Interview With Fado/Prog Metal Artist Paula Teles
"I Use Music as a Tool To Express What I Feel"
Immerse yourself in the fascinating sound world of Paula Teles: In this exclusive interview, I spoke with the Fado/Prog-Metal artist about loss, artistic freedom, and the magic of blending Portuguese tradition with modern heaviness. The result is this emotional, honest, and inspiring conversation about her life, her work and her latest album, "Entreparedes".
Anne: Hi, Paula! How are you doing today? Thanks for taking the time to speak with me. It's an honour getting to know you!
Paula: Hi Anne! It's a pleasure. Thank you so much for having me here!
Anne: Congratulations on "Entreparedes"—it's a truly bold and mesmerising record. How did you first envision blending the raw melancholy of Fado with the power and complexity of progressive metal?
Paula: Thank you! It wasn't planned at all. It all came naturally. I come from the world of opera, so I like strong melodies with dramatic weight. Jorge Lopes (my partner in crime) is more into progressive metal. We were brought together by our love for Fado and Portuguese culture. These were the ingredients of this "meal" that we are sharing with you.
Anne: This album feels incredibly personal and emotionally charged. Was there a particular moment during its creation—perhaps in writing, recording, or performing—when you felt especially vulnerable or transformed?
Paula: My father passed away a year ago. That was a moment of great inner transformation. It changed me radically. I was forced to delve into the inevitability of death and the emptiness of losing one of my points of support. I feel like I'm relearning how to live, and this entire internal process affects, consciously or unconsciously, the entire creative process.
But, in general, I'm an emotional person who likes to approach deeper aspects of reality. Which makes me a boring person most of the time, I suppose (laughs).
Anne: I didn't know that. I am so sorry for your loss.
If I'm correctly informed, you released the album to celebrate the centenary of Carlos Paredes, a true icon of Portuguese guitar. How did his legacy shape your songwriting and the overall atmosphere of this record?
"Jorge Lopes is a great bandmate"
Paula: I will speak not only for myself but also for Jorge Lopes, who is one of the best guitarists I know and who I am lucky to have as a "bandmate".
Carlos Paredes was an innovative artist who did not allow himself to be bound by the prevailing rules and musical dogma. He put his genius and values at the service of his art. His strength and creativity inspire us, not only when we are making music but also when we have to take a stand in the artistic world.
For those who listen to our work, I think they can feel the involvement and emotional intensity of the music that Carlos Paredes left us and that, even today, takes many souls on a journey.
Anne: Someone described "Entreparedes" as "less easy on the ears than your previous work, with more tension and drama", and I think that puts it into words quite well. Would you like to share with me what inspired you to take your sound in this more progressive and challenging Direction?
Paula: I ended up putting into music what I feel on a daily basis. Looking at what is happening around us, it is challenging to write light and simple music because we live in difficult and complex times. Since I am not a good communicator, I use music as a tool to express what I feel. And, at this moment, I feel the need to revisit the past to live consciously in the present and to avoid "conflicts" in the future.
Anne: Your lyrics are very poetic and evocative. Would you like to talk me through your writing process—do the words or the music come first for you?
"Books have always been my greatest treasure"
Paula: First, the music, then the lyrics. Jorge makes the arrangements and sends me the instrumental. After that, and after listening to the music several times, I write the lyrics and create the vocal melody. I have a very close relationship with writing and the Portuguese language. My father published two books and left one written before he passed away. I grew up surrounded by books of classic Portuguese literature, and I think that this greatly influenced my growth and my way of writing. Even today, my greatest treasure is books.
Anne: I can very much relate to that. The track "Pêndulo" stands out with its hypnotic rhythm and lyrical imagery. What's the story behind this song, and what does the pendulum symbolise for you personally?
Paula: The lyrics of this album have a strong connection with the audience I work with every day: I work in a home for elderly women, and every day, I am treated to their stories and their fears about the passing of time. "Pêndulo" is about the dance of time, about the twists and turns that life takes and about how we feel like we are swaying in the void. As we sway from one side to the other without stopping, almost automatically, time passes... and what can we do about it? Keep dancing.
Anne: Fado lives from its deep sense of saudade and emotional honesty, while progressive metal thrives on technicality and intensity. How do you balance these two worlds, both vocally and musically?
Paula: I'm an emotional person who enjoys depth and exploring melancholy. On the other hand, I'm obsessed with vocal technique and how rigorous and precise music can be. It's a kind of balance: by balancing both sides, I can chart the path that makes me musically satisfied. Creating art helps me achieve that balance.
Anne: The Portuguese guitar remains a constant thread throughout the album. How do you approach arranging it alongside heavier, more modern instrumentation?
"The Portuguese guitar has a more velvety sound"
Paula: To achieve a balance between the different instruments and the contrasting sounds, Jorge built a Portuguese guitar from scratch with a sound adapted to what we wanted. It is a different guitar from the standard one, it has a more "velvety" sound.
Anne: "Contra-Regra" and "II Acto" appear to explore theatrical themes and imagery. Does your background in theatre singing influence your approach to performance and storytelling in your music?
Paula: Yes, there is no escaping it. All the experiences I have had in my career as a singer have shaped me into who I am today. In my opinion, music and theatre are two arts that complement each other. Even if unconsciously (sometimes), I always have a tendency to dramatise what I sing.
Anne: There's a palpable sense of catharsis and reflection in tracks like "Ventre" and "Ponto Cego." How much of your own personal journey finds its way into your lyrics?
Paula: The lyrics I write are my way of communicating, of trying to make people understand what I'm feeling and somehow identify with it. To make us all feel less alone through music.
Anne: The album artwork by Giorgia Carteri is as dramatic as the music itself. How did you collaborate to ensure the visuals matched the emotional landscape of "Entreparedes"?
Paula: Giorgia is an incredible professional! It was a great pleasure working with her. To achieve the final product, she studied the themes I suggested to her, we talked about colours, and she asked me for recommendations for films to watch about the history of Portugal. I was very impressed by the fact that she is so immersed in the work she does.
Anne: You've worked with Jorge Lopes and Helder Lopes on the music and recorded at RedBox Studios. What was the most memorable moment from the recording sessions?
Paula: We are very focused on work, but we can't do things without cracking a few jokes in between. It's part of our personality. But I think I can ignore, this time, the "discussions" that Jorge and I had about politics, always before we started recording. We were exchanging arguments for almost an hour! That may be why we understand each other. We allow the other side to give their opinion.
Anne: With only seven tracks but such a rich, immersive soundscape, how did you decide which songs made the final cut for "Entreparedes"?
Paula: We tried to make this album cohesive in itself while also continuing our previous work. On the other hand, we wanted our sound to have a heavier emotional charge. These were the points that influenced the choice of songs that lined up in "EntreParedes.
Anne: The closing track, "(Re) Encarnado," feels like a powerful statement on rebirth and resilience. What message did you hope to convey to listeners as the album comes to a close?
Paula: I would like people to feel that time can be our friend, that we always have time to get up and start over. But there is something important about starting over: not repeating the same mistakes, learning from past experiences.
Anne: In the last decade, you've helped redefine what Fado can be, bringing it into dialogue with rock and metal. How has the response been from both traditional Fado fans and the metal community?
"Metal fans are open to new things"
Paula: I think that people who like a specific genre of music end up closing themselves off and rejecting anything that is different. Fortunately, metal is quite receptive to new things, and I have felt a lot of support from the metal community. I haven't received any feedback from Fado fans, so I think my work hasn't reached a broad audience yet.
Anne: We're living in fast and oftentimes cruel times. Is there something we can all learn from Fado?
Paula: Fado is music with a history, and everything we can learn from history is welcome. The past must be integrated into the present so that mistakes are not repeated and so that we can learn to live in accordance with our nature and essence. In a world that demands constant productivity from us, one that often fosters a closed attitude and indifference to the problems of others, it does us no harm to stop and listen to some Fado and reflect on what we want for the future of our species.
Anne: Last but not least, what's next for you after your successful release of "Entreparedes"? Are there more dream collaborations waiting for you in the future? Are you already working on new songs?
Paula: Right now, I'm just letting life flow. I've been trying to promote this work. I want to do some concerts, but above all, I want to let life flow so that inspiration can come back.
Anne: Thanks for answering my questions! It's been a pleasure! I wish you all the best with your plans and your album!
Paula: Thank you! It was amazing answering these questions. Thank you for helping me promote my work!
