My Date with Mr. Wright…
No, not that Mr. Wright, I’m talking about Paul Wright and is was more of a chill q & a than an actual date, just thought I’d grab your attention. The setting: a very busy Dave and Busters on a Friday evening. Paul sits patiently while I try to configure the sound on my voice recorder…A one two…Do you have it on high quality? Yeah, on high quality but not on extra high quality. Yeah that should work. Can you hear my voice…I feel like I’m at a job interview. Are you serious? Nah Oh crap, I accidentally brought some papers from work. Yeah I can't do that for you, sorry.
Name: Paul Wright
Any Nicknames: Pauly Paul, P-Dub, that’s all
Age: 27
B-Day: August 2nd
Born in: Eugene, Oregon
Marital Status: single, or whatever, I’m not married (neither is he dating per his radio interview on Rock105.3)
What's your ideal mate
My mate? I’m looking for a…I think every guys looking for their Eve, you know a partner, helper, someone that can help dreams come true. Support System? What’s that? Kinda like a support system? Yeah totally, yeah
What's a typical day for you?
Wake up, depends if I’m touring or not, if I’m not touring, go surfing, or check Myspace. Right now I’m writing a lot for my projects. Diego's Diary? Yeah yeah. Do laundry, call mom when I mess up
How's Diego's Diary?
Excellent
When is that coming out?
Summer, either early summer or end of summer. I’m not sure yet, maybe end of summer. I don't know where but I had heard it would com out in March, Yeah hopefully I'll be done with it, done with the record in March but I don’t want to just throw it out there, I want to have a marketing plan. I’m doing it all independent, I might talk to with some companies as far as distribution
Why Diego's Diary?
I’ve always wanted to do a book, I tried to do it. On the Fly Away cd I started to write a book for the cd but I never finished it cuz I was traveling so much. So right now just seems like the perfect opportunity. Exploring San Diego is how I came up with the story line so I’m writing songs based on the story line and the cd is the soundtrack. Kind of like Chapter 1 Song 1? Yeah and every chapter will be based on a setting in san Diego, chapter 1-5th and Broadway, chapter 2-Pacific Beach, chapter 3 is Ocean Beach, chapter 4 is Chula Vista, Sunset Cliffs. I’m stoked about it I think its gonna be a good opportunity to go beyond the church too. I’ve been pretty much just playing the Christian music scene, which is great, good support, good place to play but I’m excited for this project to reach outside the bubble? I really think it can, at least to San Diego. My whole marketing though is, you need a cd to play at the beach and ill have it available at like surf shops
Just then our Goldfingers arrive (chicken tenders served with French fries and chipotle-honey sauce.) Paul’s face lights up and just as he’s about to start eating he pauses, bows his head and prays, “God thank you for this meal, for, uh, food so we can operate, thank you for today Lord, bless this interview. In Jesus’ name, Amen”
Not just Christian music but music in general, if you’re not aware, if you’re not exposed you can be like yeah whatevers, that’s why word-of-mouth is so big. And the thing is I’m not releasing it to play for 1000 or 2000 people, at the most I’d want to play for like 500 people, I don’t want it to get too big, I want there to be an intimate connection.
So I started a street team called the goonies, are you signed up for it? Yes Oh you are, sweet. The Goonies? I've never seen that movie. Oh you haven’t, you gotta see it, it’s classic! I want to organize a Goonies meeting in Southern California for all the Southern California Goonies, cuz there’s a lot. There’s like almost a hundred people signed up to be a Goonie in CA and the majority of 'em are LA/San Diego. I want to invite mostly the San Diego county Goonies to come. I’ll play them some songs, maybe watch the movie, just hang out. I’m looking for leaders, regional leaders, basically someone that can help me manage the area. There’s, I think maybe 25 people in North County/South County like all over San Diego. So I’m looking for people in every region to work with them, make sure everyone knows about upcoming shows. That person would go and leave comments on the Goonie site, saying "Hey don’t forget that Paul’s playing at the epicentre" I’m gonna send out an email saying I’m looking for people.
What is something you cannot live without?
My heart, not only physically, but passionately. Peace, my heart, my relationship with God
What inspires you?
Usually stories I hear, people I meet, books I read, movies I see, music I hear. Everyday life, just being open to it. It’s about being a thinker, having an open mind and something that I don’t know at all that I’d like to learn, my eyes are opened. As I learn I get inspired. Basically whatever impresses me. Impressions lead to expressions. Artists, whatever moves an artist, they’re going to want to share that with them and they want other people to be moved just the way they were moved
What role does God have in your life?
He’s my everything, He’s my source, my foundation, my life, It’s an awesome reminder, see he’s kinda like that best friend that you forget to call for a week and He’s still there and wants to hang out. Sometimes I separate Him by my attitude or my sin and He’s still there. It doesn’t really separate you its just the idea or guilt that separates my idea that He’s there, He’s always there. I heard a quote, “We shouldn’t ask where is God, we should ask where isn’t God”. We see His fingerprint everywhere in our world but maybe it’s His world and it’s our fingerprints
Did you grow up as a Christian?
I remember being in church but it was more religious than relationship. I used to play tic-tac-toe in the back with my sister all the time. Then when I was 12 is when I really experienced accepting Christ, feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Do you have a role model?
I have a youth Pastor friend in Oregon. He actually gave me the first opportunity to play music. He’s still at the same church, youth pastor. He’s an awesome guy, he was my youth pastor. He let me and my friend sing at a student gathering one night and it motivated to pursue it to play musical instruments
What is your most embarrasing moment as a teen?
One time I was at my sisters graduation and everyone was leaving the gymnasium out the hallway. As I walked out the door I noticed these two glass windows are inside and I notice that the two glass windows aren’t there. It’s the summer time, they’re probably re-doing it you know. So I think I’ll just take this shortcut thru all this mess, this clutter of people, I’m going to jump thru this so I get a running start and there’s actually glass still there and I totally hit it. It was pretty funny. Yeah it was pretty embarrassing and then I walked outside and slipped on a banana peel. Really? Yeah, isn’t that weird? I’m dead serious, it was like a cartoon.
What are your plans for your music?
Continue to build more awareness around the country, continue to put out music on my own record label (Rootdown Sound). Once Diego’s Diary is out I’d like to do a band project *Diego’s diary to me is like San Diego’s diary
If you could be anthing but a musician, what would you be?
A teacher, I’d like to teach high school or college, creative writing, or anything that just deal’s with being creative
Where do you see your career in 1 year?
I’d like to see the Goonies more established. This is like my support structure, I’d like to see it more stronger and more awareness. In 5 years... I’d not only like to see that blossom and grow but be able to put out other artists, artists that I believe in and just need an opportunity
Share some of your musical inspirations gorwing up.
When I first got saved, Toby Mac, Dc Talk, Jars of Clay (the 1st record). Then there's Christian underground hip-hop, a lot of them from Southern California, Tunnel Rats, Sublime, Bob Marley. How about now? Some are still the same
How many cd's have you released total?
First cd came out when I was in high school so I think I have like 6 or 7 Any Favorites? Sunrise to Sunset is a crowd favorite and also my favorite to perform.Such a joyful song. It's also my ringtone
What are your favorite spots in San Diego?
I like La Jolla shores, I like Sunset Cliffs, and I love OB (Ocean Beach, around the area in which Paul was residing while in San Diego)
Why the move here from Oregon?
A job (Paul was offered a job at Eastlake Community but later had to turn it down)
Describe yourself in three words... or one.. or five
The most humble guy ever! No I’m just joking. Silly, sarcastic, hard-working, creative
A perfect day would be...
Waking up, going to get some Mexican food, going surfing or wake boarding, kicking it with friends, watching a movie, going to Hawaii, then flying to new Zealand and hugging a koala bear. That’s the day I’ve always dreamed of
I see that your schedule is random, do you want to keep touring like that?
I'd like to just be able to do a focus tour once or twice a year, everything else is kinda to pay my rent. I love doing what I’m doing
Is there anywhere in particular that you love to play?
Albuquerque, New Mexico. They have a great radio station that plays my stuff a lot
Anything you want to add?
Be my friend on Myspace
Your homework now is to go and watch The Goonies!
 Visit Paul's Web Site
www.paulwright.com
Visit Paul's Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/paulwright
Interview By Jen Moreno.
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By
jenmoreno