September 5, 2024 | 12:00am
“My family has always been very supportive of whatever I do.”
That was singer-songwriter Paolo Sandejas talking and expressing his gratitude to his main support system, which includes mom, celebrity and TV personality, Christine Jacob-Sandejas and dad Paco Sandejas, in venturing into the local music scene and finding his foothold in it, during a virtual interview with The STAR.
At the onset of his career, the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artist added that his parents reminded him to finish a degree and secure a job while pursuing his songwriting.
“As a Plan B and as a way, like, to keep yourself stable,” said Paolo. “It’s a very volatile industry, being an artist. It’s good to have that as a fallback, as a support, and as a way to keep you stable.”
He has a Computer Science degree earned from the University of the Philippines under his belt and worked as an AI (artificial intelligence) engineer.
Now, Paolo is a graduate student at CalArts and pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Music Technology.
The program aligns with his interests in computer science and music, for it allows him to build and create software for music.
He said, “So, that’s really exciting for me, and it’s in L.A. It’s a chance for me to also open doors then with music if ever.”
CHRISTINE JACOB’S INSTAGRAM
Before he flew to the US, Paolo released the song sirens under the label Sony Music Entertainment. According to his publicity team, the tune is a “moody guitar-pop… showcases layers of maturity and earnestness to his musical craft.”
“They’re (my family) very supportive, and this next step for me also, they’re very supportive,” said he, who was also referring to working with his new music label, and studying abroad, as new beginnings in the life of this promising and talented artist.
“I think I’m definitely very lucky to have a good support system of friends and my family who are behind me, like my mom and dad, and they always just mainly tell me to kind of… to put in an honest work, I think, to really strive for the things that you want,” shared Paolo. “If you really wanna do this, then make sure you’re putting in the work to get it done.”
The artist also described himself as “a firm believer (of the idiom or phrase that) if there’s a will, there’s a way to get the things that you want. It’s not gonna be easy.”
He added manifesting is also part of it and “figuring out the pathway to that goal of yours.”
On his Facebook page, Paolo announced that a new song titled all the time will be released on Sept. 6, well, as a follow-up to sirens and part and parcel of an upcoming album.
He piqued everyone’s attention and interest by posting, “tell me do I ever cross your mind?” This could be a passage or a hook from the tune.
In a chat with this paper, Paolo shared that mom Christine always gives him pieces of advice about things, including the ins and outs of the entertainment industry.
She has definitely helped him navigate such a competitive creative field.
“I remember when I was starting out, she was like, ‘You have to be more talkative, you have to expound about the question,’” said Paolo of reminders from his mom in granting interviews, adding that he should avoid giving one-liner answers.
At this point in his personal and professional life, Paolo strikes a balance between being a graduate student and a young artist.
“I want many things in life, and I’m just doing the best to kinda open as many doors as I can instead of closing,” concluded he.
So, it’s safe to assume that the local music scene and his following can expect more from him.
Give any of Paolo’s songs, such as sirens, a listen, all available on all digital music platforms.
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