Polly Paulusma
Background information
Birth namePolly Riley-Smith
Also known asHippolyta (Polly) Paulusma
Born (1976-11-10) 10 November 1976
GenresIndie pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards
Years active2004present
LabelsOne Little Indian Records
Websitehttp://www.pollypaulusma.com
http://www.myspace.com/pollypaulusma

Polly Paulusma /ˈpɔːlzmə/ (born 10 November 1976) is an English singer-songwriter.[1][2]

Career

Paulusma's first album, Scissors in my Pocket, was largely recorded and produced by herself at her home.[3] Her second album, Cosmic Rosy Spine Kites (an anagram of the first album's title) features the same tracks, four of which were recorded with a string quartet; the rest at a gig in Manchester, England, where she supported Jamie Cullum.[4] She has supported other artists on tour including; Marianne Faithfull and Coldplay. Paulusma played at the Glastonbury Festival in 2005.[5][6]

In 2004, Paulusma self-produced her first album using her computer.[7] Paulusma and her management used the internet, just as it was becoming widely accessible,[8] and other contemporary methods of distribution to reach a larger audience. Two of Paulusma's tracks, "Over the Hill" and the live version of "She Moves in Secret Ways", were issued as free downloads through Apple's iTunes Store.[9] Paulusma was one of the first musicians to use Myspace, her own website, blogs, and a link to a forum, to connect with them and keep them up-to-date on her touring and recording plans.[10]

Paulusma's third album Fingers and Thumbs was released in the June 2007 with its corresponding sister album Fights and Numbers as an iTunes-only digital download.[11] Paulusma founded a small record label called Wild Sound Recordings Ltd in 2012 and in 2012 released Leaves from the Family Tree with its corresponding sister-album The Small Feat of my Reverie in 2014.[11] Since 2012 Wild Sound has signed nine indie folk artists including Maz O'Connor, Stylusboy, Harry Harris, Matthew The Oxx, Dan Wilde and Mortal Tides.[12]

Paulusma teaches Cambridge English undergraduates in Practical Criticism as part of the English Tripos.[13][14] Paulusma is a postgraduate CHASE scholar at the University of East Anglia where she is researching the influence of traditional folksong on the writings of the British novelist Angela Carter.[15][16]

Critical acclaim

In 2004, The Guardian described Paulusma on Scissors in My Pocket as, "a voice capable of some unexpected twists".[7] Rolling Stone said Scissors in My Pocket was “an enchanting debut of understated, intelligent folk pop”.[17] Uncut suggested Paulusma could be "a worthy successor" to Joni Mitchell.[18] In 2012, Space City Rock reviewed Leaves From The Family Tree, stating, "this could be a huge album".[19] In 2021, For Folk's Sake reviewed Invisible Music: folk songs that influenced Angela Carter, calling it "a literary, clever, erudite, elegantly crafted offering from Polly Paulusma".[20] In 2022, Folking called Paulusma's The Pivot On Which The World Turns "a record that has an immense heartbeat with an eternal pulse".[21]

Personal life

Paulusma is the daughter of medieval historian Jonathan Riley-Smith.[1][22]

Paulusma's first son was born on 10 November 2006 (coincidentally Polly's own birthday) and her second son was born on 1 August 2008.[23]

Paulusma and her husband, Mick Paulusma,[23] lived in the thinnest home in London for 12 years.[24] Located in Battersea, the 7-foot-7-inch-wide (2.31 m) home was where Paulusma recorded her first album Scissors in my Pocket and the demos for Fingers & Thumbs.[25] Since 2010, the couple has lived in Cambridge, England.[23]

Discography

  • Scissors in My Pocket (2004)[18]
  • Dark Side (2004, single, with B-side)[26]
  • Cosmic Rosy Spine Kites (2005, live)[27]
  • Fingers & Thumbs (2007)[28]
  • Fights & Numbers (2007, iTunes only)[29]
  • Leaves From The Family Tree (2012)[19]
  • The Small Feat of My Reverie (2014)[30][31]
  • Invisible Music - Folk Songs That Influenced Angela Carter (2021)[32]
  • The Pivot On Which The World Turns (2022)[21]
  • When Violent Hot Pitch Words Hurt (2023)[21]

References

  1. 1 2 Coleman, Nick (8 June 2007). "Cultureshock". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  2. "Music Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  3. Cowen, Nick (12 May 2004). "No clone of voice". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  4. Sullivan, Caroline (9 March 2004). "Polly Paulusma". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  5. "2005 Glastonbury first round line-up announced · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  6. New Releases Now | Polly Paulusma, The Pivot On Which The World Turns…, retrieved 5 March 2023
  7. 1 2 Sweeting, Adam (23 April 2004). "Polly Paulusma, Scissors in my Pocket". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  8. "Yes, 2022 is already the worst. So let's revisit the '00s DIY club scene known as 'bloghouse'". Los Angeles Times. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  9. "Free iTunes 2005". MacRumors Forums. 28 December 2004. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  10. "The Year of the Music Blog". NPR. 2009.
  11. 1 2 "Polly Paulusma's latest sister-album is out on 10th Feb - Rock Club UK". www.therockclubuk.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  12. "Wild Sound allies with Proper on distribution | Complete Music Update". Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  13. Anonymous (14 August 2018). "Polly Paulusma". www.ice.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  14. "Where do the songs come from? Polly Paulusma in interview". Three Monkeys Online Magazine. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  15. "Hippolyta Paulusma". www.uea.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  16. Spencer, Neil (10 April 2021). "Invisible Music by Polly Paulusma review – a vibrant celebration of Angela Carter the folkie". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  17. "Special Issue: 50th Anniversary of Rock, 50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock & Roll". Rolling Stone Magazine. No. 951. 24 June 2004.
  18. 1 2 Uncut (31 March 2004). "Polly Paulusma - Scissors In My Pocket". UNCUT. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  19. 1 2 "SPACE CITY ROCK » Polly Paulusma, Leaves From The Family Tree". Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  20. Budworth, Quentin (29 April 2021). "Album | Polly Paulusma – Invisible Music – For Folk's Sake". Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  21. 1 2 3 "POLLY PAULUSMA–The Pivot On Which The World Turns (Wild Sound)". Folking.com. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  22. "Professor Jonathan Riley-Smith". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  23. 1 2 3 "The Secret Lives of Lecturers: Polly Paulusma on teaching Shakespeare and playing Glastonbury". Varsity Online. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  24. Hewitson, Jessie. "Slim pickings". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  25. "Through the keyhole: The places we call home". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 27 August 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  26. "Record of the Day - In tune. Informed. Indispensable". www.recordoftheday.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  27. "Cosmic Rosy Spine Kites (2005), by Polly Paulusma". Polly Paulusma. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  28. "Polly Paulusma - Fingers & Thumbs". Life. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  29. "ORGAN THING: A rather fine first taste of Polly Paulusma's forthcoming collection of traditional folk songs gracefully recrafted…". THE ORGAN. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  30. "Discography". discogs. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  31. "Polly Paulusma - The Small Feat of My Reverie". Folk Radio UK. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  32. "Dry Cleaning, Taylor Swift and more: April's best album reviews". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
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