Paula Seling

Paula Seling (, born 25 December 1978) is a Romanian singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality.

Raised in Baia Mare, she attended Gheorghe Șincai National College and later moved to Bucharest to pursue her musical career.

She has released more than thirteen albums (including three Christmas albums) and over twenty singles, which include two top-ten hits in the Romanian Top 100, a minor European hit which entered the charts in Finland and Norway, as well as the UK Singles Chart.

Paula Seling was born in Baia Mare, a city in northwestern Romania, on 25 December 1978.

She has a brother named Paul.

In 1995, she won the Best Instrumental Interpreter award at the "Steaua de cristal" (The Crystal Star) Contest in Botoșani, "Ursulețul de aur" (The Golden Teddy Bear) award in Baia Mare, and first place at the "Armonia" (Harmony) Festival in Bucharest.

That year she met Paul Nanca of the Phoenix Cultural Foundation and most of her musician friends who are still with her today.

In 1996, she won the "Aurelian Andreescu" trophy under the guidance of Anda Popp, and she had her first performance at the "Golden Stag", in the show "Viața de român" (Romanian life) as a backup vocalist.

After graduating from the Gheorghe Șincai National College in June 1997, she studied journalism in Bucharest, graduating in 2002.

She has been playing piano since she was 6 years old, having studied at the "School of Performing Arts" with Mariana Tilca.

At the age of 10, she began to sing in the school choir, soon becoming a soloist.

At the age of 15, she joined a band, the "Enders", as a piano player.

In 1997, she opened for Joan Baez, participated in the Mamaia Trophy with the song "Trurli" a Romanian song, and released her first album in English, "Only Love", recorded at Sound House Records, Germany; then sang in the show "Din darul magilor" (From the Magi's Gift) in December 1997.

She has performed as an opening act for Joan Baez (27 June 1997), Chick Corea (9 November 1998), Michael Bolton (7 July 2007), and Beyoncé (26 October 2007).

Paula Seling competed in the Selectia Nationala 1998 teaming up with band Talisman with the song "Te iubesc".

They came in fourth (with 565 points), as the jury voted them in second place and tele-voters put them in sixth place.

The special jury considered their song the most suitable for the Eurovision Song Contest 1998.

On November 9, 1998, she was the opening act for Chick Corea's concert in Bucharest.

Following the concert Seling collaborated with percussionist Lucian Maxim on a project which was a fusion of jazz, classical music and old Romanian gypsy music found in the traditional remakes of Marius Mihalache.

Seling competed in the Mamaia Festival 2001 with her performance of "Ploaie în luna lui marte" (Rain in the Moon of Mars) (a cover of Nicu Alifantis' older hit).

She received national recognition after winning the Golden Stag Festival in 2002.

Seling was signed by Roton Records in the fall of 2002, after winning The Golden Stag International trophy.

In 2003, she won an MTV Romanian Award for "Best Music Video" for a video which she co-directed.

In early 2005, she launched her own record label, "Unicorn Records Romania", along with her father and brother.

She has sung duets with Al Bano, Anita Doth (from 2 Unlimited) and Tony Hawks.

In 2008, she performed a song together with "manele" singer Florin Salam at the Bucharest Symphonic Orchestra.

Paula Seling decided to perform rock, jazz, jazz-rock, soul, and rhythm and blues.

At the time, unplugged music was popular, so Paula suggested a collaboration with the Phoenix Foundation to create an album.

Dana Cristescu proposed involving Nicu Alifantis in composing and producing this album.

Seling offered her some songs, and she chose "Ploaie în luna lui marte" to be the first track.

Paula remembers "all the bright eyes looking at me kindly as I was looking out to the audience, and hundreds of voices were singing with me "ploouuaaa infernaaaal" and "noooi ne iubeaaam..." it's an amazing feeling. It was nice to see people happy and enjoying my music! "

The song eventually got to George Zafiu, DJ at Radio 21, who started to broadcast it on his shows.

After many requests, Seling's team agreed to record the first album in Romanian named Ştiu că exist/ "I know I exist" and "Colinde și cântece sfinte" (Christmas carols and Holy songs) with the Romanian singer-songwriter Narcisa Suciu.

It represents the best of her musical self study at that time.

At the same time, she won the "Ascending Star" award by Avantaje magazine.

She represented Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, together with Ovidiu Cernăuțeanu, with the song "Playing with Fire".

They finished third in the finals.

She then participated in Dansez Pentru Tine (Romanian "Dancing with the Stars") where she finished third.

Starting October 2011, Seling was a juror and mentor in the Romanian X Factor.

In 2011, she collaborated with Al Bano and Plan D.