Whenever I listen to new artists, there is this feeling that I somehow need to feel for me to devour their music. But with Paul Pablo, right from the moment I heard his voice and saw his music videos, I felt that feeling. From his soulful and distinct voice, witty and hugot lyrics, his avant-garde style, to his groovy-synth-pop beats, Paul Pablo is undeniably one of the new great artists you need to listen to.
Paul Pablo behind his craft
Paul Ramirez, popularly known as Paul Pablo, describes himself as a liberating, unforgettable, and human. In his 2022 single, “Di Inakala,” Paul managed to sing about his life journey through a love song. In case people don’t know, Paul wrote this song thinking about his journey in choosing which career to pursue.
“My music career came unexpectedly, and it’s finally here with me. It felt like I was really meant for this. To make it relatable, I converted my experience to a love song and expanded its interpretation,” Paul tells Metroscene.
The Davao Conyo Popstar
Born and raised in Davao City, Paul speaks in different languages, and the same goes with his songs. ICYDK, during the quarantine last 2020, Paul released his first Davao Conyo hit debut single, BAI. So when we asked him where he got that motivation and creativity, Paul said that staying at home for a year helped him to evaluate himself and his decisions.
After his dad passed away in 2020, Paul mentioned that it had been an awakening of his life. “I figured out how short life is and that I can’t waste my time just waiting for the right time. I still have my mother to witness my success, so I started pursuing it with all the resources I have, and there I had, BAI,” Paul explained.
As someone who writes and helps with the production of his music, Paul also admits that sometimes, it’s harder for him to find motivation than inspiration. “So I make sure to recall the reason why I do this, get motivated enough to get my a** onto my desk and write stuff,” he said.
Being new to the music industry may be rough, but for Paul Pablo, being able to dream drives him to pursue his career in music. “My dreams give me hope that I can help, influence, and heal people through my music.”
Raise the Rainbow Flag
In his 2021 single, “Gulo”, the song centered on the battle against fake news and how misinformation creates a lot of conflicts. So we asked Paul about his stand on the significance of exercising our rights through art.
“Yes, it is what the world needs. Art is everything. We can trace our historical events, our origin, and our culture from it. It is powerful enough to make a statement and change the world. So, people need to keep expressing their minds and freedom through art. It’s not only for the present times but also to benefit the future,” he explained.
As an artist, Paul also mentioned how he would love to influence his listeners not only in the form of music. “As we move forward, I’d be honored to influence them with my wisdom and my leanings in this world. I hope that my listeners and I would have a moment to talk about our mistakes and traumas and find a common ground for healing and influence others with it.”
Being a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Paul Pablo also shared some advice to other LGBTQ+ member that also wants to pursue a career in the music industry. “The best advice that I can give is that they should go out there and do their thing. You’ll figure it all out even from your first step you’ll make of being out there. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, just move forward and grow. First steps don't have to be grand.”
The Mother Monster’s Influence
Being a proud Little Monster, Paul started listening to Lady Gaga when he was eight years old, and since then, she’s been a big part of his growth and lifestyle. Growing up as a gay kid, Paul also shared how hard it was to fit in with the norm and values within the Catholic school. Luckily, through Lady Gaga’s music, he found an escape. “Listening to her music made me feel like I belong and that I can choose to be proud of who I am,” he mentioned.
“I sort of found my escape through her music, and now as an artist, I want to do the same with my listeners, too; I’m just halfway to getting started,” Paul said.
So when it comes to his listeners, Paul also tries to reach out to them through various social media platforms, which is very admirable. So as their idol, we asked him what he wanted to be the takeaway of his fans on his music. Paul answered, “I want them to use it and relate it to their life however they want to. It is enough for me that my music has become a part of their lives. I think this is why I’m still not used to calling people “fans” cause I prefer to have them as friends.”
Paul Pablo’s Music Journey
After the successful release of “Bangin,” “Kaya,” and “Kalawakan,” Paul Pablo is back again with his latest single, “Sagi.” A synth-bass pop song that revolves around the “what if’s” in a relationship, another perfect hugot song to fit in your situationship and unrequited love. As we ended the interview, Paul left a message to his listeners. “As long as I’m alive, I’ll continue to surprise and amaze you with my art. I still have a lot more to reveal, and I need you to be there when it happens,” he said.
━━ Art By Metroscene Mag
