Caught in the Carousel

Mieka Pauley

By Alex Green

Mieka Pauley

Mieka Pauley's on a winning streak.

Seriously.

How big of a winning streak is it?

Let's put it this way: If she's on her way to Vegas, go with her.

The Boston singer/songwriter has been packing her resumé lately with the kind of achievements most musicians would kill to have just one of. Aside from being the first winner of the Starbuck's Emerging Artist Award and the winner of the Rock Boat/BMI Song Contest, Pauley has just bagged two more awards for herself: the Grand Prize at the New York Songwriters' Circle 2008 Songwriting Contest (she won for her song "All The Same Mistakes") and Cosmo's "Fun, Fearless, Female Rockstar Of The Year." Not only that, but touring behind her sophomore album Elijah Drop Your Gun has found her sharing the stage with such luminaries as Eric Clapton, K.T. Tunstall, John Legend and the Black Eyed Peas and her song "Bravely" was recently featured on "Lipstick Jungle."

Mieka Pauley

Armed with a delivery that has all the world weary wisdom of Greg Brown, the stunning phrasing of Jolie Holland and the soulful finesse of Jeffery Gaines and Joan Osborne, Pauley is a stirring singer capable of quieting an audience with the mere gentle bend of a syllable. The follow-up to 2006's Out Of Car Wrecks And Hurricanes, Elijah Drop Your Gun is a rousing 11-track collection. Whether it's the dark, pulsing pop of "Draped In Blue," the hushed, acoustic blues of "Left To God" or the plaintive rocker "9:45," Elijah is a rich and varied offering.

But the album's piece de resistance is "All The Same Mistakes"—an open wound of a number, it has all the moving acoustic immediacy of Patti Griffin and Jeff Buckley. In fact, it's no wonder that it took the Grand Prize at the New York Songwriters' Circle Songwriting Contest. Helmed by singer/songwriter Tina Shafter, The Songwriters' Circle hosts bi-monthly gigs at New York's Bitter End Club. Over the years the Circle has featured everyone from Norah Jones to Gavin DeGraw to Lisa Loeb, and its annual contest yields thousands of entries from a wide range of musical aspirants.

"The first time I heard Mieka's winning song from our contest submissions," Shafer recalls, "I was blown away with its raw, edgy purity. I was also moved by the dynamic build in her delivery. It was like seeing a great piece of theater, where there was a true beginning, build, climax and closure to the story."

Mieka Pauley

Shafer, who serves as the Artistic Director of the Songwriters' Circle was also impressed with the range of Pauley's songwriting: "She writes about broader based subject matters, which as a songwriter myself, I find intriguing. Most of her songs are NOT about love. Imagine that! It is refreshing to find such a fine talent, who is equally bright, honest and humble as a human being. I think Mieka's time has come."

That Pauley's "All The Same Mistakes" stood out from the pack in such a competitive competition speaks to the depth of her endless talent; she's a riveting performer, a gifted songwriter and a heart-wrenching singer, qualities that are evinced perfectly on her winning song.

And speaking of winning, we get the feeling Pauley's winning streak is just beginning.

Dear Readers, here's the marvelous Mieka Pauley:

Mieka Pauley

BAND NAME: Mieka Pauley

YOUR FULL NAME: Mieka Pauley

NICKNAME: Mieka Pauley

YOUR ROLE IN THE BAND: Lead Singer/Guitar/Songwriter

BAND MEMBERS: Brian Cassagnol--Electric Guitar / Producer / Music Director / Songwriter
Andrew Morgan - Bass / Songwriter
Gabriel Hays - Keys

HOMETOWN: Cambridge, MA

WEBSITE: www.mieka.com

RECORD LABEL: Independent

DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN ONE SENTENCE: Jeff Buckley having a love affair with Pearl Jam, or Patty Griffin front row at a Radiohead concert, and everyone's reading too much Emily Dickinson.

PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL MOMENT: Winning the New York Songwriters Circle 2008 songwriting contest and then immediately winning Cosmopolitan Magazine's 2008 Star Launch competition. It was a good winter with lots of love and money.

WEIRDEST PROFESSIONAL MOMENT: Driving my band out to the middle of Pennsylvania to play an afternoon show to what appeared to be a science fair. Don't know why we were there, and I'm not sure the kids did either.

THE SONG YOU WISH THAT YOU'D WRITTEN: "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen

FIVE BEST BANDS TO EVER ROAM THE EARTH: MIA, RJD2, Radiohead, Death Cab, Kanye West

WHAT WERE YOU LIKE AS A KID?: Here's a quote, whispered to my kindergarten teacher, I have no idea what possessed me: "I am a child born to work, not play."

WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT?: Caffeine

LAST TWO BOOKS YOU'VE READ: Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

FIVE THINGS WE'D FIND IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR: Old license plates
My cd's & t-shirts
Enough underwear & socks to get me through tour
Random shit I don't throw away
I hope a spare tire

HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING A MUSICIAN: Making the money last when you're not playing.

FAVORITE LATE NIGHT TV SHOW: Don't really watch TV

IDEAL BREAKFAST: Four shots of espresso

BEST ALBUM TO PLAY AFTER A BREAK-UP AND YOU'RE HOLDING A BOTTLE OF VODKA AND SOMETHING SHARP: Whoa, I hope you're not asking for personal reasons. I just saw Matt & Kim at The Onion Christmas party, and that shit is waaaay too happy, maybe that will help you drop the knife. If it were me, I'd waste away to Billie Holiday.

INDULGENCE YOU REFUSE TO GIVE UP: Wine

FAVORITE QUOTE OR SONG LYRIC: "All I've ever learned from love is how to shoot at someone who outdrew you." Leonard Cohen in "Hallelujah"

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY: Don't set goals, just float

Internet: www.mieka.com

Mieka Pauley

www.myspace.com/mieka

Elijah Get Your Gun is out now.