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FEATURES
Can dreams come true? Ask Paula DeAnda, the 16-year-old Corpus Christi resident who in short order - found
herself with a rhythm radio hit that made its way onto the Billboard charts, followed by a live audition in front of
music industry legend Clive Davis who signed her on the spot in early 2006. Her first single "Doing Too Much"
(featuring Baby Bash) has propelled Paula into the national spotlight. Now with her new single, "Easy" (featuring
Bow Wow) quickly climbing the charts, the bubbly teenage sensation shares with us what it has been like being in
the limelight, her self-titled debut, and what she has planned next in her future.
BM: Let’s talk a little bit about getting your deal through J. Records/Arista. We heard that you got to sing in front of
Clive Davis and he signed you on the spot. How did that come about?
PD: Well, I’ve been singing since I was really young. I was fortunate to hook up with the right people, including my manager, and
we went up to New York. I auditioned for a lot of different labels. I was excited about J. Records but I knew I would only get one
shot at it. I actually didn’t know I was going to be singing for Clive, I just knew I had a meeting with the label. Everything came
together and they called me back that same day!
BM: So with the release of your self-titled debut album, this must be a really great experience for you?
PD: It really has been a great experience for me so far. Being on J. Records is great because they listen to their artists and let
them express what they want to do. One of the things I was able to write a lot of my own material for the album.
BM: So how is life for you as a younger, successful artist trying to juggle the responsibilities like touring and
promoting?
PD: It gets hard sometimes because I’m a teenager and I want to have fun with my friends, but at the same time I know that the
business doesn’t stop when I want it to. I enjoy touring and seeing my fans so it’s a great job for me.
BM: So when do you usually find time to hang out with your friends? Or do you have any time at all?
PD: I make time every once in a while for hanging out. I’m always somewhere across the world so I’m not in town very often, but
my friends are very supportive and they understand how hectic my schedule can be.
BM: Now you’ve already released two singles so far, “Doin’ Too Much” featuring Baby Bash and “Easy” featuring
Bow Wow. You’re working on your third single called “When it Was Me”, which is a collaboration with Ne-Yo. We
hear you’re letting fans submit video footage and compete to be featured in the video.
PD: Yeah, that was a cool little idea that my manager and I came up with. I know that the internet is really important in the music
industry, so I wanted to use that. I try to stay connected through my myspace page (www.myspace.com/PaulaDeanda ) or my
web page (www.pauladeanda.com). I did something crazy called Avatar, which is a 3-D world and it has virtual content. It really
lets my fans interact with me and keep up with me.
BM: So where can we find the virtual Paula Deanda?
PD: I think the website is www.avatar.com, and people can actually get on-line from anywhere in the world and make a digital
version of him or herself.
BM: Okay. Now you also have some features on your project, can you tell us a little bit more about that?
PD: I got to work with Ne-Yo on the track you mentioned earlier and I am really excited about that. I loved working with him and I
think his work is amazing. I enjoyed working with everyone, there’s a lot of people I got to work with including Timbaland, Weezy
and Baby Bash. I’m fortunate because a lot of people were there to help me out with my first project.
BM: Now what would you say is your favorite song on the album?
PD: I really love them all because I had so much fun making each track and working with everyone. Like I said, everyone that I
worked with was so cool and I put so much time into it. It’s hard to pick but I’d have to say “ So Cold”.
BM: And you were recently on an MTV show called Xposed, where you had to pick between two guys. What type of
guys does Paula typically go for?
PD: Not those types of guys! (laughing) That (show) was pretty crazy, but I just look for a guy who has goals in life and can
treat a girl right. I like to be spoiled every once in a while, too. A real, down to earth guy is what I want. I don’t need a celebrity
or anyone famous, that’s not a requirement. “Average Joe” is cool with me, but he has to be honest!
BM: Who would you say were your musical influences growing up?
PD: Mariah Carey and Christina Aguillera were both really important. I mention the two of them specifically because they have
amazing voices, they can REALLY sing. Selena was big, too, I grew up singing a lot of her songs. A lot of people don’t know
that I sang a lot of Country music, too, while I was growing up in Texas.
BM: Now if you could have one dream collaboration with anyone, past or present, who would it be?
PD: I would LOVE to work with Alicia Keys. She’s actually my label-mate so I we’re gonna try to work something out with her. I
started out like her, playing the piano, but I got more into singing as time went on. I wish had stuck with it like she did, but it
takes a lot of dedication and time. I wasn’t as focused on it as she is, I was more focused on singing. She is amazing, she’s
talented and classy!
BM: No doubt! Where do you see yourself in the next two to three years?
PD: I really want to work on a clothing line. I’ve actually been doing some acting, you should be seeing me in a movie called
“Sweet Sixteen” real soon. The opportunity came out of nowhere, I auditioned and got the role. I’m also trying to work on a
restaurant.
BM: So you’re featured in an upcoming movie, as well?
PD: Yep, it’s an MTV produced movie. Randy Jackson (from American Idol) is in the movie, as well as Ali and AJ from the
Disney Channel. It’s a good movie!
BM: Sounds good. Outside of the movie, what else is next for you?
PD: I really don’t know what to say right now because I’m looking for more projects to get on. I am just trying to get my name out
there more and keep promoting myself. I’ll be on the road as much as I can.
BM: Cool. Is there anything else you want to add?
PD: Just go and check out my myspace page, www.myspace.com/PaulaDeanda, and you can hit my website, www.pauladeanda.
com, too! I take care of my website myself so I try to post recent pictures on there. That way people can keep up with me, see
what I’m doing, and keep in touch!
herself with a rhythm radio hit that made its way onto the Billboard charts, followed by a live audition in front of
music industry legend Clive Davis who signed her on the spot in early 2006. Her first single "Doing Too Much"
(featuring Baby Bash) has propelled Paula into the national spotlight. Now with her new single, "Easy" (featuring
Bow Wow) quickly climbing the charts, the bubbly teenage sensation shares with us what it has been like being in
the limelight, her self-titled debut, and what she has planned next in her future.
BM: Let’s talk a little bit about getting your deal through J. Records/Arista. We heard that you got to sing in front of
Clive Davis and he signed you on the spot. How did that come about?
PD: Well, I’ve been singing since I was really young. I was fortunate to hook up with the right people, including my manager, and
we went up to New York. I auditioned for a lot of different labels. I was excited about J. Records but I knew I would only get one
shot at it. I actually didn’t know I was going to be singing for Clive, I just knew I had a meeting with the label. Everything came
together and they called me back that same day!
BM: So with the release of your self-titled debut album, this must be a really great experience for you?
PD: It really has been a great experience for me so far. Being on J. Records is great because they listen to their artists and let
them express what they want to do. One of the things I was able to write a lot of my own material for the album.
BM: So how is life for you as a younger, successful artist trying to juggle the responsibilities like touring and
promoting?
PD: It gets hard sometimes because I’m a teenager and I want to have fun with my friends, but at the same time I know that the
business doesn’t stop when I want it to. I enjoy touring and seeing my fans so it’s a great job for me.
BM: So when do you usually find time to hang out with your friends? Or do you have any time at all?
PD: I make time every once in a while for hanging out. I’m always somewhere across the world so I’m not in town very often, but
my friends are very supportive and they understand how hectic my schedule can be.
BM: Now you’ve already released two singles so far, “Doin’ Too Much” featuring Baby Bash and “Easy” featuring
Bow Wow. You’re working on your third single called “When it Was Me”, which is a collaboration with Ne-Yo. We
hear you’re letting fans submit video footage and compete to be featured in the video.
PD: Yeah, that was a cool little idea that my manager and I came up with. I know that the internet is really important in the music
industry, so I wanted to use that. I try to stay connected through my myspace page (www.myspace.com/PaulaDeanda ) or my
web page (www.pauladeanda.com). I did something crazy called Avatar, which is a 3-D world and it has virtual content. It really
lets my fans interact with me and keep up with me.
BM: So where can we find the virtual Paula Deanda?
PD: I think the website is www.avatar.com, and people can actually get on-line from anywhere in the world and make a digital
version of him or herself.
BM: Okay. Now you also have some features on your project, can you tell us a little bit more about that?
PD: I got to work with Ne-Yo on the track you mentioned earlier and I am really excited about that. I loved working with him and I
think his work is amazing. I enjoyed working with everyone, there’s a lot of people I got to work with including Timbaland, Weezy
and Baby Bash. I’m fortunate because a lot of people were there to help me out with my first project.
BM: Now what would you say is your favorite song on the album?
PD: I really love them all because I had so much fun making each track and working with everyone. Like I said, everyone that I
worked with was so cool and I put so much time into it. It’s hard to pick but I’d have to say “ So Cold”.
BM: And you were recently on an MTV show called Xposed, where you had to pick between two guys. What type of
guys does Paula typically go for?
PD: Not those types of guys! (laughing) That (show) was pretty crazy, but I just look for a guy who has goals in life and can
treat a girl right. I like to be spoiled every once in a while, too. A real, down to earth guy is what I want. I don’t need a celebrity
or anyone famous, that’s not a requirement. “Average Joe” is cool with me, but he has to be honest!
BM: Who would you say were your musical influences growing up?
PD: Mariah Carey and Christina Aguillera were both really important. I mention the two of them specifically because they have
amazing voices, they can REALLY sing. Selena was big, too, I grew up singing a lot of her songs. A lot of people don’t know
that I sang a lot of Country music, too, while I was growing up in Texas.
BM: Now if you could have one dream collaboration with anyone, past or present, who would it be?
PD: I would LOVE to work with Alicia Keys. She’s actually my label-mate so I we’re gonna try to work something out with her. I
started out like her, playing the piano, but I got more into singing as time went on. I wish had stuck with it like she did, but it
takes a lot of dedication and time. I wasn’t as focused on it as she is, I was more focused on singing. She is amazing, she’s
talented and classy!
BM: No doubt! Where do you see yourself in the next two to three years?
PD: I really want to work on a clothing line. I’ve actually been doing some acting, you should be seeing me in a movie called
“Sweet Sixteen” real soon. The opportunity came out of nowhere, I auditioned and got the role. I’m also trying to work on a
restaurant.
BM: So you’re featured in an upcoming movie, as well?
PD: Yep, it’s an MTV produced movie. Randy Jackson (from American Idol) is in the movie, as well as Ali and AJ from the
Disney Channel. It’s a good movie!
BM: Sounds good. Outside of the movie, what else is next for you?
PD: I really don’t know what to say right now because I’m looking for more projects to get on. I am just trying to get my name out
there more and keep promoting myself. I’ll be on the road as much as I can.
BM: Cool. Is there anything else you want to add?
PD: Just go and check out my myspace page, www.myspace.com/PaulaDeanda, and you can hit my website, www.pauladeanda.
com, too! I take care of my website myself so I try to post recent pictures on there. That way people can keep up with me, see
what I’m doing, and keep in touch!
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