Paula Seling is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. She has released more than a dozen albums and over twenty singles over her 20-plus-year career (Christian music, pop, rhythm and blues, soul, dance), including hits which entered the charts in Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOVl4kb7reI
The artist is trilingual and speaks, writes and performs in Romanian, English, French and, additionally, in Italian. She received multiple awards (Golden Stag Trophy, Braşov, 2002; MTV Romania Music Awards, Bucharest, 2002; Eurovision Song Contest, the 3rd Place finalist, Oslo, 2010; Eurovision Song Contest, the 12th place finalist, Copenhagen, 2014). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OlG9g4-cyg
She opened for, and/or performed with, Joan Baez (Bucharest, 1997), Chick Corea (Bucharest, 1998), Scorpions (Braşov, 2002), Michael Bolton (Braşov, 2007), Beyoncé (Cluj, 2007), Al Bano (Iaşi and Timişoara, 2008).
Paula is an outspoken supporter of personal freedom, individual rights and human rights.
During the period of October 3 and 4, 2019, she attended the annual ALIANTA/The Alliance Gala, in Washington, D.C., at the Conrad Hotel and the Romanian Embassy, respectively. With that occasion, on October 3, 2019, Paula granted me an exclusive interview.
1. Dear Mrs. Paula Seling, you are an artist highly appreciated both in Romania and in the world. Tell us a few words about your American tour this year.
I am very glad that I have the opportunity to work with some wonderful people. In fact, one of the people I did a lot of work with, Adrian Dreana, thought it would be time for me to come here and sing, both for the Romanians who left for the United States and for the American side, who are curious to listen to songs, Romanian and not only. And I got in touch with the wonderful Mrs. Gabriela Sandoz, who organized these few shows here in Washington. We have this wonderful gala, the Alliance Gala. Tomorrow we have another show, on the fourth [of October 2019], also in Washington. Then it will be in Atlanta and Seattle. It is a special repertoire because I came to the United States with a bag full of songs, both Romanian and the English versions of songs that I sing and which are dedicated to God. I came with some liturgical chants translated into English. Some of my songs have been translated into English and I very much wish to spread the word in as many places as possible. So it really is an adventure that I hope is good for all who will be part of these events. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-n7mb8DOG4
2. You anticipated my next question. In many of your songs, you worship the Christian spirit. What role has religion played in your artistic act?
Faith for me has a very important place and, often, in most of my songs I talk about my relationship with God. So, when I have the opportunity to write certain songs, I do not miss the moment to talk about faith and how it influences us and should influence our lives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmPAT-9H68c
3. Thank you. Last question. What projects, artistic and social, do you currently have now and for the future?
First of all, I have a whole winter tour, which I am going to sustain in the country, from the first of December until the twenty-third of December [2019], in most of the important cities in the country. I have an entire album to be released, with songs I have written over time. I have a video clip that will be for a bilingual piece, so there will be two video clips for the same piece, which will be in Romanian and in English.
4. Any albums?
Yes, I just said I have an entire album, with songs written by me over time. And next year – some surprises that I would like to keep for then.
5. Thank you very much.
I thank you dearly.
Tiberiu Dianu has published several books and a host of articles in law, politics, and post-communist societies. He currently lives and works in Washington, DC and can be followed on Medium. https://medium.com/@tdianu
