So, here we have Paula Lleshi with her album 'OneTwoThree'. This Pop Soul three-track album gives you an idea of what sort of music Paula makes and shows you, not just her already established talent in this genre, but also her unique vocal style that separates her from other artists. Now, the overall tone of this album has a warm coating of electronic elements with a lot of reverb giving each song, kind of a larger-than-life atmosphere.
For example, take a song like 'It’s Alright', which is the first single from this album about Paula feeling hurt from a lost relationship. Here, she wishes this other person understood how hard things have been for her and warns that one day, she’ll move on and be missed. It’s basically about Paula trying to hold on, but then feeling betrayed, and eventually realizing her own worth.
Paula's voice feels extremely polished and translates the emotions well through its soft details. Besides that, say, a song like 'Payback' also brings even more vocal variety with some really sharp movements, raspy tone and general articulations.
With that being said, someone like Paula, who was already successful deserves her independent exposure, which is why, we have an interview that explores even more about Paula's vision for this album as well as musical exploration and experimentation.
So, here's the interview:
Interviewer: Hey Paula, thank you so much for sitting down with us today! You’ve got a new mini album coming out, tell us a little bit about it. What can we expect from this record?
Paula: Hey, thank you for having me. I’m excited to share this mini album although I like to call it my little experimental project. Being a songwriter I always liked to experiment with different genres and vibes so I decided to focus on three songs where I could express myself differently. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that often we feel like we don’t really know what we are looking for in our life or where we are headed, so trying a little bit of everything could be the answer for some of us.
Interviewer: That’s a really beautiful concept. How did the creative process for this album differ from your previous work?
Paula: This is the first time I’m coming with something that is fully mine, as an independent artist. I’ve always written and composed my own music but I didn’t always have a say in my releases hence why coming from a “battle” with my previous label made me appreciate the importance of freedom in art. Due to the conflict, I have yet to claim rights for my old music and re-release it but I am grateful for the opportunity of an open slate. So the process was definitely more inspiring and empowering at the same time.
Interviewer: I’m glad to hear you are doing better! So we’re definitely expecting something a little different. Is there a particular song that you're especially proud of or excited for fans to hear?
Paula: The track 'Payback' is currently my favourite. After recording the demo I had actually forgotten about it, but when I got back to my old demos one day I rediscovered it. It grew on me so much that I intended to leave it with the same feel it had from the first recording. That song feels like a fragment more so than a song to me but in its short nature it creates an even stronger impact and gives off the feeling of a cliffhanger.
Interviewer: Now that you’ve completed the album do you feel like you’ve reached a new chapter in your career, or do you still feel like there’s more to explore within this era of your music?
Paula: This feels like I am dipping my toes into the real me, my real potential. I have many new things planned and waiting for me, but I had to make this comeback to prove to myself that I could make it independently. I like to believe my emotions can be perceived through my music, happiness, sadness, doubt and fear about my life but also about my decisions on music releases.
I think resonating with people will always be a part of any artist's music era and the link we create through our perceived emotions is the only way to always remain authentic in whatever genre we’ve decided to express ourselves.
Interviewer: Looking back on the journey from the start of this album to now, what’s been the most rewarding part of the process for you?
Paula: Making music makes me confident, It's what I like to do. I know the studio session is not going anywhere when I start to doubt every decision I make so usually getting out of the booth confident in my creation makes me feel rewarded. I’m also proud of being able to make a comeback after finalizing my leave from the previous label. It's a new era I’m so excited about.
Interviewer: We are also excited about your journey. We wish you success and hope to see you soon with new projects.
In conclusion, the interview above sums up Paula’s new mini album 'OneTwoThree' as a big step for her, as an independent artist. She calls it her “little experimental project” because it lets her try out different styles and express herself in new ways. After leaving her old label, she finally has the freedom to create music that’s fully hers.
One song she’s especially proud of is 'Payback,' which she rediscovered from an old demo and kept close to its original feel. Paula says this project feels like a fresh start and a way to prove to herself that she can make it on her own, sharing her emotions and connecting with people through her music.