With his keen eye for Art-Pop through music, rising artist Paul Pablo shared his journey as a young, talented, and driven pop musician ebbing with creativity, advocacy, and a loud palette of visuals.
Paul recently released the song Bangin, which became the original soundtrack for the Boys Love Series, My Toxic Lover. Currently, it already has thousands of streams and views on Spotify and Youtube.
Being one of the newest artists to look out for, who is Paul Pablo, and what story can he share with his fandom?
Let’s get to know him as a musician, artist, son, student, and advocate.
Musical Inspiration.
When asked about his musical inspiration, Pablo cited Lady Gaga‘s significant influence on his music and visual aesthetics.
“Lady Gaga has a lot talaga to do with the influence na nag-mold sa akin, bilang isang artist.Â
“Pero, I don’t want to copy her. Ganon ganon.”
He also revealed that he supported Lady Gaga throughout her career, referring to himself as a “little monster.”
“Hindi ko alam na nagsurvive pala yung pagiging little monster ko hanggang 2021. Hanggang ngayon. Since the fame monster era, tapos nagkaroon na ng born this way era, then ano pa, art pop, joan tapos chromatica, hindi talaga ako nawala.Â
“Talagang support talaga ako sa kanya.”
First Single: Bai.
As for his first music video, Bai, he took us through how he created the song.
He first said that the song came from a voice memo he recorded, which came to fruition during the pandemic.
“Bai is actually just a junk recording sa aking phone, kasi I used to record yung parang voice memo. Until such time na nagkaroon ng pandemic, nagkaroon ako ng time para i-review yung mga na-record kong voice memo.Â
“So that time kasi parang starting pa lang ako na mag-explore sa recording na part.”
His ingenuity as an artist came in handy when he only had limited financial resources to film the music video.
“Si papa ko kasi binigyan nya ako ng budget for my songs. Di ba, as a student, wala pa ako ng budget. Wala pa akong source of income.”
Thanking all the people that helped him, Pablo pulled through and filmed his first music video with a whopping Php 500 budget.
“After that, tinapos ko yung kanta, I’ve worked with Kuya Paolo Franco, he’s a producer din. An artist din as well from Viva. And I just created the demo, and I sent it to him, and then we created the track. Yun by June tapos na sya. Then, I decided to create the music video. And, I created the music video dito lang sa bahay, with a budget of Php 500.
“Ayun nakabili ako ng mga kartolina, and then yung mom ko is mahilig syang nagbebenta sya ng mga selected na bag. Yung mga stock nya hiniram ko yung mga bags nya, na parang pasok sa aesthetics ng Bai. Yung outfit ko rin. Mahilig din ako mag-ukay ukay.”
Signing Label with Warner Music PH.
After his first single, he signed with Warner Music PH, and he admitted–it added pressure on him as an artist.
“Base sa pagkaalam ko parang ako pa lang yung artist from Davao city na nagsign ng digital distribution under Warner, if I’m not mistaken. Somehow it gives the idea sa people na I’m representing Davao. Or kapag sinabi mong sino yung artist, ng Warner from Davao, sabihin nila Paul Pablo. Yun yung part na parang nakakapressure.”
However, he used this pressure to perform better and considered the music label as an opportunity to experience and learn more.
“Pero aside from that, I wanted to use that pressure to perform better. Itong Warner, isa syang experience sa akin or opportunity to learn more and grow pa as an artist.”
Second Single: Bangin.
Then, after his success with Bai, he released Bangin under Warner Music PH.
As for the song’s inspiration, he revealed, “Yung inspiration ko talaga is yung heartbreak ko before when it comes to romantic na love.”Â
He also revealed that despite his song about heartbreak, he has never experienced a relationship before.
“Kasi, I don’t know kung bakit wala pa akong naging jowa, ever talaga. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Pero, it does not stop me from believing in love again.”
He also wanted to create the song to remind people not to stop falling in love despite all the heartbreaks.
“Gusto ko yung parang ma-feel nila na instead mag-emote sila or yung maging bitter sila. Yung parang gusto nilang mafall inlove again. Ganon talaga eh, kasi pag nasaktan ka, kailangan mo maniwala ulit.”
He also felt happy and honored since his song Bangin became the carrying single of the Boys Love series, My Toxic Lover.
“Nakakatuwa kasi parang naging part na rin ako ng series nila kahit papaano. I really feel happy about that and honored to be a part of their series.”
His Advocacy.
Aside from being an artist, he is also an advocate of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Pablo advocates for better representation of LGBTQ characters in media, citing the BL series Gaya Sa Pelikula.Â
The series helped in evolving Philippine media’s portrayal of queer characters, he noted.
“I really think there are many stereotypes in representing gay people, yung pagdating talaga sa mga movies, ganyan.I think sa panahon ngayon, nag-aadjust na sya. Like, there’s a BL series na Gaya sa Pelikula. They’re trying to break this gender stereotype. I think ngayon nagiging okay na sya. It’s starting to evolve.”
He also urged the media to take time and ask LGBTQ people their preference in representation.
“Masama lang kasi sa loob ko yung parang project ka ng project ng ganito yung bakla, pero natanong mo ba yung mga bakla kung ano sila. Kung ganito ba yung gusto nilang representation pagdating sa media.”
He also shared his sentiments for the LGBTQ community as an artist and gay person.
“Ako rin bilang isang artist, I want to be known as artist na Gay. Na parang hindi lang pala sa larangan ng comedy. I want gay people to be/ taken seriously also.”
Paul also extends his support to the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression Bill, noting the need for protection among the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I’m pro kasi sa SOGIE Bill, syempre kasi napakarami ng mga people from LGBTQ community who needs protection. Who needs to be/ empowered through this bill.”
A Student Still.
Despite his young age and entry into the music industry, he is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication in Ateneo de Davao.
What’s Next?
When asked what is next for the rising pop artist, he said he wants to focus his time creating music but hopes to receive more engagement from his audience.
“For now, I want to focus on creating good music, na would bring people eargasm. Pag medyo na-bless na ko ni Lord ng more engagements. I don’t want to stick with being an artist alone lang.”
He also added that once he reaches more engagement with his music, he wants to raise awareness on his advocacies for the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I want to use this opportunity or this platform to raise advocacies, to support the LGBTQ Community. I don’t want to end it lang na parang; I’m just another artist who creates music. I want to be someone who empowers the community that I belong.”Â
With his advocacy, music, and artistry, Pablo merges music with creative theatrics birthing an eargasmic and visual spectacle. The up-and-coming musician has what it takes to become one of the remarkable Filipino artists who might just make it big internationally.
Do you want to know Paul better?
Continue reading below.
Name: Paul Pablo (Paul Ramirez)
Birthday: 27 October 1999
Favorite Musician: LADY GAGA
Local: Unique International: Phum Viphurit, Lady Gaga, DEAN, Sam Smith
Favorite Song: say what’s on your mind-slchld
Favorite Music Video: Lady Gaga – Judas
Favorite TV Series
Local: Gaya sa Pelikula
International: Euphoria, 2gether the Series
What did you want to be growing up? To Slay
If not a music artist, what do you think your profession would be? A Makeup artist or a worker abroad, a Flight Attendant also.
What’s the most adventurous thing you have done so far? Going out past curfew.
What would you most likely be doing during your free time? Sleep and think of new melodies.
What is the most expensive thing you have ever bought? My recording equipment.
If you could change one aspect of your personality, what would it be? Unhealthy habits
Do you have any strange phobia? I hate Trypophobia, related photos.
What is the bravest thing you have ever done? Starting my career.
What does the word “love” mean to you? Love is genuine, it is for all but it shouldn’t be taken for granted.
In one or two words, describe your love life? For Hire.
