VIDEO: INTERVIEW – Paris Paloma at Bonnaroo 2023

UK singer-songwriter Paris Paloma released her single “labour” via Nettwerk Music Group only a few months ago in March and it immediately resonated with a huge audience. The song went viral on TikTok with numerous videos of people sharing their own stories of misogyny, which parallels the song itself which tells the story of a woman railing against the inequity of labour within heteronormative relationships. Paloma explained, “‘labour’ takes us inside a relationship where the speaker’s self-worth is once again reduced, like many people who find themselves in draining relationships with undeserving people. Taking on all the emotional labour – because we accept the love we think we deserve. But it is a breaking point… it is the first time the speaker acknowledges the toxicity of these dynamics, and the song is about the escape from that relationship.” Originally hailing from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, Paloma was a student of fine art at Goldsmiths before pursuing music full-time. Her music has channeled the experience of womanhood into her songwriting, speaking to the female experience, grief, love, death, and power. Her songwriting is noted to draw inspiration from figures throughout mythology, art history and the Romantics.

Paris Paloma spoke with B-Sides host Pete Mar about performing at Bonnaroo 2023, her musical influences, reaction to her song “labour” going viral and more.