The past year has been a time of change for all of us. Full of harrowing and discouraging moments, it has been hard for many to see new plans for their lives. But some changes, despite all the dread of 2020, still bloomed flowers—and that fact is poignantly present in the enchanting new work of Portuguese-born but recent Newfoundland resident Nico Paulo.
Nico Paulo is an artist of dreamy and comforting vision, both as a musician and a visual artist. She has spent the last several years residing in Toronto where she began to make a name for herself as a musician. Debuting with the folksy doo-wop single of “Please Don’t Forget” in 2019, the contrasting energies of longing and playfulness in her music are resonant here, and the accompanying video showcases her talents in both visual and sonic mediums. Paulo’s artistic voice is strong and clear, and oh so evocative.
Last year, Paulo made the move to St. John’s through the Lawnya Vawnya Artist Residency. A chance to connect with a new culture and share her work with the community, Paulo has also been doing percussion and backing vocals for Tim Baker’s touring band while still working on her own music. A busy year to be certain, and ever since the move, it sounds like things have been bright.
“I have been very nicely and gently welcomed into the music community,” says Nico. “Even though it was a hard year without many shows at all, I have been lucky.”
But it truly feels like east coasters are the lucky ones.
Nico Paulo has created some true gems during her short time in Newfoundland. Collaborating with local musicians Tim Baker, Adam Hogan, Steve Maloney, and Mary Beth Waldram, Nico Paulo’s EP Live at First Light was recorded this past December. Featuring three stunning recordings from her residency and gorgeously produced by Michelle LaCour, this EP shows an artist more than at home in the roots of the music that surrounds her.
Beaming from a canvas of darkness, a floral design by Paulo adorns the cover and is a fitting representation of this release’s gentle balance. Live at First Light opens with the lulling beckon of “Warrior,” a rising and falling journey that the artist says is focussed on stability, focus, and new beginnings; it serves as an enchanting introduction and has dynamic echoes of early Fleet Foxes.
The second track, “Here, Home,” ups Paulo’s haunting croon to even more transcendental heights. With the stirring power of Joan Baez, Paulo’s voice twists playfully about Mary Beth Waldram’s clarinet and takes the listener right to a grassy expanse at the edge of the world.
Written two years ago during Paulo’s first visit to St. John’s, it is full of reflection from the thoughtful artist: “It just fascinated me looking out the narrows and dreaming of Portugal on the other side, taking my partner swimming in the cold ocean.”
Tying up the EP is an absolutely stunning rendition of “Wild Mountain Thyme,” a song that Nico Paulo says she was introduced to through a singalong last summer. Without a doubt, this song has had its impact on Paulo, and that can be felt in just how impactful her performance of it is. A heart-wrenching balance of love and longing, the timeless tune makes for a brilliant and thematically perfect closer to the heartfelt dreams of Live at First Light.
While it may be too soon to necessarily say that Nico Paulo’s sound has been shaped by her move out east, it is abundantly clear how fitting her sound and soul are to the scene. With strong roots in folk and a graceful sweep of indie sensibilities and more abstract influences, Canada has been lucky to have such a stirring artist call our country home. And with a full-length LP already on its way, it is only time before we see what flowers Nico Paulo will bloom next.