D Magazine interviews Dallas staple Paul Slavens

FEATURE

I'm never going to stop posting Paul Slavens photo shoots because I need to make sure every Kroger in the Dallas area turns into an impromptu autograph signing for Paul.

So, today, this two-page spread in D Magazine with lovely images by photographer Marc Montoya.

One of the perverse joys I get out of my job is writing an artist's bio and then subsequently reading interviews where the artist is questioned about the details I brought up. It's like me (not a journalist) getting an actual journalist to do my dirty work.

Anyway, that'll do it for another post about someone else that I made about me! Paul's new album 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐 is out now on State Fair Records.

Dallas Morning News publishes a big, fat feature on Paul Slavens

FEATURE

Did you know that the hold music at The Dallas Morning News is The Dream Academy's instrumental version of The Smiths classic “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want,” as heard in Ferris Bueller's Day Off? I know because I had to get around the paywall to bring you this big, fat article about Paul Slavens in yesterday's paper! Thanks to Thor Christensen for the thoughtful words and to Shafkat Anowar for the fantastic photos!

Thor writes, “His new album, 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐 (State Fair Records), shows off his dazzling songwriting talents as he jumps from Parisian classical-jazz (‘Naomi‘) to razor-edge bebop (‘Queenie‘) to new-wave cabaret (‘X on My Heart‘).”

It's been a sincere pleasure for me to work on this album by a master of his craft. Click for your life… paywall, sorry!

Dallas Observer takes a deep dive into Paul Slavens' new LP

FEATURE

Many thanks to Danny Gallagher at the Dallas Observer for this deep dive on 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐 and wide-ranging interview with Paul Slavens about it.

This record encompasses so many styles, genres, nuances and niches. It's the perfect soundtrack to whatever weird alcohol and meat-fueled weekend you have planned for yourself.

Out now on State Fair Records.

Listen here!

JAZZIZ editors choose Paul Slavens "Ophelia"

REVIEW

“Paul Slavens channeling the spirit of Frank Zappa on a track from his first album in twelve years.”

Thanks out to Jazziz Magazine for including Paul and “Ophelia,” one of the women of 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐, on this week's Editor's Choice playlist!

Album out now on State Fair Records. Click for your life!

Dusted digs Paul Slavens' gleeful mix of playfulness and classiness

REVIEW

Loving this write-up about Paul Slavens’ 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐 over at Dusted Magazine.

“Gleefully skipping around, mixing playfulness and classiness, all developing Slavens’ strange ideas and strong compositions.”

Thanks to Justin Cober-Lake! Album out now from State Fair Records! Click for your life!

The video for Paul Slavens' "Ophelia" - great for fans of Shakespears, They Might Be Giants, and Zappa - premiers

PREMIERE

Premiering now from Paul Slavens!

It's the cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs video for “Ophelia,” a song in which Prince Hamlet asks the doomed Danish noblewoman of the title to “give a guy some slack,” among other things.

The song features vocals from Rosana Eckert, who most recently appeared on the Grammy®-winning 𝘌𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 album by the late Lyle Mays. If you enjoy Frank Zappa, They Might Be Giants, and Shakespeare as much as I do, please check it out!

Paul's upcoming 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐 is out June 24 on State Fair Records.

Composer Paul Slavens voices Hamlet, accompanied by singer Rosana Eckert, on the fun-filled "Ophelia"

PREMIERE

Hi! Do you enjoy Frank Zappa, They Might Be Giants, and Shakespeare as much as I do? Great! The new Paul Slavens single “Ophelia” is the first bit of music that I heard from his upcoming 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐 (June 24, State Fair Records.)

My reaction: Paul is a genius. Paul is nuts. I need to talk about it! This tune in which Hamlet asks the doomed Danish noblewoman to “give a guy some slack” is just the thing to draw a desperately needed smile. Treat Yo Self!

Paul Slavens chats with Central Track about his long career

INTERVIEW

Paul Slavens had a nice long chat with Central Track about his long career, which contains so many highlights that brevity prohibits me from mentioning them here.

BUT!

I 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 take this moment to remind that 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐 is out June 24 from State Fair Records.

Central Track says, "The album is all over the place, from jazz to prog to pop, but it’s as eclectic as Slavens is."

KXT premieres Paul Slavens' "theatrical" new single in advance of his weekend birthday extravaganza

PREMIERE

Happy birthday to Paul Slavens!

“’X (On My Heart)’ is a theatrical number that tells the story of a man who wants to know more about a mysterious woman who left him with a note and a sense of longing." That's KXT's Local Show blog talking about the new single by the "Denton-based composer, musician, and all-around entertainer.”

The first single from 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐 (June 24, State Fair Records) is out now and you can watch the eye-popping video too! Check it out here!

Paul plays a record reveal show - also his birthday party, with cake! - this Sunday, May 22. RSVP on Facebook and get tickets here!

All About Jazz has the scoop on Paul Slavens' hyperdrive new single

FEATURE

I'm energized by this hyperdrive Paul Slavens cut called "Queenie," in which the award-winning, long-running KXT public radio host shows off his madman-level composition skills. It's 🔥.

Visit All About Jazz for the scoop. Scroll down to watch the video (also of Paul's making, utilizing both his sheet music and the product of the creative mind of photographer, James Bland) for the tune that was handed to four university jazz students with the instructions to "play it as fast as you can."

𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐 is out June 24 from State Fair Records.

Paul Slavens' adrenaline-filled "Queenie" is Central Track's Song Of The Day

SONG OF THE DAY FEATURE

I'm addicted to this deep cut from the upcoming Paul Slavens album 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘵 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘝𝘰𝘭. 𝘐𝘐 (June 24, State Fair Records).

In its coverage of "Queenie," Central Track says, "Slavens’ tune is an all-instrumental slice of excellent upbeat jazz. It’s like a big shot of adrenaline in the morning. RIYL: Cannonball Adderley, McCoy Tyner and Art Blakey.”

The genius of composer Paul Slavens shines from "Naomi" to "Zelda" on brilliant "Alphabet Girls, Vol. II," out June 24.

NEWS

Alphabet Girls, Vol. II by Paul Slavens (June 24, State Fair Records) is the crystallization and distillation of the Nebraska born, Denton, TX-based artist’s long, varied, and accomplished career, complete with all of the requisite breakthroughs and disappointments.

On record, Slavens’s endurance is a listener’s treat. Alphabet Girls, Vol. II plays like the product of a “been everywhere, seen everything” guru-type somehow fitting all of his experience and education onto five lines of musical staff like some kind of trippy Tetris.

Funny, but serious. Jazz, but pop. Quirky, but grounded. Alphabet Girls, Vol. II (the title isn’t a red herring, the “girls” of Vol. I showed up twelve years ago) is all of these things and more.

But not.

“My goal was to make beautiful sounds,” Slavens said.

Read the full Paul Slavens bio here.