Interview: New York City Based Electro-Pop Singer-Songwriter Armen Paul
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We connected with New York City based electro-pop singer-songwriter Armen Paul for an exclusive interview to discuss his new single and video “Ember Waves”, find out how this release is different than the music on his last project “Do You Know EP”, and much more.
After reading our interview with Armen Paul, be sure to connect with him on social media and stream both “Ember Waves” and his last release “Do You Know EP” on Spotify.
Congratulations on the release of your new single and video “Ember Waves”. Tell us about your creative process when it came to the development of the song itself. Who handled the production?
I wrote what started out as the song almost two years ago. It had a completely different title. I actually wrote three different versions of the song prior to working on this specific version. None of them felt quite right. So, I got in touch with a really talented producer named VALNTN, who was working out of Boston at the time. We met up and changed the song concept a bit and fleshed out a first production. We weren’t sure that it captured the feeling of the song, though. A little later on, I flew out to LA and we worked together on another production. This still wasn’t the final version. Sixth time is a charm I guess. VAL sent over a revamped production a few months later. This one felt right. You’ll be hearing a lot more from us soon.
The video for “Ember Waves” was very cinematic and almost like a short movie, especially with the inclusion of the fire; it seemed as though the flames were their own character. Who directed the visuals and how did you come up with its treatment?
I came across the work of director, Frankie Turiano a few years ago. The visuals he captured in his footage were amazing, so I knew I needed to work with him on this project. It’s funny, the fire was actually real – a lot of people have asked if it was a special effect, but that wouldn’t be very exciting. Came really close to burning myself a few times. If I wanted to do something fake, I could just audition for American Idol.
I wrote a preliminary draft of the treatment– it was revised a bit, then Frankie and I met up over coffee and knocked it out. It was tough to capture everything I wanted to say in 30 seconds, but somehow we did it. My cousin who works for a fire department sent over some real emergency audio for us to use. My producer and I spliced up the audio and made it into what it is now. Visual artist, Zach Bell, helped put some of the finishing touches on the motion video.
How would you say that the “Ember Waves” single is different than the material on your last project “Broken & Real”, from a creative standpoint?
From a creative standpoint, “Ember Waves”, is completely different from my last release. The production is obviously a bit more electronic, but the writing process was also entirely different. I was in a different stage of my life when each song was written. However, the two songs are somehow connected. You’ll see more of what I mean in a few months.
With 2018 winding down, what are some of your goals musically heading into 2019?
Be myself. And in the process, maybe find myself.
From when you started as an artist until now, what would you say has been your biggest accomplishment?
My biggest accomplishment has been both learning how to listen to people and how to not listen to people at the same time. We live in a world full of people who are merely capable of guessing who we are. If you ask someone who you are or what you should do, you’ll get their best guess. If you decide on a path of your own, you afford someone else the opportunity to give you an opinion with direction and meaningful insight.
Stream and Share “Ember Waves” on Spotify