Music has an amazing power to make people feel empowered with the right rhythms and lyrics. Eminent singer-songwriter Paul Askew is making people feel confident with his sublime new single, ‘Save Me’. The song features singer Tweenty8 who has given one of his finest performances in the song. It is based on his real-life experiences and how he has built a good life with the help and guidance of God. His mesmerizing and energetic vocal performance brings out the true essence of the thought-provoking lyrics. The artist recently agreed to do an interview with us taking some time out of his busy schedule.
Thank you Paul Askew for making some time for the interview! And congratulations on the popularity of your latest song ‘Save Me’! Let’s begin the interview:
DMR: Tell us a few things about yourself and your music.
Paul Askew: I have been through so much in my life. I secluded myself from people. I was molested five times as a kid, and they were different family members. I only wanted to be around My mother, who was consistently in the hospital for months at a time having brain surgeries. My sister Sherika was is still my everything, who right now still protects and pushes me when I feel like giving up. Also, my brother Gary who our relationship is strained; however, no doubt in my mind loves me. They kept me from going crazy, and then my mom taught me singing and music. I fell in love. I found seclusion. I found comfort, and I found safety. I would make up songs with what I was feeling at the moment and also would remix songs with the emotions I was feeling at the time. My sister said to me the other day, Paul, you realize you created remix in the ’80s, right 😂. That’s all I did and made things my own. I have never wanted to be anyone or sound like anyone because I was such a loaner; that’s all I knew with music now that I’m making. I have a great producer Melvin”Mgeezy”Groggins that has been my backbone in creativity for over 20 years. All I have to do is sing a song that I wrote and I tell him what I hear as far as instruments and it’s like he is in my mind he comes up with exactly what I heard while singing. He is the GOAT in my eyes. I have tried to work with so many producers however he is the only one that understands me. So I hold him close.
DMR: What is the genre of your soundscape? Why did you choose it?
Paul Askew: I love all music however R&B soul and gospel always seem to be what I’m feeling. That’s my character and my personality.
DMR: When was your new soundtrack, ‘Save Me’ released? What kind of response are you getting from the audience?
Paul Askew: Save me was released 1/21/2022. The response I have received has me in tears each time I read a comment or hear testimony. I’m hearing things like I am going through that right now and it’s on repeat. I had a woman to say she had just lost her son to a drug overdose and wish he had a chance to hear this because she feels it would have saved him. The reception that I’m getting is what I wanted. When I decided to let God use me and surrender telling my story, I said if I can save one person I have done what God wanted me to do and I can die in peace knowing I made a difference and an impact with telling my struggles. My life to me would have not been in vain.
DMR: Who is the featuring artist in the track? Tell us something about him.
Paul Askew: Orlando”Twenty8” Woods Jr. Man what can I say. He is one of the most gifted people I have ever met. His voice is amazing. He is my background singer. He is like the left side of my brain when it comes to background and harmonies. I’ll sing something and he follows up with a background for it. We have amazing musical chemistry. With him and Mgeezy everything is effortless and quick because we are so matched creatively. If time permitted we could complete 5 songs in a day and it would be perfect.
DMR: What is the subject matter of the song? How do you think, it relates to the listeners?
Paul Askew: Save me is a cry for help to God. We all have so many demons insecurities flaws inner issues that we need help with. We are and anger to ourselves and we don’t know it. So this song is crying to God asking him to save me from myself. Have your way with me. Help Me out of my mind so I can have peace and happiness. Save me from the people that are trying to harm me that I can’t see because I’m so stuck in my head and in my own ass. Lord have your way for you know what’s best for me.
DMR: What message are you trying to give to the audience? What kind of change can it bring in their lives?
Paul Askew: My music is for the people that are like myself. I’m flawed I’m a sinner and I know I don’t get it right, however, I love the lord and I have a relationship with him. I may don’t go to church but God is my best friend and church doesn’t make me any worse than someone that sits in the pulpit. I want my audience to know you can sing about love and bad relationships and love God as well. There doesn’t have to be a separation because church folks get cheated on me in abusive relationships and fight mental illness as well. Singing songs to empower you and get you through it is fine too.
DMR: Tell us about your singing style. And what types of instruments did you use in the song?
Paul Askew: I sing from emotions. So whatever I’m feeling at that time that’s how it comes out. So happen I have a style called Paul which is me lol that’s all I know. At that time when I made ‘save me’ I was going back to when I was fighting depression and drinking and using drugs. I use to listen to this song called I will never leave. It gave me the highest of the high. I told Mgeezy the song and said I wanted to feel the same way now that I’m far from that place so he used the same instruments and it became a familiar feel for me to be able to really express myself in the song vocally.
DMR: Who wrote the lyrics and what was the inspiration behind it?
Paul Askew: I wrote the song and this song is everything I went through was asking going to save me from.
DMR: Which artists have influenced you the most and why?
Paul Askew: I’m mostly influenced by Donny Hathaway and Whitney Houston because I see myself in these two artists. They were just being themselves and fighting their demons while doing it. I identify with the emotions in their vocals. Their voice tells the same story as their lyrics.
DMR: How long have you been in the industry? How has it shaped your soundscape?
Paul Askew: I have been in the industry since 2002. However, I stopped in 2007 due to mental health issues drug abuse and injuries sustained that prevented me from walking for almost 2 years. God summons me back into music in November 2021. He said I had work to do. I told him but you are doing all of the work and that he has been doing.
DMR: Is there a record label behind your productions?
Paul Askew: I have my own risk cord label which is PaulPaul Music. I would love major distribution under my label though.
DMR: Are you currently working on any other project right now? When can we see something new from you?
Paul Askew: Yes I have a clothing line which is called MenLikeDaveThe PaulAskew Collection. I have my own style and I wanted it to transcend to men like me who like to look expensive and sophisticated. I always wanted to make sexy clothes for the bigger guy too. We don’t get enough nice trendy clothes. So my designer David Mando and I sat and constructed a line for the urban male to be able to dress up or to be casual. My clothing line does that. I also have a signature line of all-natural holistic products that nourish and revitalize the skin, hair, and body with my signature smell. People are always asking about how did my hair get so long or what do I use on my skin and beard. I get all my products made through Nuttabutta’s Beauty Boutique and my signature line is called KingPaul. It contains beard oils, body wash, body butter, and fragrance hair products like shampoo conditioner and hair and scalp oils. It’s my signature smell and I use every last product on myself. Women are always asking to get for their men, so I teamed up with Korine Teamer Nuttabutta’s creator to provide my people with affordable Paul swag. As I like to call it lol.
