Pauli Lovejoy Explained

PAULi
Landscape:yes
Alias:Pauli Lovejoy, The PSM
Origin:London, England
Birth Name:Paul Stanley McKenzie
Birth Date:1988 11, df=yes
Genre:Pop, hip hop, R&B, alternative rock, electronica
Instruments:Drums, percussion, vocals, OP-1 synth
Occupations:Drummer, recording artist, music director, model
Years Active:–present
Label:Kobalt
Associated Acts:Eliza, FKA twigs, Gorillaz Sound System, Jamie xx, Kindness, Kwes, MLKnCRL, Sampha, Tawiah, Harry Styles

PAULi (born 8 November 1988) is a UK born drummer, recording artist, music director and model.

Early stages

In 2005, Pauli won the Young Drummer of The Year award and performed on the BBC's Blue Peter.[1] [2]

In 2008, Pauli was appointed the role as music director for MOBO award-winning artist Jahaziel and platinum selling artist Eliza Doolittle. They have also appeared in acclaimed music videos for Duffy, Jordin Sparks, Shingai Shinowa (Noisettes), Raghav and Mutya Buena (Sugababes/MKS).

In 2009, at age 20, Pauli started working with Gorillaz,[3] which features the Grammy Award-winning cartoon band's music remixed to visual effects and toured with the outfit, playing corporate club shows and headlining festivals around the world. Playing with Gorillaz Sound System introduced Stanley-McKenzie to Africa Express, which led to his contribution in the collective's international shows and the Cultural Olympiad UK train tour, playing alongside Paul McCartney, John Paul Jones, and a host of African musicians including Tony Allen, Baaba Maal and Amadou and Miriam. In January 2014, it was announced that Stanley-McKenzie would play drums for Damon Albarn on tour in support of his debut solo album Everyday Robots, alongside Seye, Jeff Wootton and Mike Smith.[4]

Career

In December 2014, Pauli wrote "Give Me A Sign" which premiered on The Fader[5] and championed by Stereogum[6] as a “Protest Song” was dedicated to Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Rafael Ramos & Wenjian Liu, this was a collaboration with Brooklyn-based oil painter Amar Stewart and marked the first solo recording under the guise “Pauli Lovejoy”. The music for "Give Me a Sign" was co-produced with Brooklyn-based music producer and artist "Heavy Mellow".

In 2015, Pauli served as a music director for FKA twigs’ headline ‘Congregata’ shows in London (Roundhouse / Alexander McQueen), New York (Red Bull Music Academy), Glastonbury (West Holts Headline), LA (FYF Fest Headline) and at the MOBO Awards.[7] Subsequently, this led to working with FKA twigs' label-mate, Jamie xx as music director for the live promo of his debut record ‘In Colour,’ which saw Pauli directing live performances on Le Grand Journal (Canal+) (Paris) and Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Still recognized as a prominent music influencer, Pauli was called upon as the primary talent for the Tanqueray "Greatness Starts at Ten" campaign.[8]

On 24 September 2015, "i DON'T CARE" had its radio debut on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show on Apple Music.[9] The accompanying video premiered on Noisey.[10]

On 27 October 2016, "Waiting (Getting On This Train)" the first single from his forthcoming EP, THE IDEA OF TOMORROW premiered on Zane Lowe's Apple Music Beats 1 radio show. That same week, The Fader included "Waiting" on their playlist of "11 Songs You Need in Your Life This Week.".[11] In addition, "Waiting" was featured on Wonderland Magazine's Tracks of the Week Playlist.[12]

"Believe in Me" the second single from THE IDEA OF TOMORROW, premiered on Complex.[13] and had its first radio play on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show. Apple Music included the single on their Best of The Week Playlist.[14] "Believe in Me" garnered attention from Dazed [15] and Nylon.[16]

On 9 December 2016 Pauli released his debut EP, THE IDEA OF TOMORROW, with long-time collaborator and fellow London-producer Kwes on Kobalt.

In partnership with social media app, Vero, Pauli premiered his Visual EP, THE IDEA OF TOMORROW,[17] an afrofuturist fairytale set on Kepler-452b, directed by Rohan Blair-Mangat. Pauli states “there is a vital synergy between my music and the visuals (as will be demonstrated with my forthcoming releases).”

In 2017 Pauli debuted his first live show as a solo artist during Paris Fashion Week at Les Bains Paris.

Their EP Secret Life of a Badman was released December 20, 2018.

Throughout the spring of 2021, Pauli released singles that culminated in the EP Secret Life of a Badman (Vol.2) which was released May 21, 2021. Later that year, they joined Harry Styles' band as a percussionist and MD for Love on Tour.[18]

Lovejoy served as the opening act for Irish rock band U2 during their 2023–2024 concert residency, U2:UV Achtung Baby Live, at Sphere in the Las Vegas Valley.[19] During the pre-show, they DJ'ed music from inside a neon Trabant that moved around the general admission area.[20] [21]

Personal life

Pauli identifies as non-binary[22] and uses he/they pronouns.[23]

Discography

EP

Singles

Studio recording credits

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike Dolbear DRUMS | Interview with Paul Stanley-McKenzie – Gorillaz Sound System . Mikedolbear.com . 8 July 2016.
  2. Web site: Archived copy . August 4, 2020 . November 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201111192716/https://www.afternic.com/forsale/howwwl.com?utm_source=TDFS_DASLNC&utm_medium=DASLNC&utm_campaign=TDFS_DASLNC&traffic_type=TDFS_DASLNC&traffic_id=daslnc& . dead .
  3. Web site: Mike Dolbear DRUMS | Interview with Paul Stanley-McKenzie – Gorillaz Sound System . Mikedolbear.com . 8 July 2016.
  4. Web site: Damon Albarn to release first solo LP on Parlophone | News | Music Week. Musicweek.com. August 4, 2020.
  5. Web site: British Songwriter Pauli LoveJoy Premieres "Give Me A Sign" . Thefader.com. McDermott, Patrick D..
  6. Web site: Pauli LoveJoy – "Give Me A Sign". Stereogum.com. December 22, 2014 .
  7. Web site: FKA twigs : 'Figure 8' & 'In Time' live at MOBO Awards 2015 : MOBO. November 4, 2015 . YouTube. 4 August 2020.
  8. Web site: Tanqueray No. Ten – Greatness Starts at Ten. Whitelodge.tv.
  9. Web site: Zane Lowe — Apple Music . . September 30, 2015 . October 3, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151003100842/https://itunes.apple.com/us/post/idsa.79b0d973-631e-11e5-9d6b-aea4b88b5c1c . dead .
  10. Web site: PREMIERE: PAULi - "i Don't CARE" - Noisey . January 31, 2017 . February 2, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202131925/https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/premiere-pauli---i-dont-care . dead .
  11. Web site: 11 Songs You Need In Your Life This Week. Thefader.com. August 4, 2020.
  12. Web site: Wonderlist: Tracks of the Week - Wonderland Magazine - Wonderland Magazine . January 31, 2017 . February 2, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202072630/http://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2016/11/wonderlist-tracks-week-86/ . dead .
  13. Web site: Premiere: Listen To PAULi.'s New Track "Believe In Me". Complex.com. August 4, 2020.
  14. Web site: New Music Daily. Music.apple.com. August 4, 2020.
  15. Web site: The only tracks you need to hear this week. November 18, 2016. Dazeddigital.com. August 4, 2020.
  16. Web site: Soundcheck: The 35 Best Music Releases Of The Week. Nylon.com. November 19, 2016 . August 4, 2020.
  17. Web site: PAULi. On Vero — Vero - True Social . January 31, 2017 . February 2, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202071547/https://www.vero.co/discover/2016/12/12/pauli-on-vero . dead .
  18. Web site: Who Are Harry Styles' Backing Band? Meet The New Members As Love On Tour Begins . capitalfm.com . March 2, 2019 . November 10, 2021.
  19. Web site: U2's opening act at The Sphere 'a big person. Las Vegas Review-Journal. John. Katsilometes. John Katsilometes. 25 September 2023. 25 September 2023.
  20. U2 Launch New Era of Live Music at Stunning Sphere Opening Concert in Las Vegas. Rolling Stone. Andy. Greene. 30 September 2023. 30 September 2023.
  21. Web site: The Vegas Job: U2 At The Sphere. Hot Press. Pat. Carty. 1 October 2023. 5 October 2023.
  22. Web site: SoSally . 2021-05-24 . NEWS: Pauli The PSM Drops 'Secret Life of a Badman Vol. 2' . https://web.archive.org/web/20220523122539/https://www.sosallyplays.com/post/news-pauli-the-psm-drops-secret-life-of-a-badman-vol-2. 2022-04-15 . SOSALLYPLAYS . May 23, 2022 . en.
  23. Web site: Pauli the PSM (@paulithepsm) • Instagram photos and videos.
  24. Web site: Pauli The PSM - i DON'T CARE. September 15, 2015 . YouTube. 4 August 2020.
  25. Web site: BBC Radio 6 Music - Mary Anne Hobbs, Being a Session Musician, Pauli 'THE PSM': Life as a Session Musician . September 12, 2015 . March 1, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140301113103/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01n0m77 . dead .