Singer-songwriter Paula Linke: SCHÖN DURCHEINANDER

Courageous and friendly and with a large portion of humour, Paula Linke tells pointed stories from life - and it soon becomes clear that she really isn't as tender and innocent as she looks. This is one of the reasons why the Leipzig singer-songwriter was recently honoured with the "Hoyschrecke" and the Venner Folk Prize and was shortlisted for the Rio Reiser Song Prize. After her successful "Schön durcheinander" tour in 2023 with 70 concerts across Germany, the new songs are now combined on the album of the same name and will be taken to all points of the compass again in 2024. Song by song, Paula embarks on thought experiments in her programme, which branch out like the paths of small watercourses and find their way back to each other. An evening woven from varied, catchy melodies, clever lyrics and images - amusing and surprising.

"Whenthe courage to be direct meets fine language and touching images, Paula Linke's songs happen - timeless stories in a complex, challenging world: Paula thinks while singing, searches for and finds paths between chords. Dancing and thoughtful, clear, determined and powerful." (Peggy Luck)

SHORT BIOGRAPHY PAULA LINKE

*Nov.1989 in Leipzig

Musical milestones

1994-1996 mus. Early musical education (Leipzig Music School)
1996-2003 Piano lessons at the Leipzig Music School, with Mrs Geschke
2013-2008 Singing lessons at the Leipzig Music School, with Reglint Bühler
1999-2007 Dance theatre/modern/classic dance (Leipzig Music School JSB/ LTT), with Bettina Werner

Since 2003: Self-taught guitar player
Since 2003: Writing own songs
Since 2010: occasional 10-20 minute stage performances with her own music

Since 2016: occasional 60-minute stage performances with her own music

Since 2020: Songwriter in Leipzig, moderation/conception of a monthly musical discovery evening (until the end of 2020), networking in Leipziger Liederszene e.V. and Leipziger Liedertour e.V.

2020: Foundation of the DUO ADRIANA, consisting of Thekla Apitz (violin) and Paula Linke

2021: Ambassador for Music in Schools! for the State Association for Music Education

2022: Foundation of the music and literature series lax&lux, with the writer Daniel Baierl

2023: Member of the board of Leipziger Liederszene e.V.

Publications
2018: first demo album DEN TOD IN WEISHEIT UND EIN VERRÜCKTES LEBEN
2020: first studio album DAS WAR DAS

2021: first programme MIT MT VORAN!

2021: FRÜHLINGSGRUSS, first album with poetry settings by DUO ADRIANA

2021: second studio album ICH WILL NOCH RUNDER WERDEN

2022: second programme ICH WILL NOCH RUNDER WERDEN

2023: third programme SCHÖN DURCHEINANDER

2023: third studio album SCHÖN DURCHEINANDER

Prizes and funding

Nov. 2020 1st audience award, 2nd jury prize HOYSCHRECKE

Dec. 2020 1st place LIEDERMACHER:INNEN LIGA

Feb. 2021 1st place LIEDERMACHER:INNEN LIGA

April 2021 shortlist of the RIO REISER SONG PRIZE

March 2022 Winner of the Pop competition organised by Initative Kreatives Sachsen

May 2022 2nd place at the Dieter Wasilke Folk Prize of the Venner Folk Spring

May 2022 19th place in the best song list with KROKODILSTRÄNEN

Tour 2022 sponsored by the Initiative Musik, tour and promotion campaign

Sept. 2022 Scholarship to support the album production SCHÖN DURCHEINANDER

July 2023 10th place on the best song list with IN MIR WIRD ES HELL (May 16th place, June 14th place)

Sept. 2023 1st place in the single singer category of the Peter-Rohland singing competition

January 2024 municipal. Sponsorship of the song and literature series lax&lux

Education

2008 General higher education entrance qualification, Leipzig

2013 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Theatre and Media Studies at the FAU Erlangen, Nuremberg

2016 Completion of the Master of Arts in Theatre Pedagogy at the FAU

WS2019 Start of special education studies (teaching degree, state examination) at the University of Leipzig, fourth subject music (guitar and singing lessons)

Employment

Aug. '15 - Jul. '18 First position as assistant dramaturge and director at Ansbach Theatre under the directorship of Susanne Schulz

Aug. '18 - July '19 Theatre Münster under the directorship of Ulrich Peters, Young Theatre Department Dramaturgy/ theatre education/ cultural mediation for all productions of the season/ project conception/ marketing and public relations, school contact and acquisition

January 2021 Self-employed as a freelance artist and Leipzig singer-songwriter

Excerpt from Interview 2022 - What characterises your songs?

With my music, I position myself between the classic songwriting of Bettina Wegener, Reinhard Mey and Gerhard Schöne, French chanson and modern pop.

The songs range between socio-political observations, humorous interpersonal musings and a clear yes to life and culture. A dramaturge by trade, my full-length programmes are also fed by songs on the one hand and selected anecdotes on the other, making them similar to an evening at the theatre.