5 Q&A With Paulo and the Problems
What was the creative process like for this particular album?
This album was just really natural. I feel like as a band we really found out what works best for us from a writing standpoint. It’s hard to describe, but it really just felt like the songs were just there the whole time and flowed through us, and it just left us with more production and arrangement choices.
What impact do you hope 'Stupid Sexy Paulo' will have on your audience?
I really just hope that this record makes people feel something. I think we left a lot of the lyrical themes somewhat vague so that a listener can make it personal to them. I tried really hard to give the music and lyrics depth if you’re willing to look, but also light and fun if you’re just looking for an escape.
Can you talk about any standout tracks on 'Stupid Sexy Paulo' and what makes them special to you?
“Cruise Control” is the track that is the most special to me. It was actually a song I wrote for my last album, but it was the last song we cut from it. It was a song that I loved, but it just didn’t fit stylistically or aesthetically for that album. Once we released that album, I immediately started writing songs for the next album that would fit around Cruise Control.
How would you describe your musical style or genre?
I always have trouble trying to describe our sound. I have a huge amount of styles that I’m into and I’ve spent a lot of time producing for so many different genres. With this project I’m really just trying to lean on all my experiences. I think we draw mostly from classic R&B, but we also have a lot of hip-hop and jazz with a touch of rock.
Can you share a story about a collaboration that was particularly challenging or surprising?
All of the recording was done via Zoom. We have band members spread out between LA, Raleigh, Brazil, Ukraine, Philly, Boston, and more, and each member would book studio time in their home town and I’d get on Zoom to watch and produce from my home studio. I don't think there was a particular story, but it was definitely a challenge getting used to.
