Paula Toledo

NEW MUSIC

2008-03-25T20:15:00.001-07:00

Sorry to have stepped away for a bit...the year has come and gone and now here we are again! I have been busy writing and recording some songs in my own little space here and will hopefully be laying down some new tracks in the near future. If you'd like a sneak preview, you can visit my myspace page. I collaborated with a friend Joe Chester who I actually met on myspace. I wrote and recorded the song 'I Love You in Shades...' and fired off the guitar and vocal tracks to Joe by email. He was kind enough to lay down his magic and mix the song in Dublin.

x Paula

Joan Video - City TV

2007-02-22T22:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks for those of you who have been requesting the Joan Video on City TV's Ethnosonic.

Sadly my willow tree who cameo'd in the video, suffered a major broken limb during the massive wind storms...we are hoping he will get well soon. In the meantime, if you want to see the video again...feel free to continue to request it by emailing ethnosonic@citytv.com

Paula

MUCHMUSIC AND UMFM RADIO

2006-10-26T08:40:00.001-07:00

You will be able to catch some interviews and live performances (me and Jonathan Anderson on guitar) that took place this past weekend at the Western Canadian Music Awards.

Muchmusic 'Going Coastal' with Chris Nelson
Sunday, November 5th - 8 pm PST or 11 ET

UMFM radio 'From the Floor' with Michael Elves
Thursday, November 2nd - 8 pm - 9 pm

BIG NOSTRILS

2006-10-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

This is such a great time of year for movies...Science of Sleep, Little Miss Sunshine, Half Nelson..the acting was amazing, Ryan Gosling...in particular in Half Nelson, I could not take my eyes off of him... a hard to watch movie but really stunning performances. My video has funnily enough been playing before these movies and premiered as part of the Vancouver International Film Festival prior to screenings at the Ridge. Festival Cinemas theatres took a liking to the video for 'Joan' and they have been (and will be) using it as part of their pre-show for the month of October. I sorta had to giggle as I watched the video roll by...have to say that I am not used to seeing my nostrils that up close and personal.

I will be flying to Winnipeg next week as I have been invited to showcase at the Western Canadian Music Awards Conference and Festival - Sat. October 21st (10pm) at the Collective Cabaret. Should be fun but I just logged on to the Winnipeg Sun and learned this!..Ahhhhh! An awakening that summer is over...

VIDEO FOR 'JOAN'

2006-08-29T03:29:00.002-07:00

It has been such an amazing summer. Must be my tropical blood recognizing that I am at home under the warm rays of the sunshine or something, just feels so great. Got a chance to shoot a video for my song 'Joan', shot (thanks to the magic of technology and digital cameras), in Vancouver, in the skies across Canada and in France!

Clouds were donated by a pilot friend who will remain nameless. The train scenes were shot when I was travelling from Paris to Black Box Studios in Brittany and the opening scene was taken over top Vancouver city. But hmmm, am I giving it all away?

A big thanks to Della and Stuart McLaughlin of Grouse Mountain for donating the helicopter. Stu Mackay-Smith for donating his amazing creativity, direction, and TIME! And all the following amazing people who donated their endless hours and humongous talents; Pilar Alvarez, Redia Soltis, Mitchell Parsons, Mike Barcelona, Travis Tetreault. One last but not least thank you to Festival Cinemas...Fifth Avenue Cinemas, The Park, The Ridge will be playing my video before movie screenings during the month of October.

Watch the video HERE or on MYSPACE

xx Paula

LIVE PERFORMANCES TO AIR ON RADIO

2006-07-03T05:06:00.001-07:00

I have received news that this Thursday, July 6th, my live performances - one of them solo and another with my band will be airing across the radio waves. My solo performance and live interview was recorded this past week when I was touring in Toronto with Jack Harlan. We dropped in to see Michelle at Blissful Thunder and had a chance to catch up. Thanks to Michelle, Brendan and Ken for yet another warm welcome! The interview will be airing on Blissful Thunder on CIUT Radio 89.5 FM at 1:00 pm in Ontario or on the internet.

Before leaving on tour, my band and I performed at the World Urban Forum and Festival. CBC Radio One recorded our performance and will be airing it across the country at 8 pm and streaming it over the internet on CBC Radio One's Global Village.

World Urban Forum

2006-06-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

I will be playing with my band on the CBC stage at the World Urban Forum this Friday, June 23rd. The outdoor concert will be located at 555 Great Northern Way (in between Main and Clark). CBC will be recording and broadcasting the concert on Global Village. Other bands to perform are Young and Sexy, Sal Fererras/Shayne Coyzan and Signia. We hit the stage at 6:45 pm. Praying this sunny weather holds up!

Tomorrow night I'll be catching a red-eye to Montreal for some dates back east. Just me and my guitar. Okay well, just me and my guitar and Jack. Jack Harlan will be joining me and we will be sharing the bill in Montreal, London, Toronto.

Looking forward to seeing you folks soon. Lots of love, Paula

2006-05-22T21:21:00.001-07:00

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada and as I am of Asian descent...(mmhhh...'tis true), I have been invited by the ExplorAsian Festival and CBC Radio One to help celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Asian Heritage Month with a live in-studio performance.

My band will be accompanying me for what I am told with be a sorta intimate and interactive concert....CBC will be recording the performance and broadcasting it at a later date & there will be a Q&A following my performance. The show starts at 2 pm (doors open at 1:30 pm). There are 100 tickets available ($5 for general public & free to VAHMS members), on a first come first serve basis at the door. Hope to see ya there.

Freestylin' on CBC Radio One

2006-04-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

..Happy to be CBC Radio One, 'Freestyle' program's artist of the week, beginning monday, april 10th. That is Artist of the Week, not Artist of the Weak...mmhhh, it's getting late..

You can tune in to 'Freestyle' across the country (the big vast vast country where I live...) all week. Hear songs off of 'Stay Awhile', inspirations, stories about the makin' of the album & about the little froggie that could that is honoured on my album artwork.

For more details on when & where & how & why...check out CBC Radio One 'Freestyle'

BLISSFUL THUNDER

2006-04-06T09:10:00.001-07:00

...Just wanted to say a big thanks to Michelle Johnson and the folks at CIUT Community Radio 89.5 in Toronto for all their support. Tune in to CIUT Radio at 1 pm EST to catch Michelle on her show, Blissful Thunder where she will play a pre-recorded song from my live acoustic performance at CIUT in March. CIUT is fundraising all this week. Community Radio is such an important vehicle for independent artists, so if you are able please support them by pledging at 416.946.7800 or toll free at 1.888.204.8976. You can also pledge on their site at CIUT Radio

Playing in/at the Park

2006-03-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

Cherry blossoms are blooming, getting my hopes up for some spring sunshine...but gloomy weather (big sigh) is still upon us here in Vancouver...may not be playing outside any time soon...should you be aching for some indoor entertainment, you can stop by the Park Theatre. I will be opening for the 7 and 9 pm movies - Brokeback Mountain this evening and Joyeux Noel tomorrow through to Sunday....Stop by Festival Cinemas for more info. Stay warm.

Canadian Music Week

2006-03-07T21:15:00.000-08:00

Headed back to where it is still winter last week. Flew to Toronto for Canadian Music Week with my Hermit-mates. The Hermit was nominated for an Indie for Best Electronica Group/Artist....and won...congrats to Hamish Thomson (aka The Hermit) and the group of musicians that make it the funnest Canadian musical collective.

I will be hitting some dates with the Hermit again but will be back next week, where I will be performing prior to movie showings at the Festival Cinemas Park Theatre.

2006-02-18T09:31:00.000-08:00

Mon. Feb. 20th
- Performance on Urban Rush Shaw TV

Tues. Feb. 21st
- Opening for Neil Young's Heart of Gold Movie at Fifth Avenue Cinemas

Tues. Feb. 21st
- Profile on Mangovibe on ChannelM TV

Thurs. Feb. 23rd
- CiTR Radio, live performance with band

Sat. Feb. 25th
- In-store afternoon performance at Chapters Bookstore on Robson

Sat. Feb. 25th
- CD Release party at Media Club with band

See details and airing times here

CD Release on Valentine's Day. CD Release show on Feb. 25th at the Media Club

2006-02-08T01:37:00.000-08:00

I have received some email requests about buying tickets for the CD release show in advance. You may do so on-line at IMU PRODUCTIONS. Also, my band & I are doing some fun things this month.

FEBRUARY 14, 2006

HAPPY V DAY...may you bathe in chocolate, big smootchy kisses all day long and, to steal a line from Suburban Transpondency's latest podcast, indulge in your romantic yearnings. Thanks to the following podcasters for their ongoing support, playing my tunes over the past months, to Adam from Suburban Transpondency for helping me get word out about my Valentine's Day cd release....to C.C. of Accident Hash and Ken from Seattle & Beyond podcast.

Hermit-ing

...Hate to start off this blog talking about the weather. But it has been something...And ooooh the disappointment for not breaking the rainiest winter record for Vancouver in the past 53 years. Can you believe we were short one measly day!!? I mean if it's gonna rain, we oughta at least break some records...but alas, I guess there's always next year...Rain, windstorms, next year? this hermit is dying for spring.

Speakin' of hermits, The Hermit has been nominated for Canadian Independent Awards (Favourite Electronica Artist/Group)...has been loads of fun being a part of this project...

Firsts

2006-01-17T18:05:00.000-08:00

A whacky world, speaking into my laptop, over the internet from my kitchen?...a few days ago I had my first-ever podcast interview with Ken Clark from "Seattle and Beyond" . Music, my laptop, Skype, what more can a girl ask for?

A release!

2006-01-04T11:11:00.000-08:00

2006 is off to a good start (knock on wood)... So happy to announce that my cd will at last be released on February 14th on my label Holy Toledo Records. The CD Release show, presented by University of British Columbia's CiTR Radio and IMU Productions will be held at the Media Club in Vancouver on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH & some of my favourite local bands & songwriters; Jonathan Inc. & Arctic will also be performing and taking part in the festivities.

In other news, the Gemini-nominated (for "Best Overall Sound for a Canadian Television Drama Series"), renegadepress.com, has licensed two songs, "Joan" and "Tell Me a Lie". The quirky little tune, "Tell Me a Lie" was written into the script of a scene where the main characters drive and sing along to the song as it plays on the radio. ( Sure we've all had that experience, with the tone deaf friends in the back seat...always the ones with the least bit of inhibition too!)

My website is undergoing a wardbrobe change so next time you visit you may not recognize me...but feel free to visit the guestbook & drop a note to the Holiest of my extended Holy Toledo family...A big thanks to Pilar Alvarez for her sparkly eyes and whacky design brain & Kirsten Bole for her creative programming.

All the best to all of you, may 2006 be filled with daily nuggets of goodness.

Stay safe,

Truly & Unholy,
Paula

Happy...

2006-01-03T11:11:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!! Christmas in Montreal was wonderful...lots of laughs, food, snow and music. 'Twas blissful indeed...Thanks to everyone for putting on their skates, braving the freezing rain

and making it out to my gig at Casa del Popolo. A big hug and warm thanks to Mani Khaira

for sharing the evening with me & playing his new tunes. The special icing on the cake was a surprise visit at Casa by my old Montreal bandmates Claus Frostell and Phil Hornsey. Loads of giggling about our days together.

Mi Casa

2005-12-14T11:19:00.000-08:00

I get slagged all the time for saying I'm going back 'home' for the holidays...home is now & has been Vancouver for years...but everytime I set foot in Montreal, it just feels like I never left...the smell of the city, the biting winter cold at this time of the year, the joke-telling, the laughter, the love of food & drink, the women that gracefully glide in their high-heel boots despite the piles of snow and inches of ice, the mad drivers....And so I am to return. I will be playing at CASA DEL POPOLO on St. Laurent on Thursday, December 29th. Mani Khaira, a great friend, former Vancouver singer/songwriter & recent transplant to Toronto will be opening the evening. So if you are around, please stop by & say hi.

Happy Holidays, Stay Safe & Warm,

Paula

U-Turn Cafe

2005-10-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

Accident Hash Podcast host C.C. Chapman has recently launched a cool new podcast called U-Turn Cafe . My song 'Atmosphere' was included in his latest podcast among beautiful songs from singer/songwriters which I am happy to have now discovered...

Share a glass of wine with me

2005-10-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

I kinda got lost in this podcast - A Guy a Girl and a Bottle, yesterday. As I was listening, I imagined the warm sun on my back (it was such a miserable rainy day here in Vancouver), driving through the Napa valley (sadly, I've never been but it is on my must-do-before-i-die list) and sipping a nice glass of red (or two!). It was the cure-all remedy for a wet and cold Vancouver day. So thanks to A Guy a Girl and a Bottle for playing my song on your podcast and cheering me up and to C.C. Chapman of Accident Hash for helping spread my music from Coast to Coast.

It being Friday and all, I think we should all treat ourselves to a glass wine! If you happen to be in Vancouver and would like to get above the clouds...for that drink or two...and would like to listen to some live music from a singer/songwriter that I happen to know quite well (wink wink), then come on up to Grouse Mountain !

Have a great weekend!!

...& More Podcasting

2005-10-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

More postcasting pleasure at Suburban Transpondency , a cool local podcast supporting Vancouver indies. Thanks Adam for the play.

Paula on Accident Hash Podcast

2005-09-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

Boston-based host C.C. Chapman will be playing my music on his next Podcast, Accident Hash.

Every morning as I hand grind my coffee beans (hand grinding is the way to go, boy does the coffee turn out good!!), I've been listening to Accident Hash. No matter what side of the bed I crawl out of, host C.C. Chapman always manages to put a smile on my face. And that's saying a lot cuz I ain't a morning person!! He's got that rare talent of making listeners feel like you've known him for ages, that long lost friend from high school feeling. It's so cool listening to his Podcast, you really get a sense that he just loves what he does...so inspiring.

Paula, Cafe Montmartre Residency

2005-09-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Montmatre Cafe show and especially Marcus Martin and Tony Marriott for sharing the evening with me. After my performance, I got a chance to listen to Tony & Marcus' sets...such a great way to end the night!

So it looks like I will be performing there on a monthly basis - they have asked me to come back...on the second Wednesday of every month. I'll have a bunch of different singer/songwriters sharing the evening with me...a chance for me to play & listen to other musicians that I love! like Jack Harlan , he will be sharing the stage with me on Wed. Oct. 12th.

Quirky

2005-09-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

Quirky at its best. What do 50 Cent's Rider demanding two boxes of Lifestyle and Rough Rider Condoms, George W. Bush's recent Presidential Message, Prince Harry's 21st Birthday, Britney Spear's birth of a baby boy and confirmed quirky Paula Toledo have in common? Today's issue of 24 Hours it seems...

...THE CONTINUED FRENCH CONNECTION

2005-09-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

I will be performing at CAFE MONTMATRE (4362 Main St.@ 28th St., Vancouver, BC)...my first solo gig in Vancouver since returning back from France. Singer-songwriters, Marcus Martin and Tony Marriott will also be sharing the bill with me. Great guys, amazing music. Hope to see you there.

CAFE MONTMATRE