Alternative Pop from PAULA T

Brooklyn-based artist PAULA T is an exciting singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and community organiser whose music feels as expansive as her artistic spirit. The project is the latest moniker of Paula Tartell, a former concert pianist turned synth-obsessed creator who’s walking a unique path between the worlds of pop, punk and avant-garde music. Her sonic output is as much about emotion as it is about exploration, with each outing feeling like an experiment in what happens when freedom meets talent and when classical discipline collides with expression.

Classically trained at the piano from a young age, Paula grew up studying structure and theory, but her love of sound extended far beyond the recital hall. The Beatles were her first obsession, offering a gateway into the idea that genre was a playground, not a limitation and over time, she began to absorb influences from everywhere; pop, rock, folk, R&B, punk, electronic, noise even experimental and classical. “If it makes a sound, I might like it,” she says, a sentiment that perfectly reflects her open-eared approach.

After years of writing privately, PAULA T arrived earlier this year with her debut single “Canary,” an emphatic introduction that instantly caught the attention of New York’s underground scene. The release marked her arrival as a self-contained creative force, producing and performing her own material while shaping a vision that feels both intimate and adventurous. Since that entrance, she’s built momentum through constant live performance, selling out shows across New York City with her punk band and trusty OP-1 synth in tow.

Now, PAULA T returns with her latest release, bringing us her brand new sophomore single titled “Sugar Tits,” laying down a track that’s honest, angsty and humurous all at once, framing the liberating act of taking back control. Penned and arranged in one night, the song is a charged anthem for anyone who’s ever felt pressured to shrink themselves to fit the expectations of others. It speaks directly to the people pleasers, to anyone who’s ever softened their edges for acceptance or hidden parts of themselves just to be wanted. “Sugar Tits” is about reclaiming those suppressed parts and setting them on fire and as Paula explains, the song’s title came from an ex who used the nickname “Sugar Tits” as a joke, a provocation that reflected his desire for a version of her stripped of her complexity.

After they broke up, she channelled her anger into creation, shutting herself in her bedroom, setting the lights low and writing what would become “Sugar Tits,” a declaration of defiance delivered through glittering synths, punchy beats and vocal work that oscillates between cheerful and furious. Brought in by bright synth pips as Paula’s spoken word style vocalisations enter with robotic-like delivery before the track takes flight with colourful synth layers, rustling percussion and expressive vocal leads to form a transportive alternative pop experience.

Dashed with catchy melodic moments and instilled with a playful sense of sardonic humour and defiant rebellion, it’s a charming jam that showcases Paula’s wild creativity and cunning songwriting. At just two singles in, PAULA T has already established herself as one of Brooklyn’s most exciting new musical exports and with “Sugar Tits,” she extends an invitation to embrace your chaos, own your fire and never apologise for your noise.

Listen to Sugar Tits below

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