Paul V Artist Bio

Paul V has been a musician his whole life. “I was born and raised in Lynn MA. (City of sin and all that). I grew up hearing Mitch Miller and Lawrence Welk every week. I also remember 3 of my sister’s records that I listened to, Elvis, Roy Oberson and The Righteous Brothers. I remember the first time I heard the Beatles. I was in my brother’s room fooling around with an old radio just flipping through the stations when I heard a song that I liked. “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. I thought that was the greatest song. From that moment on it was all Beatles, the hair, the boots, the clothes or at least a cheap imitation knock off that I thought was the look. Three friends and I would pretend we were the Beatles.”

What musicians influenced your playing and writing? “For a lot of years I just played behind other musicians. Following their lead, backing them up on rhythm guitar, a lot of Blues. I loved playing rhythm guitar. I felt like I controlled the flow of the song, the tempo, the mood. Once I discovered alternate tunings I was in a new world. Today, my music is a combination of Leo Kottke and Alanis Morrisette. Although I don’t finger pick like Leo, he showed me the world of 12 string instrumental music. And Alanis showed me how to combine and break up parts of songs and to overlay sound.”

What would you tell younger musicians just starting out? “Be Unique. Be creative with your music. Musicians either copy a song, intepret a song or play something original. Whenever I hear a piece of music, I ask myself, how is this different? Why has this song, this group or this musician made it or why haven’t they made it? What is their hook? Many musicians made millions of dollars playing 3 chords and singing. But it’s how they play those chords.”

What kind of kid were you in High School? What would you do differently in High School if you could go back in time? “I was a hippie or a stoner. I was not involved with any clubs or activities in High School. If I could do it over I would not fool around. I would try different thing like the chess club or swim team. I’d study harder.”

What is your philosophy of life? “My Philosophy of life is to live in the moment, don’t worry about thing I cannot control. Yet, always have a plan, a goal, something to strive for. To look forward to. I love the saying ‘if I knew then what I know now’”.

If you could ask one favor of your fans what would it be? Why should fans like your music? “The favor would be honesty. “How do you like what I am doing and why”. I think people will like my music because I like to listen to it not just play. I am trying to do something different. Really connect to the audience trying to incorporate all the senses. Hear the music, see me play, feel the vibrations, smell the surroundings and maybe they are eating or drinking while listening. I know it sounds odd but that is my goal to get the audience to think and feel what I am playing”.

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