Published: January 02, 2009 12:25 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight January 2009 Edition
Paulina Logan
Paulina Logan
Singer/Songwriter Paulina Logan is one of the new voices of Indie music. Her sweet tunes, fun lyrics, and gentle voice certainly make her a sensational act not to miss. Junior's Cave recently caught up with Paulina who was willing to speak with us in this ultra cool interview.
Isaac: Please take a moment to elaborate on who you are and your upbringing in Northern California.
Paulina: I'm a 25-year-old singer/songwriter. I moved to Ukiah (from Central California) when I was thirteen. It's a really great area for the arts, both visual and performing. There are a lot of art galleries, community theater programs, and some restaurants and bars that host live music. There are a lot of really talented people in Ukiah, and that's really inspiring.
Isaac: I read in your bio that you have just released your first full-length album, "Wallflower." Expound on the creative process of seeing this project come to life.
Paulina: Creating "Wallflower" was a really exciting experience. It was produced and engineered by Gilli Moon and Matt Thorne in Burbank. The process began when I brought my songs to Gilli in rough demo form. We worked on arrangements and she brought in incredible musicians. It was an intense time of learning for me, both in terms of recording and songwriting.
Isaac: Expound on what you believe is the current state of Indie Artists.
Paulina: With the marketing opportunities available through the Internet, being an indie artist these days is pretty awesome. I can get my music in lots of places that, in the past, only major labels could access. Sites like MySpace and Taxi (and Junior's Cave!) are incredibly beneficial. With tools like electronic press kits, indie artists can get the attention of labels and fans alike.
Isaac: Was there any one musician that spoke to your heart so profoundly, you were inspired to do your own thing as a Pop Singer?
Paulina: Definitely Jewel. She's my favorite. She's the one performer who made me want to become a musician.
Isaac: Which singer/group would you say you would most like to do a duet with?
Paulina: I just discovered Ingrid Michaelson a couple of months ago when she released "Be Ok." That record is amazing. I would love to do a song with her someday!
Isaac: What singer/songwriter do you most connect with?
Paulina: I really adore Tristan Prettyman. Her music is beautiful and she seems like a really cool person- she's very accessible to her fans, like through MySpace, and I really like that.
Isaac: Out of your entire song collection that you've written thus far, which song(s) would you say is/are the most personal/meaningful to you?
Paulina: A song that I'm recording right now, "Forever," probably has the most personal lyrics that I've written. Most of my songs are actually about other people. I use the word "I" a lot, but usually I'm writing about my observations of other people and situations. "Forever" is about recognizing my own limitations, and wanting to change, but being too afraid to.
Isaac: Which singers/groups do you enjoy/like from some of today's music genres?
Paulina: I like a lot of music! I listen to lot of Shakira, India Arie, Alexz Johnson, John Mayer, Anna Nalick, Nelly Furtado, Jason Mraz, Kelly Clarkson, Ani DiFranco, Tony Lucca, Sara Bareilles… I could go on all day.
Isaac: What charities are you involved with or support and why should people get involved?
Paulina: I support anything that gets kids excited about reading. I've always been a reader; I carry at least one book with me at all times. I work with kids, and my favorite part of my job is helping them pick out books to read, and talking with them about what they're reading. I think that a love for reading develops into a love for learning that can last forever, so it's important to nurture that.
Isaac: Have you (or would you ever consider) writing a song about any of today's particular world issues/problems? If so, what world issue would speak to you the most to write about?
Paulina: I wrote a political song last year called "Bleed." I'm not sure if it will ever end up on a record, and I don't play it live very often, because it's kind of heavy and doesn't necessarily fit in well with the rest of my set list. It was one of the instances where the song just needed to come out. I really admire songwriters who are unafraid to take a stand on controversial topics and get involved with political issues.
Isaac: What is the main reason why should people listen to your music?
Paulina: To be honest, I would be making music whether people listened or not. It's just something that I do. I hope that people can find something in it that is enjoyable.
Isaac: Do you believe that the Pop music genre is dying? Why or why not?
Paulina: Pop music will be around forever! It will evolve into different sounds, but there will always be a pop genre.
Isaac: What have been the biggest challenges to get your music out there as an Indie artist?
Paulina: I don't know if I would describe the process as challenging. There are so many opportunities available; you just have to keep looking and believe in yourself enough to go for it.
Isaac: How far into the creation of a song do you share any of it with anyone? Who would you play it for? Would it be a chorus, a verse and chorus, or a complete song?
Paulina: I usually don't share anything with anyone until it's done! And sometimes it takes me a long time after it's done to be brave enough to play it live or to go into the studio to demo it. Sometimes I play new stuff for my parents or a friend, since I know they are an accepting audience.
Isaac: How much do you let others "mess around with" one of your new songs?
Paulina: Well, the people who "mess around with" my songs tend to know what they are doing! So I don't mind it at all. I've been lucky to work with amazingly talented producers and writers, so I'm not afraid to hand over songs and ideas and see what comes of it.
Isaac: Do you have to be a tortured soul to be a singer-songwriter?
Paulina: Yes, actually, I think it helps quite a lot!
Isaac: Are your songs strictly autobiographical or are they embroidered autobiography?
Paulina: I like that term, "embroidered autobiography." Definitely embroidered!
Isaac: How long does it take you to process your emotions and turn them into songs?
Paulina: Sometimes it's very fast; a lot of my favorite songs took a very short amount of time to create- maybe an hour or so. But I've also got songs that I started three or four years ago and still haven't finished!
Isaac: The best piece of advice you actually followed?
Paulina: I went to a lecture by Derek Sivers at a songwriters' conference, and he said that the best way to overcome fear is to look at everything as an experiment and you're just trying to see what will happen. So, submit the demo, make the phone call, and send the email… just "see what will happen."
Isaac: Give Shoutouts to your family and friends.
Paulina: Well, my mom and dad are pretty much the best ever. They actually think I have a shot at success in this music thing, and that kind of support is VERY helpful! And my best friend Jenny, who is awesome and always says just the right things when I'm freaking out about a show (yes, I have some stage fright issues.) Jenny keeps a blog on my website; you can check it out at www.paulinalogan.com
Isaac: Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?
Paulina: I'm working on an EP right now in Orange County with two great producers, Matt Manns and Matt Borden (Omen Room Productions.) I'm hoping to have it released by March 2009, and then start work on my second full-length record.
