During a Lillian Leadbetter deep dive earlier this week, I surfed YouTube’s algorithm from one suggestion to the next. The initial recommendations were additional clips of the spellbinding State of Romance auteur, but in time they led to other songs, other artists. “Learning My Ways” by Nico Paulo was one. For those unaware, she’s a Portuguese-Canadian singer-songwriter who was born in Canada to Portuguese parents; she grew up near Lisbon after her family returned home when she was two. Though she loved music, she moved to Canada in 2014 intending to pursue a career in graphic design—but things soon changed.
“Learning My Ways” hails from her self-titled debut album, which was released last spring. An acoustic guitar gives way to her voice, a gentle rhythm, and lyrics that deal with storms literal and metaphoric, and matters l’amour: “Our love is a miracle/Growing wild through the concrete.” A lonesome horn bleats into the mix almost halfway through, only to disappear after a few bars until song’s end. It’s a dreamy outing.
According to Google’s Gemini AI tool, which I play with from time to time, the album garnered positive reviews for its blend of Portuguese and Canadian folk music:
Nico Paulo’s self-titled debut album, released in April 2023, has been praised by critics for its unique blend of influences and introspective songwriting. Here’s a breakdown of the album’s strengths:
Strengths:
- Cross-Cultural Fusion: The album seamlessly blends elements of Portuguese and Canadian folk music, creating a sound that’s both familiar and fresh [KLOF Mag, The Rodeo Magazine].
- Musical Variety: While rooted in folk-pop, the album incorporates elements of alternative and indie, keeping the sound engaging throughout [Beats Per Minute, Bandcamp].
- Strong Vocals: Critics especially highlight Paulo’s captivating vocals, described as both powerful and nuanced [KLOF Mag, YouTube review].
- Compelling Lyrics: The songs explore relatable themes of love, time, identity, and connection in a way that’s both personal and thought-provoking [The Rodeo Magazine, Beats Per Minute].
Points to Consider:
- Accessibility: Some reviewers felt the album takes a little while to find its groove, suggesting it might be a grower for some listeners [Beats Per Minute].
Overall, Nico Paulo’s debut is a strong and promising first effort. It showcases her talent for songwriting, musicianship, and her ability to create a unique sonic world. If you’re a fan of folk music with a twist, or interested in discovering new artists, this album is definitely worth checking out.
In the moment, however, “Learning My Ways” simply transfixed me; Paulo’s voice possesses a hypnotic timbre that’s reminiscent in spots to Rumer circa “Slow.” I listened to the album’s first few songs while on a grocery run later that day and completed it while driving with Diane to a meet-and-greet in Siler City with North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein—30 minutes there, 30 minutes back. The music reminded me at times to Melody Gardot’s The Absence, which makes sense as the jazz chanteuse explored Portuguese fado on that sublime 2012 outing. Other songs, such as “Lovers in the Street,” wafted from the speakers as if from Rumer’s Seasons of My Soul.
“How long is this?” Diane asked at one point, as the 35-minute album had yet to end and we were about 15 minutes into the ride home. I assumed it had started over, though unsure why, and when I flipped from CarPlay’s Maps app to Music was flummoxed to to see “007 Nico Paulo – Lovers in the Street” on the screen sans cover art. Was Apple Music having hiccups of some kind?
The short answer: No. The long answer: I added a review copy of the album to my library several months prior to its slated release, intending to upload a review on the morning of its release on April 7th. (In fact, I featured a single from it in a Songs du Jour feature a few weeks earlier.) Apple Music combined its version with that long-ago download. As to why I didn’t spotlight it: last spring was a hectic time. We bought our dream home, packed (and packed and packed!) up the apartment—and hosted good friends for a week somewhere in there, as well. By the time we were settled in, I was onto other albums, other artists.
I feel like a fool now.
In short, Nico Paulo’s self-titled debut album is a sublime outing accented by wondrous melodies, rhythms and vocals; it’s a set best experienced in full, with the early songs hinting at the wonders that come by album’s end. It’s the sonic equivalent of a time-lapse film that tracks a flower from bud to bloom, in a sense, less folk than an old-school singer-songwriter outing, with ample dollops of dreamy pop mixed in. Some songs remind me of Rumer circa “Slow”; others—such as “Hand Kisser”—would’ve been at home on any of Carly Simon’s classic 1970s albums. And, yes, a few also conjure Melody Gardot and also Bebel Gilberto. Most of all, however, we hear Nico Paulo’s heart and soul. It’s a tremendous set.
The Old Grey Cat 