As an author with an interest in the broader creative industry, I interview others who dream big about their work and motivation. Today: singer-songwriter Paulina.
Last Friday, Paulina Nsimba (26) released her first single: ‘Helemaal’ (in Dutch). Yet before that, she wasn’t entirely sure if she would continue as a singer. “I hesitated for quite a while about whether I could actually do this. Although I’ve actually always been busy with music, I kept leaning more toward the songwriting side,” says Paulina. And so her story became one with a few detours.
Musical family
Like so many artists, Paulina was surrounded by music from a young age, which led to many lively moments: “While doing the dishes, my mom, sister and I would often sing together. Sometimes my sister would play the piano or the drums, and I’d join in with my guitar. And recently I found out that my grandmother sang as well. So it really runs in the family.” The church choir also shaped her musical background. “My mother is religious, so she took me to church, where I ended up in the choir. There I learned the basics of various instruments and became a conductor.” But in the end, it was her sister who embraced those influences more fully. “She pursued a career as a singer much earlier and performs a mix of urban gospel and R&B,” Paulina explains. “Even though we used to write a lot of music together, I didn’t see it as my future.”
Writing for others
But somehow, life always seems to give you just that little nudge in the right direction. “I worked at a call center for a while, but then suddenly the opportunity came up to work at a record label. That’s my current job. And by meeting different people there, I’ve already been given a lot of opportunities.” Her writing talent didn’t go unnoticed, which led to her co-writing Funda Kiliç’s latest Dutch-language song: ‘Sorry Is Niet Genoeg’. “It’s really exciting to see how people react and hear what they think of it. When I hear the song somewhere, it’s strange to realize that I worked on it,” says Paulina.
With my first single, I mainly want to show who I am and what I do
And since she showed she can both write and sing, many encouraged her to pursue her own music. “After running away from it for a long time, I decided to accept that music keeps calling me back, and I finally went for it.” For now, she’s doing that as an independent artist: “The goal is to get signed to a record label, but with my first single, I mainly want to show who I am and what I do, in the hope that doors will open. I really look up to Laura Tesoro, among others. I can see myself giving concerts like she does. And I’d definitely be up for a collaboration with someone like Maksim.”
Few examples for Black women singing in Dutch
The journey of the #LikeMe cast also inspires Paulina, who’s interested in acting as well. And just like them, she consciously chooses to make music in Dutch, which isn’t exactly the obvious path for a person of color. A quick look at famous Dutch-language pop artists in Belgium reveals a rather monotonous picture. Yet she doesn’t see that as a challenge: “It actually motivates me. Because if I manage to break through, I can show others who look like me that it’s possible. I think that’s all the more reason to do my best. Besides, I’ve always been a bit of an outsider who stood out because of the creative things I like to do. So that doesn’t scare me off. And I’ve learned never to listen to people who think it won’t work out.”
I’ve learned never to listen to people who think it won’t work out
Of course, it’s true that there’s a larger audience in English. “When I post English-language covers on social media, I definitely have a wider reach. But I don’t think reach is everything. After all, you never know who’s actually watching. Even with few views, it’s possible that someone from the music industry is watching and sees potential. You never know.”
Motivation can take you far
For Paulina, it was definitely important to lay the foundation now for what she hopes will be a long career. “I don’t think the fact that I don’t have a label or a team should stop me from getting started. With the right motivation, you can go a long way. I now have a much better idea of what kind of music I want to make, and once you have that, I believe you’ll get there.” Paulina consciously chooses to make upbeat music. “Music can do so much, so I want to use it to give people a good feeling and hope. After all, a lot is happening in the world, and we see a lot of bad news on social media. Music can bring relief. ‘Helemaal’ carries the message that, despite everything, you should try to achieve your goals and go all out for them. Because that will only bring you good things.”
You can listen to Paulina’s song here!
Written by Nikita
Nikita – founder of Nikita’s World – is a Belgian author of feminist feelgood & a journalist specialized in pop culture and the creative industry.