Paulo and the Problems links with Saynave

Paulo Ward has long been the invisible architect behind the boards, a multi-instrumentalist, producer, DJ and audio engineer whose fingerprints have touched countless recordings from the shadows. But with his project Paulo and the Problems, the Raleigh-based artist is finally bringing to life his own sonic vision, ready to own the stage he’s helped others build.

Raised in New Jersey in a household where music was a rare luxury, his early days were forged by second-hand vinyl and the warmth of old speakers. Listening to The Beatles, Beach Boys and Motown with his father while looking out over the New York City skyline etched itself into his musical DNA. That early exposure to vivid melodic storytelling set him up for a lifelong obsession with sound and by the time he was 10, he was already drumming for his dad’s friend’s punk band. In high school, Paulo was hustling lunch trades just to afford used instruments and vinyl from local pawnshops.

Years later, his technical and musical chops landed him a position at Fogwood Records in 2020, where he juggled roles as a session player, engineer, producer and talent manager. While crafting songs intended for others, Paulo found himself sitting on a catalogue of personal demos. Rather than shopping them out, he made the leap into self-expression, forming Paulo and the Problems in the process. The following year, he made his entrance as Paulo and the Problems on his debut single “Vegas,” which he’s since followed up with several singles, EPs and an album while collaborating with the likes of Saynave, neKa, Mekfly, Dude Low, Akso Heart, Bosley, Sora Satoh and Emanuel Brown along the way.

Now, Paulo and the Problems are back with “First of the Month,” a sun-drenched, groove-focused collaboration with longtime labelmate Saynave and the first taste of his upcoming album Stupid Sexy Paulo, set to drop this July via Fogwood Records. The single captures a playful, soulful and profoundly human sound via a bounce that leans into classic R&B and the lyrical swagger of modern hip hop, resulting in a celebration of routine, an ode to cycles, fresh starts and finding rhythm in the everyday.

Jumping straight into an infectious grooving of pulsing basslines, smooth key tones and the mellow snap of drums as layers of vocal lines glide above, the track instantly pulls you into a rhythmic jam that’s upbeat and catchy in equal measure. Capped by slick vocal flow and the bounce of popping bass guitar lines, the colourful arrangement propels the track with laid back energy while the memorable lyrics flutter throughout.

Underneath the engaging production is a charm that never takes itself too seriously which is perhaps best reflected in the single’s animated music video, which stars Nico, the band’s dog mascot. The video introduces Nico in a nostalgic cartoon world, where he’ll feature throughout the rollout for Stupid Sexy Paulo, a playful extension of the project’s DIY spirit and tongue-in-cheek aesthetic. With Stupid Sexy Paulo on the horizon and a summer of Fogwood releases lined up, Paulo and the Problems is doing it with a smile, a groove and a four-legged cartoon star leading the way.

Watch the music video for First of the Month below

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