Within the space of barely a month, pop artist Clinton Paul released three singles –Ċelebrazzjoni, released just as the festive season had started to kick in and, more recently, Tnax and Beautiful Day, the latter being the latest single to be lifted off his upcoming third studio album. The new release, launched along with an accompanying music video during an event at Mangano in Baystreet at the end of January is a song that the artist has described as a blend of country and pop. I caught up with the prolific singer-songwriter to find out what else is he’s been up to this past year.

You rounded off 2015 with a Christmas single and started 2016 with a new song all about the year ahead, which suggests you’ve been very busy in recent months.

I spent much of 2015 away from the public eye, keeping myself busy writing new songs behind closed doors and shooting music videos that will be released this year. The first of the new songs was, in fact, the single Ċelebrazzjoni, which is all about Christmas.

Anyone who knows me will tell you just how much I love this time of year and each year my love for it just keeps on growing. It’s fun writing holiday songs and people do want them. The second single, Tnax, is actually one of my personal favourite tracks off the new album that I am working on. The chorus has that catchy hook that people seem to have taken quite a shine to. When writing Tnax I wanted to create a positive song that encourages the listeners to chase their dreams all year round, no matter how big that dream may be.

When I write my songs I always have an accompanying concept in my mind for the video

Tnax is also your second single in Maltese. After so many releases in English, what attracted you to the idea of singing in Maltese? Do you find it easier to write in Maltese than English?

I have to be honest and say that writing in English comes more natural to me. However, I love my native language and singing in Maltese is completely new territory I have to explore further. The reason I decided to release the first two singles in Maltese was because I had been asked countless times by those who follow my music and I hadn’t recorded any yet. Clearly, there is a demand for it, so I decided that instead of writing an all-English album I’d write in both languages.

You’ve been getting quite some radio airplay in Australia. How did that come about and do you think that singing in Maltese has helped this? Are you planning to target other countries too, with the English songs perhaps?

I’ve been getting airplay in Melbourne for quite some time now thanks to Radio 3ZZZ and particularly the presenter Emmanuel Brincat, who has supported me since the beginning of my career. When I decided to debut the first single from my album in Maltese last December, I got a lot of positive feedback from Australia and I was even interviewed in Melbourne and Sydney. I have relatives in Sydney and they’ve always said they would like to hear my music on their airwaves and now they can.

A still from one of the singer’s videos.

You’ll be releasing your third album later this year. Any other details you can share with us about it and where it’s at right now?

I feel like every album I work on is like my baby. I’ve been working on this one since 2013, just after I had released my second album, Unbreakable. The album is nearly finished and will be officially released in mid-May. It will be completely different... it is especially uplifting and positive and features a variety of styles. There will be some collaborations with foreign artists, especially when it comes to shooting the music videos.

What is it that keeps you going, writing and releasing new songs?

I’m the type of artist that isn’t satisfied with dropping an album and stopping there. I’m always hungry for more.

You also put a lot of work into the videos themselves. Why do you feel music videos are so important in this day, perhaps more than they were back in the 1980s when MTV revolutionised the format?

Music videos are the most exciting part. The fact that you can imagine a visual to a song when producing it is quite exciting. When I write my songs I always have an accompanying concept in my mind for the video. In the coming days I will be releasing a new video. MTV has truly revolutionised the format and the path for us artists. I grew up watching pop stars like Britney Spears, J.Lo and others star on their unique videos and that has motivated me a lot.

Have you ever considered submitting a song for the Malta Eurovision Song Contest or are you not interested in that scene?

I do get asked that a lot and some people even set up a Clinton Paul for Eurovision page on Facebook. It’s funny how people are so into this festival. Sure, it is entertaining and can offer countless opportunities to artists. However it’s not on my bucket list at the moment. As the saying goes though, never say never.

My goal remains to keep on releasing more albums, as I love writing and producing more music videos. If a Eurovision opportunity were to come along down the line, I’m sure I would give it my best shot.

www.clintonpaul.com