Actor and singer Steven Pasquale (“Rescue Me”) chatted about his new Off-Broadway show “Teeth” and his latest album “Some Other Time.”
New album
This collection was recorded in two days and produced by John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey.
On the song selection process for the new CD, he said, “These songs were some of my favorites and I wanted to know what they would sound like with just voice and guitar, so I made a list, and I ran it by John Pizzarelli, and he was the mastermind behind how good the album sounds.”
“John is pretty spectacular when it comes to arranging and playing. He liked the idea of those songs as well and we knocked it out in a handful of hours; that’s how fast he is.”
Favorite song on the album
Pasquale listed the title track “Some Other Time” as his personal favorite track on there because he loves John’s 3.5-minute intro.
“We just let it breathe with the guitar for a nice long while before the singing even starts. That sets the mood for the song perfectly,” he admitted.
“These songs are all covers of American Songbook jazz standards,” he added.
Off Broadway show ‘Teeth’
Pasquale opened up about being a part of the Off-Broadway show “Teeth.” “It has been great,” he admitted. “It is being performed at Playwrights Horizons on 42nd Street.”
“The show is based on a cult movie called ‘Teeth’ about an Evangelical Christian girl, Dawn O’Keefe, who has teeth in her private parts, and it’s incredibly funny, insane, smart, and twisted,” he said.
“Anna K. Jacobs and Michael R. Jackson really outdid themselves with this piece of writing, and Sarah Benson, who is directing, is doing a really great job of putting it on its feet. I think it is really special,” he added.
He noted that he gets to play the villain in this play, and that is something that he doesn’t normally do (when it comes to his roles). “I get to play five different people in this,” he noted. “I’m doing what I affectionately call the Denis O’Hare-track, where I’m playing five different people. It’s just really different than anything I’ve been asked to do in the past. I’m having a great time.”
“This show is so irreverent and wonderful in terms of its messaging, and it is about female empowerment,” he added.
‘Rescue Me’
“That show was over 15 years ago at this point,” he recalled about his former TV show on FX. “That was my first good job. It was filmed in New York, and we had a blast with those guys. We had a great time making that show.”
The digital age
On being an entertainer in the digital age, he said, “It is pretty awesome to have access to that much music at the tips of your fingers. When I was a kid, I had to go to a record store and thumb through everything before I would buy one.”
“In that respect, it’s great. People have access to the music of the whole world at their fingertips, which is pretty wild,” he said.
“On the other hand, it’s not as good for the artist obviously economically but in terms of the culture, it is pretty special,” he admitted. “We will do a vinyl pressing of this album too, which will be ready in two months.”
Pasquale continued, “With this album, we wanted to make something that felt like a red wine kind of night. It is something that you would never have to say ‘Hey Siri’ turn it down. Those were our two goals, and I feel like we accomplished them, and I am really happy with it.”
Advice for young and aspiring artists
For young and aspiring artists, he said, “The business has changed so much. If you really feel confident that you have something to offer you need to keep your head down and do the work.”
“Learn from people that are better than you, steal from people that are better than you, be on time, be prepared, outwork everybody. Nobody is entitled to a single thing. It is outworking everybody every day and there is a place for you,” he elaborated.
Career-defining moments
On his career-defining moments, he shared, “I’ve had so many! My first television show, my first Broadway show, as well as the first time somebody put me in a play where there is no singing. The list is long.”
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Pasquale said, “I’m a Happy Artist.”
“My life is going very well. I’m living an artist’s life in New York, in the greatest city in the world. I am getting to make music and do theater, and work consistently in television and film. I am a happy artist,” he explained.
Superpower of choice
If he were to have any superpower, it would be “to fly.” “Flying sounds fun,” he admitted.
Favorite motto to live by
On his favorite motto to live by, Pasquale responded, “Harry Connick Jr. once told me ‘Let your talent guide you.’ That’s a good one and a very valuable motto. Just keep your head down and do the work.”
Fans and supporters
For his fans and supporters, Pasquale remarked about the new album, “I want the fans to enjoy it. It is available on all the digital platforms with the vinyl coming really soon. It feels like something old-fashioned, and I hope they dig it.”
“Some Other Time” is available on Apple Music by clicking here.
To learn more about actor and singer Steven Pasquale, follow him on Instagram.
