Armed with confidence, brains and beauty, urban/R&B songstress Paula Campbell has a story to tell. Life may have dealt this strong-willed, twenty-something student of the game a questionable deck of cards, nevertheless this gorgeous and street-smart song stylist is coming up nothing short of straight aces. Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, Paula’s home life was anything but stable, yet she continuously kept the faith and her music expresses songs from the heart and soul of a real survivor.
Nicknamed “Sparkle” by her neighborhood peers after the character Irene Cara portrayed in the 70’s Joel Schumacher cult classic Sparkle, Paula’s journey mirrors that girl with big dreams of singing, overcoming obstacles along the way. “I’ve always wanted to do it; I’ve never had anyone push me, it’s just my calling,” she acknowledges. Having moved around to live with family friends throughout her adolescent and teenage years, Paula’s surroundings could have easily negatively impacted her. Citing Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston as major musical influences, young Paula used to mimic their songs and it was their music and the music she began to create within that ultimatel
y saved her.
Before her major label signing, Paula Campbell had been pounding the pavement for several years to create opportunities for herself. From studying the LP credits of the latest artists and cold calling A&R executives, to taking label meetings to get signed, Paula was learning about the players behind the scenes. A mainstay throughout the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. region with a penchant for penning the lyrics to her songs, Paula won Best Female Vocalist three years in a row at the Baltimore Superfest, in addition to having been one of the top 8 finalists of the Baltimore Idol competition. After independently releasing the single “How Does It Feel,” Paula found support from local radio station WERQ where the song shot to number one for eight weeks. The buzz she generated led to the billboard charting regional release of her independent LP, Who Got Next. Serving as the opening act for the likes of R&B heavyweights Ne-yo, Ciara and Musiq soulchild, Paula also held her own opening for hip-hoppers Kanye West, Fabolous and David Banner. Those early accolades continue to be reflected in Paula’s music, revealing with a smile, “you’ve got to have a hip hop feel because in Baltimore, we’re a little bit rough.”
When Paula was re-introduced to the executives at Sony the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. She played her hometown hits for the executive team and the ink couldn’t dry fast enough. Paula moved from the now-defunct SONY Urban imprint to Columbia Records were she gained the respect of Platinum Pen Ne-Yo. Where she collaborated to make the no-nonsense, man-checkin’ beat balladry of “Ain’t Nobody Stupid” and won the Glamour Magazine music contest where superstar Ciara directed Paula’s first video.
“The songs I did for Paula were written for her, with her vocal style and personal swagger in mind. I dug Paula’s vibe from the first time I met her. She is who she is, in that she doesn’t try to be strong or try to be real…she just is.”
Great songs and name-dropping production aside, working with noteworthy hit-makers -- from Ne-Yo and Karma Productions’ Carvin “Ransum” Haggins and Ivan “Orthodox” Barrias to Warryn Campbell -- gave the star pupil “a chance to learn. There is a difference when you get with these people who already have done it and they know what they’re doing; you learn if you take the time out to listen.” And listen is just what Paula did. Ne-Yo agrees wholeheartedly, adding “The songs I did for Paula were written for her, with her vocal style and personal swagger in mind. I dug Paula’s vibe from the first time I met her. She is who she is, in that she doesn’t try to be strong or try to be real…she just is.” “Paula Campbell” is the voice of every woman. She’s imperfect and insecure, yet confident, fragile and strong all at the same time…just every woman. Above all, she’s real.”
Paula Campbell is very clear on her purpose. “I came from nothing in terms of people not believing in me. I didn’t have a mother and father around. These are things I’ve gone through and to coming from that and still succeeding has helped me understand that every moment is another chance to create opportunity.
Now independent Paula’s new single “Get back 2U” which tells the story of a woman unable to get attention from the man she loves turns the tables and he becomes desperate for the very thing she was already giving him. It’s the new female anthem is already buzzing through the mid-Atlantic, and is sure to be a top charter. Paula concedes “My music is real, for real people with real situations, it shows that it’s okay to be you and accept who you are without any pretenses. My music is timeless, it is classic, and I am someone who will always be around.”
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