In an exclusive interview with MEGA Entertainment, Paolo looks back on his musical journey as he moves forward through his newest EP, BLOOM
For artists, a new collection or album is always a chance to tell a fresh story to their audience. Swifties are always on the edge of their seats for Taylor’s new tracks. Why? It’s because she finds a way to reintroduce love with various metaphors and symbolisms. Meanwhile, K-Pop fans treat comeback eras as chapters that they could devote hours, days, and weeks to decode and make sense of. Sharing this understanding of music as an intersection between the past, present, and future, 22-year old Paolo Sandejas sees his new album as his time to bloom.
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Budding from experience
Just like any artist who seeks to pursue the craft, Paolo started out as a fan and listener of musicians such as John Mayer, Bruno Major, Tom Misch, and Phum Viphurit. “For me, I love how my favorite songs make me feel. Whether it’s a feeling of joy, loss, heartbreak, or ecstasy, music has that power to move people in ways that words alone cannot,” he explains.
To others, mere enjoyment through listening is enough to satisfy their curiosity for the craft, but Paolo’s passion for music goes beyond knowing what it can offer. He, too, wants to hold art in his hands and share it with others. Delving into his purpose as a musician, he says, “I started writing music as a way to internalize my own experiences in the hopes that, through my own music, someone somewhere will feel comforted by the art that I create.”
At the age of 13, the singer-songwriter started out dabbling into making his own songs through his voice and guitar. The way Paolo happily connects with music is evident in the mood of his sounds. It rubs off on how his tunes are leaning towards groovy guitar riffs, whistle beats, and mellow melodies. While these are the accompaniments that solidify the Paolo code of sound, the musician mixes these elements with bittersweet lyrics of telling the tales of past and present loves.
Blossoming in artistry
Just in time for summer, Paolo finally launched his first EP called BLOOM. The six-track compilation, according to him, is his reintroduction to his listeners. “It is a celebration of everything that’s happened so far and a celebration of everything that’s yet to come. Sonically, it’s fun and upbeat yet somber when it needs to be, which is something listeners can expect from my future releases as well.”
Gathering Paolo’s experimentation of synths, drum loops, and guitar effects, BLOOM pays homage to artists like Dayglow, Charlie Burg, and The 1975 with its vibe. The EP begins with a namesake of the collection, a confirmation that one has grown. In a way, it is Paolo assuring us that he is indeed beginning a new chapter. In the middle are tracks making sense of a new love, but it all wraps up to an admittance of also yearning for the past.
When asked how he would like to introduce his music to new listeners, Paolo compares his music to comfort food. “On the surface, simple and unassuming. But at its core, it exists to comfort you and keep you sane.” True enough, BLOOM captures that type of comfort we can only get from music. While Paolo acknowledges that there is so much more room to blossom into the field, his songs are already making their way to the hearts of his listeners. And now that his new music finally bloomed, we can’t wait for the next spring of his tracks.
Photos and Featured Image: INGROOVES
