my brain is hardwired to minimize good news. It's as if my brain believes that if I pat myself on the back too hard, I'll break. Which often translates to not patting myself on the back at all. Not celebrating the milestones. Just keep moving forward to the next thing. Complicating all of this is the fact that I'm an internal processor - it takes time & deep reflection for me to really grasp when I've accomplished a thing. With life moving at a nonstop pace, it can be difficult to sit down & take the time I need to really understand a moment.

DeMico was right though. I deserve to be celebrated! No Unpaid Passengers is not just a title - it's a mantra. A commitment to shedding the people, places, & things that don't have good intentions for me. This includes imposter syndrome! In fact, imposter syndrome (or Nancy, as my bestie L'Oreal calls it in her new book Stop Waiting for Perfect - out now!!!) is, in and of itself, an unpaid passenger. It clings to me and whispers - "It's not that big of a deal, calm down, no one likes a showboat." BYE NANCY! This is a BFD, and I'm going to love on myself today.

Friends, how often have you achieved something HUGE (buying that house, getting that degree, starting a new job, writing a BOOK) and then downplayed your success? What "unpaid passengers" are you still carrying that prevents you from acknowledging the fruit of your labor?

If you've accomplished something recently, big or small, and you haven't celebrated yourself - here's your reminder to do so. You deserve it. You're worth it. Pop those bottles, dance in your living room, and feel free to send me a pic or drop me a line so I can celebrate with you. We earned this party 🎉


Unapologetically,
Pam