INTERVIEW
Alice Gee | 01/04/2025
I join Paul for him mid-morning from his LA home, eager to catch up, having met him briefly the year before at Hammersmith's Apollo whilst on the European leg of their 'a beautiful blur' tour. Still excited by the imagery created for his cover at Los Angeles Athletic Club, Paul's ready to let me dive deeper into his life, thoughts and the place LANY holds in his heart. As a fan of the band since their self-titled debut album, the idea of delving a little deeper is exciting. What better way to start our conversation than celebrating LANY's trajectory, from 6 successful albums, including ‘live from The Forum’, to sold-out worldwide tours? I initiated the interview by asking when the moment Paul thought, "Wow, this is where I'm meant to be".
"I had that moment early on. It wasn't because the band was huge, but because I felt it. One of the first times was when we played School Night in LA at Bardot. It was a showcase for new bands, and I remember looking out at the crowd, realising people were there for us. Some couldn't even get in. I had this overwhelming feeling of, 'Are we a band? Is this real?' And we'd played less than 20 shows at that point. Another defining moment was when we played Heaven in London. It's not a massive venue—700-capacity or so—but that show made me feel like we meant something to people beyond just being a new act with some songs out."
But it was the end of LANY's world tour when Paul felt something different from that initial feeling of belonging. He felt something when it came to perspective, something that felt reassuring. "It wasn't about being the biggest band or winning awards—we don't have any awards—but there was this realisation: We can do this for as long as we want to."
Very honestly, Paul explains how big Heaven felt to the band then, but with intimate venues still having a place in his heart alongside indoor stadiums and larger venues they'd played over the years. But when it comes to playing to tens of thousands of people, 55,000 to be precise, in Manilla, I'm curious how you get through the show in one piece. "There's only one way to get through a show like that: mentally disassociate. Not in a way that disconnects you from the crowd, but just enough to handle the sheer scale of it. You can't personally engage with everyone, so just go and do it." When it comes to what's more challenging when playing to a crowd, it's the more intimate crowds that feel a little harder for Paul. "There's no hiding in an intimate space. But there's also a sweet spot—venues that hold a few thousand people, where the energy is wild because there are 10,000 more who wanted to be there but couldn't get in. That kind of atmosphere is special." There's an undeniable magic to those moments. "Exactly. Ultimately, whether it's a tiny venue or a stadium, it's about creating that connection."
To Paul, it's not necessarily the size of the audience that's important. Still, it's the way LANY balances those euphoric, soaring moments within a song with delicate, deeply personal ones that matter. That makes music so powerful—when a song articulates something you've felt for years but never knew how to put into words. Perhaps that's one of the reasons LANY's fans think they can connect so deeply with their music. "That's how I've always consumed music. The lyrics have always been central to me. Of course, the music must be great, too—it must complement the words—but lyrics have always been my focus."
"There's a whole debate in the songwriting world about how important lyrics are." Paul explains, "Some artists see them as secondary to melody. But for us, lyrics are everything. Our songs are meant to say something—to reflect emotions that people might be experiencing in real-time as they listen." Do you think it has the power to make change, I ask? "I don't know if music can change the world, but it can make life easier. Maybe we help someone feel even 1% less alone. That, to me, is the point of what we do."
To me, that's exactly what music should be. I explain to Paul what a gift it can be to feel at home within something. However, when creating those moments, Paul feels great responsibility when he steps on stage. But I want to know more. I'm eager to hear where he lands when he stands on stage. "It is a sense of responsibility. People have spent their hard-earned money and chosen to be there, and I take that seriously. I wouldn't say I feel guilty, but I do feel a duty to ensure it's worth their time. There's a mental switch that flips the second I step on stage." For Paul, it stays off the stage no matter what happens in his personal life. That time belongs to the audience. "We've spent months, even years, preparing for those 90 minutes, and when I'm up there, I'm all in. I don't get nervous anymore. I just step into it with a sense of purpose." It sounds like a lot of pressure, not just from the crowd but almost from himself. "It is pressure. But I don't think that's always a bad thing. The added element now is that every single moment is being recorded. Every breath I take, every move—it's all on video. If I think about it too much, it could be overwhelming. But I try not to dwell on it. Pressure can be a good thing. There's that saying about diamonds forming under pressure, right?"
Leather Jacket & Shorts, CLUTCHGOLF. Shirt, Margesherwood
As Paul admits to thriving under pressure, I can relate as a fellow perfectionist. But I'm aware it's just as much a curse as a blessing sometimes. On one hand, it fuels my integrity and the quality of my work. On the other hand, I never let up on myself, constantly pushing for what can be an unattainable version of "perfect."
It's a feeling Paul knows all too well, although he admittedly explained that he probably hadn't thought about it in those exact terms. Alternatively, Paul can see that not striving for excellence can also feel like laziness. "I always ask myself, what's the alternative? What are we doing if we don't push for the best? Of course, perfectionism has challenges, but the flip side of that—apathy—feels way worse. I'm learning to manage it, especially when working on collaborative projects like making an album. Not everyone wants to be dragged into that level of obsession,." Paul jokes.
From selling out shows, including multiple tours, to bigger venues than they ever have, creating music is something Paul prides himself on: doing things right. There's beauty in being passionate about what you do, I explain as we chat. To Paul, finding the balance between perfectionism and letting things be is a work in progress, especially in battling his inner critic. "There's almost a level of protection in being your harshest critic. If you're harder on yourself than anyone else could ever be, then nothing anyone says can really surprise you—or hurt you as much as you've already hurt yourself. I don't mean hate exactly, but if you're constantly picking yourself apart, it's like a form of armour."
Midway through 2024, Paul found himself in a situation that changed his life indefinitely. Having been hit by a car on his Vespa whilst on the way home from the gym, Paul was lucky to be alive. And recovering from something like that… it's not just about the accident itself but the whole process afterwards. Getting back on your feet, rebuilding, and finding the strength to push forward physically and mentally. That takes a lot; I mentioned it to him as someone myself who's not the most patient. But for Paul, he found a side to him that was more resilient than he knew. "Don't get me wrong, I'm good at adapting. Touring prepares you for that—you're constantly dealing with new environments, different sleeping situations, and last-minute delays. But when things happen that are completely out of our control, you haven't a choice but to build a certain resilience. "When I got hit by that car and woke up in the ambulance, the first thing I felt—honestly—was gratitude. It was overwhelming. Just this sense of God loves me. I don't know what I believe about the universe, but I hope there's a God. I hope there's something bigger when you think about how vast and complex everything is and how little we know. And in that moment, I felt it." I gently ask what he remembers from that moment. "I remember moving my fingers and toes, realising I wasn't paralysed, but still not knowing what I'd be facing once I got to the hospital. They rushed me into brain scans immediately. It was terrifying. But I kept returning to that feeling—I'm still here. I get another day."
Once home, Paul knew his team would figure things out, that they'd handle the tour dates so he could focus entirely on recovery. Instead of feeling angry or frustrated, he just accepted it. "The accident wasn't my fault. If it had been, maybe I would've been more frustrated. But it wasn't. So, I embraced that season for what it was, and weirdly? I had the best summer of my life. Healing—not just physically, but in ways I didn't even realise I needed. Looking back, maybe that pause, that deep breath, was exactly what I needed."
It takes a certain kind of strength to take a deep breath, accept what's in front of you, and say, Right, it's not ideal, but we move forward. Paul opens up about how when life feels unpredictable, especially on the road, gratitude is always a great place to start when looking at a positive outlook on life. "I think an attitude of gratitude is always a great place to start. When you're still grinding, and ambition is still alive inside you, it keeps you humble. And honestly, not getting everything I wanted immediately has been a blessing. It keeps you from becoming ungrateful because you're still working toward something. Even now, I feel like we're still fighting for our flowers, and sure, part of me wishes we were exactly where I envision us in my mind—right now. But then I think, Okay, but once we get there… then what?" Is there a moment when you get frustrated and feel you're not where you want to be? I ask. "The truth is, I know that one day, I'm going to miss this—the grind, the hunger, the excitement of the chase. So, I'm trying to embrace it while I'm in it. Right after this call, I will return to working on our next project because of that drive, that dream—everything. And I think keeping that perspective helps with my mental health."
While crediting ambition and his drive, LANY's team continues to support one another. "I'm also lucky to have an amazing team. We have this established sanity, where we check in with each other. Like, I'll say, "Hey, man, I'm feeling this way about something; is that normal?" And my friend Steve will either be like, "Yeah, that's valid—you don't want to feel like this forever, but it makes sense right now." Or he'll say, "I don't know, man, I think you might be overthinking that." It's important to have people who help ground you, who help you process things rationally, he explains, "That's been a huge part of staying balanced for me. But it hasn't always been easy. The highs have been high, and the lows have been low."
Shirt, Philipp Plein Scarf. Pants, Clutchgolf.
They always are, right? It's all about an exit route, picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and figuring out how to move forward. But it's his openness to be vulnerable and create a normalised space with those he cares about and trusts that have helped break down the stigma of mental health. "I have such a soft spot for guys regarding this stuff. I didn't grow up with many female friends— mostly guys—and many of them never talked about how they were really feeling. And I hate that. Because I want the men in my life to feel like they can open up." It's all about leading by example when encouraging others to feel comfortable with being more open. "I make a point to be as open as possible with my friends, and in doing that, I think it creates space for them to be open back. I want them to feel free to express what they're going through without fear. Communication is everything."
For LANY, prioritising and creating a community around that openness since day dot has enabled them to create safe spaces for their fans and encourage others to connect and find friendship. "One of the coolest things about our shows is seeing the friendships that form because of them. I recognise faces, and I know quite a few names from fan accounts and social media, but beyond that, I can see that people are making real connections at our shows. And what's amazing is that these friendships don't just stay within those walls—they continue beyond the music and the concerts. That's so dope to me. Some fans have been coming to our shows for seven or eight years, and I've watched them grow up and experience life—it's surreal in the best way."
In true HATC tradition, it's only right that we ask Paul where he finds overwhelming moments of joy. "Okay, one of the best feelings in the world to me is finishing a song. You start with nothing, right? And after four or five hours, you have this thing that didn't exist before. You're sitting there, cutting a rough demo—maybe just vocals and piano—but already, you can hear where it could go. You can imagine the entire production and its meaning for people. That feeling—that's why I do what I do. It's this rush of possibility, this moment where everything clicks, and you know it's unique. And then, on a much more chill note—sitting by a pool in the summer. That is my thing. Give me a sunny day, a book, some music, and a pool, and I could sit there forever. I'd be happy if I could do that daily for the rest of my life."
For the rest of his life, Paul's here to do what he loves for as long as forever gives him. His passion and the perfectionism he pours into his music—soul and all—only make each lyric and song more personal to him and, of course, the band's fans. For me, it's apparent that as for what's next, Paul's looking to the future, engaging with fans, and channelling his full creativity into what he does next: music.
Creative Kevin Sikorski & Alice Gee @alicesgee @escaperealife
Photography - Kevin Sikorski @escaperealife
Styling - Branden Ruiz @branden.ruiz
Grooming - Taylour Chanel @taylourchanel
Lighting - Jesse Tam @jessetam_
Set Designer - Krystall Schott @krystallschott
Photo Assist - Cooper Burton @cooperburton
Location - Los Angeles Athletic Club @losangelesathleticclub
Words – Alice Gee
Jacket and Pants Set, INTODUSK. Shirt, Margesherwood
