Scott Paul

NEWTON, NJ - Sussex County musician and songwriter Scott Paul will be hitting the stage of The Stone Pony as one of the headliner acts of the late show this upcoming Sunday at the landmark Asbury Park, N.J. establishment.

Some legendary performers have graced The Stone Pony during their careers, including Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Elvis Costello, Blondie, Van Morrison, Meatloaf, Joan Jett, Todd Rundgren, Dion, Jimmy Cliff, members of the E Street Band, Railroad Earth, Ziggy Marley, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Hot Tuna, Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, The Pretenders, The Black Crowes, and more.


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Paul already has a following, with close to 9,000 "likes" on his Facebook Page, with the unsigned R&B and Hip Hop Artist seemingly recognizing his popularity as well.


"Just say you knew me when," is the confident statement posted on both his Facebook Page and website.

"I was really young when I realized entertainment was the business I wanted to be in," Paul told The Alternative Press.

Paul originally lived in Irvington, N.J., first making his way to Sussex County in Andover Township, and then Newton. He was a student at the Long Pond School when he discovered poetry, and then tapped into his songwriting talents while at the Halsted Middle School.

He is a 2008 graduate of Newton High School, and has earned his degree from William Paterson University in Business Marketing and Music Management. He also interned at Sony Music.

Paul works full-time at Krogh's Restaurant & Brew Pub in Sparta as the establishment's entertainment director, and as a bartender, while continuing in his musical career.

"Music is what I am pursuing, it's my passion," he said.

Scott Paul and the Parlay, and other artists follow The Stone Pony Summer Stage acts of Hip Hop artists Mac Miller, Meek Mill, Chance The Rapper, The Internet, and Vince Staples.

Samuel Paul, Paul's brother, is also from Newton, and a vocalist and guitarist in the Parlay.

"My band is very talented," said Paul.

Paul has appeared before at The Stone Pony, opening for Reggae and Alternative Rock Musician Matisyahu, and participating in battles of the bands.

"They [The Stone Pony] took a liking to me," Paul said.

When asked about his musical inspirations, Paul said they have been different at various points of his life.

"It's hard core gangster rappers that got me into rapping," Paul said, naming artists like DMX.

Though Paul admits, "I'm no way like a gangster rapper."

Kayne West and Usher are more recent inspirations.

"I really flirted with a few different things," he said.

He has collaborated with Reid Stefan, EDM Producer.

In addition to covers, Paul sings his original songs. His songwriting earned him a place in the top 10 of a songwriting contest judged by industry professionals while he was in college.

"My music is very diverse, one minute I'm rapping, the next, I'm singing a ballad," he said.

One such ballad is "Bitter Valentine," in the video below, which was filmed at Sunrise Mountain, one of the scenic vistas in Sussex County.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C93YHAdR6M



The county holds a plethora of inspiration for Paul, and for his upcoming album, some of one music video was shot at his high school alma mater, Newton.

"I'm very real about where I come from, Newton's shaped me," he said. "There's a lot of special people who come from Newton, who've been through a lot of things. There's a unity."

For Sunday's performance at The Stone Pony, the doors open at 5 p.m., and Paul will be onstage around 10:30 p.m.

Paul will perform locally on July 30 at The Stanhope House, following musical act Shwayze.

Click here to view Scott Paul's website for more information. - Tapinto.net