Crafting Worlds with Paris Paloma
Singer/songwriter Paris Paloma's journey into music is one that begins with her upbringing and her deep-rooted love for storytelling. When speaking to her ahead of the release of her newest single, “boys, bugs, and men”, she candidly reflected on her transition from creative writing to songwriting, a shift that occurred during her teenage years, and led her to a unique creative process where storytelling meets with ethereal melodies.
Words Bryson Edward Howe Photography JC Verona Styling Leith Clark
"My love of music stemmed from creative writing. As a child, I thought I would become an author or a creative writer,” she reminisces, “but in my teen years, I found myself drawn to songwriting." It was during the pandemic, amidst a departure from her routine in fine art, that Paris began pursuing music seriously, marking a pivotal moment in her career. This transition, spurred by her love for creative expression, led her to pursue music seriously during the pandemic, a period of reflection and transformation for many artists.
Paris credits her upbringing in rural Derbyshire for influencing her music style, particularly drawing from the folk tradition. However, her parents' eclectic tastes, including her mother's affinity for jazz, soul, and Motown, also played a significant role in shaping her musical sensibilities. "My mum's love of that style of music very much informed my respect for that kind of songwriting," Paris notes. Paris's creative influences extend beyond music into literature, particularly Gothic and fantasy genres. Her love for gothic literature, nurtured during her high school years, profoundly influenced her aesthetic. "Something about it, its darkness and its poetry, really aligned with how much of a tortured element of being a young person struggling with their mentality," she explains. Titles like Rebecca and Dracula left a lasting impression, inspiring her to infuse her music with elements of darkness and fantasy.
"Something about [gothic literature], its darkness and its poetry, really aligned with how much of a tortured element of being a young person struggling with their mentality."
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When asked about her approach to songwriting, Paris describes it as "world-building," likening it to creating immersive emotional landscapes. "It's like an emotional world that I'm trying to include people in on," she explains. Drawing from personal experiences and emotions, Paris crafts songs that resonate with listeners, inviting them into her intricate musical narratives. Central to Paris's music is the theme of feminism, characterised by what she describes as a wild, “uncaged emotion”. She reflects on the emergence of a Gothic revival aesthetic among female artists, attributing it to a growing, exponential sense of empowerment and unapologetic expression. "The more women who do that, the more women who there are who feel safe to do that," she observes. Paris's music serves as a platform for voicing female experiences and challenging patriarchal norms.
“I only ever feel like writing when I'm moved to the point of writing, whether it's a need for catharsis or a need for connection, or a need to articulate some kind of pain."
Paris's creative process is fluid, guided by the energy of her words rather than adhering to specific genres, blending elements of dark pop, folk, and indie to create ethereal soundscapes that evoke something primal and innately feminine. From tender ballads to sublimely aggressive anthems, each song reflects the multifaceted nature of human feeling. She emphasises the importance of this strained authenticity in her music, allowing her emotions to drive the creative process. "The genre of each song is really informed by the energy of the words," she explains, highlighting the organic nature of her songwriting.
For example, Paris's breakthrough track, "Labour," which was written as a poignant commentary on misogyny and the apathy of men in relationships. “I only ever feel like writing when I'm moved to the point of writing, whether it's a need for catharsis or a need for connection, or a need to articulate some kind of pain,” she tells me. “Labour was one of those songs that I wrote for catharsis, and in part inspired by my own life and projections of what my life could look like, and in part inspired by repeated exhausting tropes I was seeing in the world and the way that women everywhere are being treated. And not just being treated, but being taken for granted, and going unseen.” Reflecting on its impact, Paris expresses gratitude for the community that formed around the song, resonating with its message. "It's become something really massive and really important within my career," she acknowledges, recognising its significance in her artistic journey. “You're creating a world that people are held within and held by. I think that's the purpose of songwriting, to make people feel held.”
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“Labour was [...] in part inspired by my own life and projections of what my life could look like, and in part inspired by repeated exhausting tropes I was seeing in the world and the way that women everywhere are being treated."
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As Paris prepares to release her album Cacophony, she describes it as a culmination of years of work and personal growth. Inspired by the Greek concept of chaos, the album explores ideas of resilience and transformation, offering a glimpse into Paris's inner world. "Cacophony is the culmination of many years of work," she shares. "It's a creation story born out of chaos, reflecting the transformative power of music." The album also narrativises Paris’ own experiences of “mental strife and mental recovery,” along with patriarchy serving as a recurring motif. "Patriarchy is something that runs like a crack through that and has affected everything," she reveals, underscoring its pervasive influence on her life and music. Despite the vulnerability of sharing deeply personal experiences through her music, Paris finds fulfilment in the creative process and the potential impact on listeners. "I really enjoyed writing it," she reflects, "It's immensely fulfilling knowing that now it's going out into the world and will have a second wave of doing that for other people as well."
As Paris Paloma continues to navigate the music industry with her evocative storytelling and unapologetic expression, her music serves as a testament to the power of vulnerability and authenticity in artistry. Paris has recently been confirmed to perform ‘”Labour” on BBC Two’s Later… with Jools Holland airing in June, and with the release of Cacophony later this year, we can continue to expect to embark on a transformative journey through Paris's rich and immersive musical landscapes.
Listen to Paris Paloma’s new song “boys, bugs and men” here
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