
Get ready to Dive In The Pool One More Time.. the Iconic Legendary Queen of The Dance Floor, Pepper MaShay, has another banger coming out just in time for GLBTQ PRIDE that will pack the dance floor to pre pandemic levels! “Dancin’ Lights Part 2” which is slated to drop 17 June will have all 11 remixes by some of the hottest dj’s out there including the radio and extended remixes. Best put by Pepper herself …
“I Wrote Dancin Lights Prt.2 Because I was a Fan Of “Dancing With The Stars’. I Always Wanted To See If I Could Get A Song As A Theme For The Show. And then The Economy SlowDown, the Pandemic Happened, and It just stopped me dead In my tracks until I met my Co-writer Of the Song Marisol Cabrera from Cuba ,whom I met while doing Tampa Pride. I asked her if she would join me, and create a Latin Sound for The Track in which She Did Perfectly. And now we have 11 tracks that are Brilliant in their own way to get People out of their Post Pandemic Blues And up on their feet. It’s Time To Get People On Their Feet and Dance.”
Pepper lives with her wife she and has “Something to Say” about being Queer at an older age, Getting out and Register to VOTE. Along with how important it is to Help Trans Youth.
Pepper MaShay is a five-time Top 10 Billboard charting artist who was influenced by the 70s music scene. Pepper changed her life’s journey from journalist to singer after getting on stage to perform her own songs and finding an instant connection with the audience. Starting out as a session singer in Los Angeles, Pepper sang for the likes of Tina Turner, Cher, Mick Jagger, Keb’ Mo’, and Celine Dion.
In 2000, Pepper transitioned from session singer to solo artist with her international charting single “Dive In The Pool”, which has always been considered the unofficial single for the multi-award winning Showtime series Queer As Folk. She repeated that success again in 2005 with “Send Me An Angel” (remixed by Dave Audé), “Beauty Shop”, and in 2006 with “Lost Yo Mind” (reached #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play Chart). This led Pepper to launch her own label, Freckle Bandit Records, in 2008 and her single “Does Your Mamma Know” (winner of the 2008 USA Songwriting Competition – Dance/Electronica). Followed by “Freeway of Love” in 2009 and “Use Somebody” and “Love SOS” in 2011.
Pepper believes that “No matter how long it takes never give up your dreams”
Further info available on Facebook | Spotify | Twitter | YouTube
Stream her current hits on Apple Music and Spotify from Dive In The Pool to her Blues/Country Alter Ego Sista Jean
Follow her on Facebook, Instagam and Twitter for behind the scenes looks, updates and to see where she will be for Pride Season!
What first got you into music?
I first Got a taste of singing at the age of 7 yrs. old at a family gathering. I wanted to show my Grandfather and The family How good I could sing “Sherry Baby” by The 4 Seasons. I just Loved
Franki Valli’s Voice. At Night,I would listen to my transistor radio under my pillow pretending to be sleep. But I knew I had a love for the songs I was hearing. It didn’t matter if it was Motown, Stax Music, or Pop and Rock Music.
Who inspired you to make music?
It wasn’t 1 particular person, It was an episode in my life that did it. I had won the end of the year senior talent show in May of 1971 singing “Its Your Thing” (The Isley Bros. Song)
I had found the courage to want to perform after hearing all of the cheering and screaming from my Classmates. It was exhilarating.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Since I like all kinds of music like Pop, Jazz, R&B,and Rock, I started creating my own songs on acoustic guitar. My boyfriend(who became my husband later on) started writing Love letters to me ,and I would take his letters and turn them into songs I could play on my guitar. Later on, I started to Listen to alot of my favourite artists, and I would try and listen to the construction of each instrument being played in the song. I wanted to learn so bad,so I just started creating songs on my own.
What is your creative process like?
First, I sing an idea into my iphone, then i start to map out the song in complete detail like what the verse will be like, The Bsection,and Then The Hook.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Charlie Puth: That young man is so talented, and He has videos all over YouTube on How He puts His Songs Together.
I would love to sit in on a Recording Session wt. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis( Janet Jackson’s Production Team) i’ve always been a fan of theirs Since they came on the scene under Prince in the 80’s.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
Omg, This is a hard question. As Pepper MaShay: I would love to open for Cece Peniston,Crystal Waters, and Martha Wash. I would keep It Totally based around “House Music”. Since I came in late in the genre, I feel I could still learn how it’s done by them.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
“Never Give Up Your Dreams” is what you want to do with your life. Everything is Precious in what you bring to the table. I would keep an open mind on who you work wt. and enjoy every minute of it.
What is the most useless talent you have?
Not Being able to skate as good as those Dancing skaters you see skating to House music and R&B Music.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
I Don’t Sing In The Shower. I never did as a Kid.
I do like singing in the car while I’m driving.
No particular song, If it hits me, I’ll just jump right in.
Whats ON next for you?
Well, I start the Pride Music Festivals after not really being able to Perform during the past 2 years.
I’m in Dover, Delaware on June 4th
Henderson, NV.-June 10th
Indianapolis Pride Fest.-June 11th
Central Alabama Pride(Birmingham)June 12th
Orange County Pride In (Santa Ana,CA.)-June 24th
Louisville, Kentucky Pride-Sept.17
There will be Other Prides I hope To Do Before The end of 2022. I will Keep Everyone Posted:
Recording Wise: I have a couple of surprises
in a New album called “The Journey” under my Blues/Country name Sista Jean McClain
And Of Course More New Songs and a Compilation CD For Pepper MaShay. I plan to stay busy throughout 2022.