Paul McDonald
Paul McDonald’s voice is immediately recognizable and impossible to ignore. He pulls off the rare feat of being a proper songwriter, adamant performer, and a powerful vocalist. Often compared to legends like Rod Stewart and Tom Petty, the poetic story-driven narratives and deeply catchy hooks in his music are delivered by a raspy yet refined voice reminiscent of another era yet that demands to be heard right now.
After years of fronting various rock and alt-country bands including The Grand Magnolias, Hightide Blues, and a duo with actress Nikki Reed, Paul released his solo debut “Modern Hearts” in 2018 which introduced a more alt-pop approach and brought him widespread exposure through tours across the U.S. a record deal with Vacancy Records in the U.K , and placements in major motion pictures, commercials, with cuts on other major artist records. He has made television appearances on Good Morning America, The Today Show, NBC’s Parenthood, and The Tonight Show and his various bands have appeared in publications including Rolling Stone, Billboard, Yahoo, and American Songwriter.
The ‘Modern Hearts’ album is a result of years of personal experiences, good and bad. He describes his time spent in Los Angeles as “A ride on a rocket ship, going 1000 miles per hour and spiraling out control. I was bound to hit a wall.” This record is Paul’s landing back on his two feet in Nashville. After working with a wide range of musicians and producers and finally arriving upon a sound. This may be a ‘break up’ album, but it’s more about rebirth and bursts with serious hooks and anthems; desperation is tempered with introspection and, ultimately, redemption. “Darkness is a beautiful gift. It introduced me to new layers of myself and gave me a brand new perspective, but I’m happy to be out of the dark. Now I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
Born in Opelika, AL and currently living in East Nashville, TN, Paul’s hope is to spread peace, love, and unity through his music. He’s a creative force that won’t stop until everyone not only has heard his message but is a true believer in it.