Meet Pace Maynard of Universal Sigh in Athens

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pace Maynard.

Pace, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The current lineup of Universal Sigh solidified in the fall of 2012 while we were students at the University of Georgia. The members of the band are my brother Jones Maynard on drums, Austin Parker on bass and lead vocals, Steve Terry on guitar and keyboards and myself on guitar. From 2012-2014 we focused primarily on writing music and performing locally around Athens and Atlanta. We began to tour regionally in the summer of 2015 and played over 70 shows that year. I was juggling three roles, playing my instrument in addition to handling the band’s management and booking. In 2016 we released our debut studio album “Atoms & Void” and Erwin Schemankewitz took over our booking duties. Erwin owns and operates Ever Upward Entertainment, a full-service booking and management company based in Denver, Colorado and books us over 100 shows a year. During the past three years we have expanded our touring network and regularly perform in cities all over the east coast and as far west at Colorado and New Mexico. We currently have gigs around the southeast every weekend through November and plan to record our second full-length album this winter.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The journey has certainly had its ups and downs but we have enjoyed a slow but steady upward trajectory throughout the years. We are blessed with incredibly supportive families, friends, and fans that encourage us to continue practicing our craft even during the hardest times. The financial realities of running a small business can be tiresome but the moments of connection and joy that music and art catalyze make all of the negative aspects of the industry melt away. Staying healthy on the road can be an arduous task but we do our best to prioritize constructive habits and behaviors. One of the most difficult times for our band was an eight-month period during which Austin was struggling with wrist issues and was unable to play bass. Thankfully our close friend Josiah Garrett was able to come on the road with us and fill in on bass while Austin focused solely on singing. Ultimately the five of us learned a lot and grew closer through the experience. I also feel a deep sense of gratitude for my longtime partner Julie Hutchins and our dog Smokey Bear for always being present to help me through any difficulties along the path.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Universal Sigh story. Tell us more about the business.
Universal Sigh is a metamorphic rock band. The music is difficult to describe, so we prefer to let the songs speak for themselves. We love to play improvisational music as well as write and perform tight compositions. We strive for sustainability and hope that we can inspire listeners to act with compassion and kindness toward everyone they meet. We are proud of the network of friends, fans, and artists that we are a part of and hope that the songs we write and perform are genuine and represent our collective voice. One unique aspect of our band is that we host a music festival annually in our hometown of Athens, GA called Sigh In July. The purpose of the music festival is to create a time and space for the people we have met along our travels to come together and celebrate life, community, and art. Additionally, I also own and operate a small booking and management agency called Present Tense Artist Solutions with the help of Josiah Garrett.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I can’t say that I believe in luck. As I mentioned before, we’ve had plenty of ups and downs and expect to have many more. We work hard and are grateful for every opportunity we are presented.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.universalsighmusic.com/
• Email: contact@universalsighmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/universalsighmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universalsighmusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_universalsigh
• Other: http://www.sighinjuly.com/

Image Credit:
Photos by Tipping Point Designs, Universal Sigh Logo by Wren Design, Sigh In July Artwork by Breze Art

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