Pammi Pasqual on ‘Mediterranean Breeze,’ Storytelling Through Music, and His Creative Evolution
Pammi Pasqual has cultivated a skillset for crafting music that evokes deep emotion and transports listeners to distant landscapes, continuing to showcase a unique signature sound as he pushes his creativity forward and experiments with his approach. His recent release, ‘Mediterranean Breeze,’ came as the latest example of his artistic vision; a chilled, instrumental Deep House track, the release offered listeners a glimpse into Pammi’s creative world, immersing them in a soundscape where mellow melodies and vibrant energy converge.
In this exclusive interview, Pammi joins us to reflect on the personal experiences that inspired the track, his creative process, and what he hopes for next in his musical journey.
Hi Pammi Pasqual, how are you?
Hi, I am doing very well, I had a good start in 2025!
‘Mediterranean Breeze’ is such a vivid and atmospheric track. What was the initial inspiration behind the song, and how did it evolve during the production process?
I think that it all started with just a few combined melancholic emotions I had at that time. It was the end of the summer when I took a solo trip to visit my brother in Protaras, Cyprus. I see him rarely these days, maybe once or twice a year, since I live in the UK, and he is between Greece and Cyprus. I was sitting outside of his accommodation while he was at work. It was a small house located in the middle of an olive tree field. I was feeling a bit down that evening, knowing that I would have to leave him soon, and at the same time leave behind the heat and the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea. I was preparing to leave all that to return back to the gloomy and cold weather of the jungle of London. Equipped with these feelings, I just grabbed my phone in my attempt to channel these emotions into music. Making music that way is like writing your thoughts down on a piece of paper. When feeling any kind of discomfort, that gives you such relief!
You’ve mentioned producing the main idea for the track in Cyprus using GarageBand on your phone. Can you tell us more about that moment and how you took it from a simple idea to a fully released production?
So, that same evening I did a short 1-minute demo, just a simple bassline, the main synth chords and a basic drum loop. In an hour-ish, I had a solid idea shaped, one that got me really excited! When I returned back home to London, I knew that I had to sit down and fully produce this and add more to it.
So, I started with my Moog Subsequent 37 to add some analogue magic and layer some synth sounds and pads. Then I played around with my acoustic guitar and created an atmospheric guitar riff that plays in the background throughout the song. Of course, I had to replace quite a few GarageBand sounds, and I worked with Battery from Native Instruments to fully produce the drums and percussion. The production was quite simple, and there was a lot of room for lead vocals. I wrote some lyrics, and I was planning to record them. Then, my flatmate back then, KYRIsax, listened to the tune while I was working on it, and he decided to jam along the track with his saxophone. And it worked really well!
The song blends mellow saxophone melodies with Arabic scales and a lush string section. How did you approach incorporating these cultural and musical influences into the track?
Actually, there are no strings in this song… haha… I know it sounds like it, but I promise you there aren’t any. What sounds like strings in specific sections are saxophone chops and cuts that have been heavily processed with various effects to make them sound like synth pads or strings.
When it comes to the Arabic influences, that’s all up to KYRIsax. He started recording freely, jamming on top of the track without any direction or a specific melody in mind. He actually top-lined with his saxophone, like a singer would do over a backing track. He played over the 5-minute production again and again and again. Some of these recordings were Eastern melodies, some of these Electro Swing-type riffs, and some of them catchy melodies that could work well as a chorus of a song. As I said earlier, we had no specific plan, so KYRIsax was actually dropping some cool ideas on the mic with various different approaches and techniques with each recording.
Post-recording, my approach was simple. I took the best out of each recording and experimented by combining these different recording styles and these different melodies in a way that makes musical and ‘storytelling’ sense. It took me ages to experiment with different layering combinations and the arrangement in general, but it worked in the end!
You’ve described the composition as a reflection of summers spent in the Mediterranean. How important is storytelling in your music, and how do you translate personal memories into sound?
Storytelling is one of the most important things. People relate to stories and to someone who has something to say. I like deep and meaningful things in my life—I can’t stand shallow things. I search for meaning in everything and through this pursuit, I learn so much about life and myself.
I am currently working on my storytelling skills, and I am trying to implement more of them into my upcoming tracks. I like journaling a lot, having my experiences, thoughts or reflections all written down. That often gives me inspiration to write lyrics, create melodies and then share the results with others. When writing music, I need to be in a certain state of mind where I have a flow of feelings inside me, feelings which I can translate into lyrics and melodies. The way I express them is by playing the keys and humming or singing a melody on the microphone. The same with the production—the sounds I shape and the instruments I pick, they all have to be there for a reason. Each sound has to give something to the overall track in terms of emotion. Through ‘Mediterranean Breeze’, although an instrumental track, it tells a story. This storyline is a journey of emotions.
If someone closes their eyes and listens to the ‘Mediterranean Breeze’ carefully, what type of journey will they experience through the track’s musical storyline?
That’s a great question. Here is how I would analyse the song and its musical storyline, but this would be different for anyone listening to the track.
The track starts with an almost unsettling and alarming sound, like a bell in the dark and in the middle of nowhere. Soon enough, the string-like saxophone sounds offer some relief, and the sped-up guitar gives a short break for the listener to breathe. Although the piano and synth layered chords now dominate the track, alongside the tense and repetitive baseline, it almost feels kind of stressful, like someone’s running alone in the middle of nowhere—maybe inside this olive tree field where I was seated when I was writing these first chords.
The first couple of minutes are quite heavy and dark, heavy as my feelings at that moment and dark as the midnight hour in that field. There’s a peak at around 1:30 where the synths and delays have been used to create confusion, a chaos. But that chaos doesn’t last for long, and we have the introduction of the saxophone at 1:50. The sound of it feels like a helping hand, finally some hope, or at least a light that shows us the way out. Unfortunately, that doesn’t last for long, and at 2:38 the hope is fading slowly—it’s fading like the sax sound is fading away behind the reverb, in the dark.
Then we have a break, where things go a bit quiet, some time to think or rest maybe, with some random saxophone sounds but no particular meaning there, like some random voices in someone’s head. The confusion or discomfort is still there until the hope is back at 3:12 when the saxophone repeats the same main melodic line, the same hopeful message. At 3:47 it feels like we have some more company, we are no longer alone in this field, more voices fill the air, some dialogues occur, and things are lively now. At 4:03 it’s almost fun, at this stage we have the Electro Swing vibe that kicks in and it feels like everyone’s happier or everything’s much more positive now. Towards the last minute of the song, in the outro, it feels like the story has a happy ending, where things have been quite down and finally been resolved.
Layering such diverse elements like brass, guitars, various synths, and saxophone can be a challenge. How did you approach the arrangement to ensure each element had its place in the mix?
Arrangement is the key here. I had to make sure that each instrument had its own time and space in the track. Instruments are coming in and out constantly to allow the track to breathe and to allow all these elements to coexist within the song. If the arrangement hadn’t been as defined, the mixing stage would have been a nightmare. I spent a lot of time on the arrangement, trying to work out which elements appear where and in what order or what sound combination works better, at which part of the song. I love the process of arrangement, and I believe that it’s often an undervalued process for us music producers.
You’ve released this track through your own label, Playdance Records. Does having full creative control affect the way you approach experimenting with your sound?
It gives me absolute creative freedom. That, in return, leads me to more unique results and sometimes unexpected creative surprises. That’s the main reason why I do this independently through my own label. I need this freedom to experiment with my sound and my songs without any limitations imposed by a manager or A&R. Of course, sometimes, I might have a more specific idea about a track and then choose a specific direction which of course sets certain limits. However, I still have the option to divert during the process and when the mood for experimentation is high!
Your sound often blends genres seamlessly, as heard here with touches of Ethnic House and Electro Swing. How do you experiment with new styles while still maintaining your signature sound?
I have certain instrumentation, arrangement, aesthetic and sonic preferences that come from my experiences, music taste and musical upbringing. Also, I have some go-to processes in terms of production and mixing. These standards are somehow rooted in me. These, by default, are a combination of various elements which aren’t necessarily unique on their own, but when combined they become a unique combination of elements, that lead to certain results and give an identity to my sound. When I dive into the experimentation stage, I’m trying to merge all the above with the various other musical influences from the artists with whom I collaborate. Sometimes this ‘marriage’ of all the above works perfectly and sometimes it doesn’t, but that’s still the beauty of it! With ‘Mediterranean Breeze,’ it worked!
This release follows ‘Riders On The Storm.’ How would you say ‘Mediterranean Breeze’ differs in terms of production approach and overall message?
The two songs are very different in terms of their message. Although both songs have a melancholic feel and similar production elements, the lyrics of ‘Riders On The Storm’ and its anti-war message differentiate it from the ‘Mediterranean Breeze’. The latter is just an instrumental, with atmospheric electronic landscapes, mellow melodies and a ‘summertime sadness’ feel. In terms of production, they both share similar characteristics but what really differentiates one from another is the combination of trumpets and electric guitars on the first one, while ‘Mediterranean Breeze’ is characterised by natural live saxophone melodies and other synthesised or highly processed saxophone riffs.
Lastly, what do you hope to achieve next in your creative journey? What can fans expect from you in 2025?
Consistency! That’s what I hope to achieve in 2025! Creative and artistic consistency. All of my goals are surrounded by this principle. I am my own worst enemy and I am competing hard with him every day… haha… Consistency is hard work of course, but if things go as planned, I aim to deliver around 8 new original songs this year and I can’t wait to share them with you and the world!!
Through this interview, it is clear that Pammi Pasqual’s creative journey remains deeply personal, rooted in his experiences, emotions, and love for storytelling. As his creative output continues to deliver dynamic sounds and unique sonic experiences, Pammi will surely keep drawing attention, striking out with more music whilst continuing to develop and refine his signature style. As he looks ahead to 2025, with plans for more releases and continued exploration of his craft, Pammi is set to further solidify his presence as a talent to watch within Electronic Music, so be sure to keep him on your radar and stay updated on his upcoming releases and news by following him across social media.
Listen and Buy ‘Mediterranean Breeze’ Now:
Pammi Pasqual Online
