Paula started her career as a bass player in the mid 60s initially learning her instrument playing in bands local to her area. It was a very inspiring time for musicians, bands and for music in general, traditional boundaries were coming down, it was an exciting time to be a musician. She joined the now cult band Mandrake Paddle Steamer who were signed to EMI, they recorded in the legendary Abbey Road No 2 studios and success followed. Her experience as a bass player took her to play alongside acts such as Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Nice, Deep Purple, Robert Palmer, Roxy Music and so many hi profile bands of the 60s and 70s. As Paula’s career moved forward she was becoming more of a lead guitar player and was developing her vocal skills, she took the next step and started to do solo performances at many of London’s venues, playing her own compositions and performing her own versions of influential classic blues and rock tunes. During the 80s Paula played in several bands both as a guitarist and bass player but gradually found herself gaining more interest toward the recording side of things. She was fortunate enough to work for the Britannia Row Organisation (Pink Floyd’s Headquarters) and gained valuable experience and insight from the Studio Manager Nick Griffiths. During her employment with Pink Floyd she worked as Guitar technician on the now legendary 'The Wall' shows. At the start of the 90s Paula set up her own personal studio and was now in a situation to record her own material and take on production work. She was very much involved in the early Telstar Records catalogue and recorded and played on many of the albums they were releasing at that time, as well as numerous other projects. In the mid 90s she had a UK chart hit with an instrumental dance record “Harmonica Man” under the name of Bravado featuring the Harmonica talents of blues legend Paul Lamb, a long standing musical relationship that they still have today as Paula is Paul’s producer. Most people have heard Paula’s distinctive guitar style, be it in a television ident or a radio jingle, she has been featured on many media and production albums which are used on everything from arts documentaries to sport, drama to children’s entertainment, a wide and varied collection. Since those heady days of hit records in the 90s Paula has continued to work with her music, combining her time writing and producing, as well as performing her infections brand of rocking blues, proving that its still an exciting time to be a musician.
Paula stepped on stage, and cradled a steel bodied resonator, the sound was startling, like a fast mountain stream cascading down its rock strewn course, Paula took us on a country blues journey in a style, (though I shouldn’t say it) that many younger artists can only aspire to. Raw with attitude, better keep clear of the tracks, because, your about to be run down by a 'Mystery Train’, steam-rolling through. Paula, also trawled up a wonderful, early Beefheart song, can’t recall anyone else doing this, 'Grow Fins’, delivered like a slap in the face with a wet mackerel!
