Paul began writing original songs at an early age, performing his own work at the legendary Yellow Door in Montreal when he was barely into his teens. Paul's early days in the 90's with political punk reggae band The Vendettas, saw him tour Canada most often as a headlining band. Throughout his time with The Vendettas, he published his first book of poetry entitled Driving In Reverse, he was also publishing a radical university magazine "The New Socialist Climate" (later "The Blacklist") putting him not only on the cultural map, but the political one.
He went solo in 2002, and his first albums garnered much critical acclaim across Canada. In 2003, he published his second book of poetry Old Hat. In 2005, Paul was honoured by his city, winning a MIMI (Montreal Independent Music Initiative) award, for best singer-songwriter.
Paul released his first entirely French album in 2007. Brûler le Jour, sent the single Une rose noire to the top 10 commercial charts and its video into The Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art. He was nominated for the prestigious Félix Leclerc Award and was a winner of Radio-Canada's Sacré Talent.
In 2009, his New Orleans-inspired album Bras Coupé was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Awards, in the category "Best francophone singer-songwriter" and garnered critical acclaim across Canada and France. The album was also selected for the Echo songwriting prize presented by Socan.
By 2012 Paul had a dozen songs in the top 40 charts in Quebec, including L'effet que tu me fais, that again broke the top 10. With continued touring throughout the years across Canada and Europe, Paul had the opportunity to share the stage with Billy Bragg, Ari Up (The Slits), Michael Franti & Spearhead, Garland Jeffries, and Kim Mitchell.
Paul's commitment to anti-poverty work in Montreal, led him to collaborate with several organizations such as ATSA (L'Action terroriste socialement acceptable), Sac-A-Dos, L'Itinéraire, and The Collective for a poverty-Free Quebec. By 2010, Paul founded the NDG Arts Week. He coordinated the festival for several years since its inception and now serves as its spokesperson.
Paul won the Outstanding Citizen Award from the City of Montreal in 2013, the highest distinction given by the city to a citizen.
In 2017, Paul produced and released his first children's album, Something Dimferent. The album features duets with his son and takes a gritty approach to the day-in-the-life of a five-year-old, pushing the boundaries to show that one does not need to talk down to kids. Later that year, Paul wrote the theme song for the Montreal Fringe Festival, of which he was also the spokesperson. In December 2017, Paul released an album of his music that featured the lyrics of street poet Siou Deslongchamps. This entirely French album entitled "Intense Cité" was released in collaboration with the magazine L'Itinéraire. Profits from the album went to the magazine whose mandate is to fight against poverty in Montreal.
In 2019, Paul celebrated twenty years of success in the music industry, and he released his 15th solo album Promises receiving both critical and commercial acclaim. That summer he had the honour of performing one of the big shows at The Montreal International Jazz Festival.
After having been voted among Montreal’s best singer songwriters by the public for ten consecutive years Paul was featured on the cover of CULT MTL magazine In November of 2023 to highlight his work as an anti-racist, anti-police brutality activist, and collaboration album with up-and-coming NDG rapper Remy Pica$$o.
Now, with an extensive discography of 19 solo albums, 3 Vendettas albums, 3 Skinny Bros albums, 7 EPs, and a litany of features and collaborations, Paul has participated in over 50 albums.
Songwriting
Paul has written songs and soundtracks for film and television, teaming up with Martin Léon on the title track of the film The Good Lie (Warner Brothers) directed by Philippe Falardeau, and featuring Reese Witherspoon. His original soundtrack is featured in the NFB documentary What Is Indie?, his songs are featured on the RTÉ / BBC Irish crime thriller mini-series Clean Sweep, the song Some Things Hold True is featured on the soundtrack of Dawson's Creek (Warner Brothers).
Some of his collaborators include Quebecois luminaries such as Michel Rivard (Beau Dommage), Jim Corcoran (Jim & Bertrand), Anna McGarrigle, and Stefie Shock; American legends KRS-One and Lee Oskar (War); Jamaican hitmakers like Maxi Priest and Etana; and international celebrities including Iraqi-Canadian hip-hop innovator Narcy & Lithuanian musician/actor Mamontovas.
Alongside his brother Christopher, Paul is one half of the songwriting duo Skinny Bros. They have written the soundtrack for the CBC documentary "Clay vs Clay" and have been the exclusive music for the MATV series "The Street Speaks". Skinny Bros' music has been featured on CBC, Discovery UK, Investigation Discovery, Télé-Québec, and Canal D. "My Baby Go Fait Dodo", a single from Skinny Bros' 2016 album "Party Gras" remained in Quebec's Top 100 charts for 11 weeks. In 2017, Skinny Bros headlined the opening show for Montreal's 375th at Montreal's Quartier Des Spectacles, and the Montreal Fringe Fest.
Producer
As with Paul's songwriting, he approaches a project with a wealth of experience in all styles of music and a gut instinct. He has produced hip-hop, reggae, punk, pop, and R n' B with the same vigor & intensity as his own music.
His approach is careful and meticulous, and he seeks to capture an understanding of what artists want to achieve in their sound & feel for their music.
Paul has produced the following artists:
- Challenger
- Charlie Foxtrot
- Clerel
- Emeraude
- Jonathan Emile
- JP Couët
- Lakes of Canada
- Pierre-Alain Faucon
- Pop Leon
- Mello G.
- Millagram
- Ms. Holmes
- Remy Pica$$o
- Satellītes
- Shem G
- Small Talk
- Tomas Jensen
- Wesli
.jpg)
Download this photo
