Channeling the enigmatic mystery of the ocean, rising bilingual pop star Paloma O’Leary is an enchanting musical mermaid and a proponent of positive change, putting listeners under her mesmerizing spell as she delivers her poignant stories with the refined wisdom of an artist far beyond her 16 years.

What’s your first memory of music?

I started singing when I was really small and after a sang a solo for a children’s LP (The Songs of Isabella & Ferdinand), I started training more seriously—becoming part of the Children’s Chorus of Washington, studying with a voice coach and doing musical theatre productions at a local theatre, Imagination Stage. 

How did you first get started with music as a career vs a hobby?

I think I started writing more seriously in my early teens. I’ve been composing music since I was pretty little—around 9 or 10 probably—but as I got a little older and studied more and took some classes at Berklee College of Music in the summer, I gained more structure in my songwriting, got ready to start recording and really seeing myself as a serious artist. 

Tell us about one of the first inspiring moments you had as a musician. 

Performing for the Playing for Change Foundation benefit in Miami in 2018 alongside Pharrell Williams was a major highlight—especially when he told me he liked my voice! (I’m a youth ambassador for the organization.) In addition, singing the national anthem for two of my hometown professional sports teams—DC United and the Wizards—at huge stadiums with thousands of fans on national TV was also a big thrill. 

What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

I want to create music for people my age to relate to. It’s been a difficult time for everyone during the pandemic and everyone is trying to figure out who they are. I want people my age to know they are not alone when they listen to my music. I write about relationships, whether they are love interests or friendships, and about the frustrations of growing up. I also want to express my feelings about causes I’m passionate about through my music. With my single, “An Ocean Away” I use the melancholy magic of flamenco rhythms to convey those feelings of loss we have when we break up with someone or feel betrayed by them.

It’s that overwhelming sadness that feels like a powerful sea washing over you. I’m passionate about ocean conservation so I wanted to weave in those water images throughout the song and the EP (Siren Song). I think that as I get older I’ll have new perspectives on the world, life and relationships and I am sure those themes will be reflected in my music. And as a Latina I want to continue weaving in Latin genres and Spanish into my music. 

What artists are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

Ariana Grande and Olivia Rodrigo are two big contemporary influences in my music. I’ve grown up listening to Ariana—I love her vocals and her amazing range and how she keeps experimenting. She is definitely part of the reason I wanted to become an artist and to be able to push myself that way. Olivia creates incredibly relatable music for teens, and when I first listened to her, I felt sort of “at home” and comforted in a way. I thought that she made the type of music I wanted to create. As a Colombian-American I also love Latin artists, especially Carlos Vives, Alejandro Sanz and Shakira.

I grew up listening to Shakira’s music in my house and she is so inspiring to me in every way. To me, she is testament to the fact that young Latina artists can make it on the global stage and give back too. I’ve been lucky enough to volunteer for her foundation, Fundación Pies Descalzos (the Barefoot Foundation) in Cartagena and hope I get to meet her one day. And I also love jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James. They are simply iconic queens! 

What do you hope fans who see you at a live show will take away from the experience?

I hope fans feel the real emotion behind my music. It can be hard to decipher whether the feelings behind a song are truly valid for an artist, but since I write my own music, I think all the emotion I put into my songs will be even more palpable when I perform them live. 

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc.

I always start with a warmup before I perform. Sometimes these exercises sound a little silly (especially trilling) but my voice coach has always told me how important it is to warm up before performing—and she couldn’t be more right! It always helps my sound and makes me feel less nervous since it prepares my voice, leaving less opportunity for a dry voice. And staying hydrated of course! 

What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

There are too many to count! I’ve been lucky to work with amazing, award-winning producers like Julio Reyes, Ali Stone, and Matt Squire, and being able to collaborate with such talented people has really fueled my passion for music and helped bring my ideas to life. I have gotten kudos from some of my big music heroes too, such as Alejandro Sanz and Carlos Vives, which has been incredibly gratifying. 

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

I think I would tour with Cage the Elephant because they have such fun music that really speaks to me and whenever I listen to music at least one of their songs will come on my playlist.

What’s next for you?

I’m excited for the release of my first EP Siren Song coming out soon! Like my new single, “An Ocean Away,” it weaves in the theme of water throughout every track as a metaphor for feelings, and I’m so excited for everyone to hear the whole tracklist.  

Where can our readers find you?

My music is on all the platforms: iTunes, Spotify, Amazon music, etc. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

There’s a great quote by the French author Anaïs Nin that I love that goes, “I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.” And I guess that’s me. I’m really not into the superficial. So if I can share any last words with your readers, they are: be true to yourself, be real and be kind!