Paula Domínguez: “Brunch is a very successful concept”

Just a missed call to Paula Domínguez is enough for her voicemail to reveal her deeply rooted Andalusian influences in her work. At just 18 years old, this girl from Marbella moved to Barcelona with a suitcase full of hopes and a dream: to dedicate herself to the world of music. With several albums and musical projects under her belt (Little Pieces of Paper, 2016), another one about to be released, and more than 10 years of songwriting, it can be said that she has already achieved it.

The keys, her perseverance and 11 years of continuous training in disciplines as diverse as Jazz, Flamenco, or Theatrical Clown. She has also dabbled in the music contest Your Face Doesn't Ring a Bell Yet, where she was close to making it to the final. In addition to all that, every weekend from 12:30 pm to 4 pm she livens up the Brunch Around The Corner at The Corner Hotel, performing live covers of soul classics, adding a more trendy touch to the experience. It was during one of her breaks between sets that this interview took place.

Paula, when did you arrive in Barcelona and why did you decide to come here?

It was after finishing high school. The time came to decide what one wants to do in the future. I lived in Marbella and most of my friends went to Granada, which is the reference university city in that area. I wanted to go to a big city, and I was hesitating between going to Madrid, Barcelona, or abroad. So once I finished my entrance exams, I embarked on the adventure.

Had you already started in music before you came?

I had started taking singing lessons at 16. For 2 years I attended group classes. It served as an escape route.

In addition to that experience, your website highlights ongoing education through various courses and workshops.

Indeed, because even if one has talent, studying and learning other disciplines helps a great deal. That's why, when I arrived here at the age of 18, I started studying music theory from the beginning. I've spent 11 years studying music, completing an Intermediate Level, then an Advanced Level, and then I delved into the world of flamenco. I had a good ear for it but I couldn't even distinguish the different styles. The idea was to strengthen the areas where I was weakest. I've also done theater and spent three years taking clown courses, which have given me a professional and interpretative richness I did not expect.

Jazz, flamenco, soul... With which genre do you feel most comfortable?

It depends on the day and the concert... because I have worked with all three genres. I sing typical soul, jazz, or international pop songs in English. I also sing in Spanish, but it feels strange to me because my accent comes through and I end up giving the song a flamenco touch.

Could it be said that jazz and flamenco are related genres that share the feeling of something coming from within oneself?

More than jazz, for me, a genre that has that raw power of flamenco is gospel. There are many people who truly feel it, and believe in what they are singing. There is a feeling and an emotion there that is similar to that of flamenco. That's why a few years ago I conducted an experiment called Gospel meets flamenco with Ramón Escalé, director of Gospel Messengers, where we performed a flamenco-infused gospel duet.

At what point does your path cross with that of The Corner Hotel?

A fellow saxophonist who had also worked with the hotel let me know that they were preparing the #SeagramsNYHotel and that they would need a singer to perform soul classics.

You who were fortunate enough to experience it from within, how was that experience?

I must confess that I have never been to New York. I haven't crossed the pond, so being able to experience here what it's like over there was very appealing. Moreover, the way the hotel was set up was fantastic, with a barbershop installed next to the reception, and all the decoration that was done. All of this created an incredible atmosphere, filling the lobby every day. Musically, it was also something new, since I had never sung with instrumental tracks before. I've always done it with musicians.

And after that fleeting experience, the spirit of New York lives on through the Brunch Around The Corner. Tell us. What will those who dare to try it find?

I must say that the hotel itself is already appealing and retains the spirit of that experience. Moreover, that New York essence is now also present through something as quintessentially New York as brunch, a concept I find very fitting, but here it is served with local products. On weekends, people tend to get up late, which extends their breakfast and lunchtime. In this way, they can head to The Corner Hotel and try a culinary offering that allows them to eat well starting at 12:30 pm. And all of this, enlivened live with the great classics of soul music.

And finally, how was your experience on Your Face Doesn't Ring a Bell Yet?

It was a lot of fun. It was actually my goal. Although I've never been an impersonator, performing those songs I grew up with helped me a lot. It gave me a lot of strength and that's why I did well, even though in the third show I was so bold that I was just shy of making it to the final.