Paolo Sandejas is in his moment
Maybe you’ve experienced the beautiful chaos of being in a long-distance relationship, with its paradox of emotions. In two different places (maybe even different timezones), you could only wish for things with your lover to be easier and more hopeful.
Musician Paolo Sandejas turned distance into art through heartfelt lyrics and vivid metaphors on his debut album, The World Is So Small. In his 20s, he experienced the bittersweet reality of love stretched across two continents with all the highs and lows we could imagine.
I recently found myself revisiting a playlist I curated and found a song I used to listen to: Different Shade of Blue, Paolo’s 2022 single. I was surprised to see that behind it was the artist with whom I’d be having a Zoom call.
I spoke with Paolo ahead of the release of The World is So Small, and he radiated excited yet calm energy, even when I asked him about the pressures of releasing his first-ever album. “Of course (I’m) excited to release (the album), but at the same time, there’s this fear: What if people don’t like it, what if they don’t listen to it?” Paolo tells Young STAR. “But I’ve come to acknowledge that I’m really proud of this album. At the end of the day, that’s the most you can control.”
Fans have also been thrilled to celebrate this milestone with Paolo, especially during his listening party in December. “It’s nice to see the fans really connecting with the songs. People were so emotional about it, which is so cool to see and it helps soothe those negative emotions. (I’m assured that) things are gonna be okay,” he shares.
The album’s lead single Manila to LA captures the constant determination to bridge the gap between lovers in distant places—born from his personal experience with a long-distance relationship across the world. “It’s definitely easier to write when you can put yourself in the situation. (The song is) about frustration and desperation but also an effort to make things work,” Paolo explains.
What’s also interesting about Manila to LA is its juxtaposition of sound and meaning. “I love deceptively happy songs,” Paolo admits. “When you listen to it, it’s like ‘Wow, so happy,’ then you read the lyrics, ‘Oh, ang sad pala nito.’” It’s this layered storytelling that allows his listeners to come up with their own interpretations of his songs.
As an artist, he states that the beauty of a song lies in its ability to take on new meanings once it's released. “There’s only so much you can put into a song’s meaning. You can tell everyone na it means A, but if everyone sees it as B, wala kang magagawa. And that’s the nice thing about music, your music is not just yours anymore. It has become something for someone else.”
Beyond Manila to LA, his debut album unravels a narrative of growth, love, and self-discovery. Every track is a main character of its own. He describes it as a puzzle where each song fits together perfectly to create a cohesive story.
Paolo says his personal favorite from the album is Roses, a track born from a dark place years ago. “(I was) trying to figure out my mid-20s: What am I gonna do in my life, how am I gonna afford a house, what am I gonna do? It’s a very special song for me. It’s about realizing the beautiful things in front of you instead of worrying about what could happen tomorrow.”
If budget were no object, Paolo dreams of turning his album into a full-fledged coming-of-age movie starring the full cast of the TV show Normal People, with Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, or locally, Bela Padilla and JC Santos. “They could bring a lot of emotions to the table. It’s the ultimate goal,” he laughs.
After performing at the Wanderland Music and Arts Festival last year, Paolo envisions performing in summer festivals in Japan and outside Southeast Asia while also enjoying a quick vacation with his band. He manifests opportunities to share his music with a global audience.
For now, he’s ecstatic to celebrate and share The World is So Small with fans who have made his songs part of their lives. “It’s such an honor to be included in someone’s memories,” he says.
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The World is So Small, the debut album from Paolo Sandejas, is available to stream on all major streaming platforms via Sony Music Entertainment.
