Tech-Noir Persona “Paultra Violet” Isn’t Just an Artist, It’s a Narrator

Paultra Violet is a creator of moods—a diverse artistic triad consisting of actor Joey Palestina (HBO's We Own This City), composer Spencer Miles (Space Fight), and producer Joel Hunter Martin (Y God Y), it’s impossible to know which musical corner they’ll hit from next. Drawing from both musical (Beach House, The Police, Nine Inch Nails) and cinematic (Kubrick, Villeneuve, Satoshi Kon) inspirations, Paultra Violet is more than music: it’s an artistic movement. The members’ commitment to moods, storylines, and narratives is reflected in the name of the group; Palestina explains: “We liked the idea of an anonymous name/character being the centerpiece of the project.”

Paultra Violet’s debut album We’ve Already Happened is a reflection on humanity’s innate desire for connection in a world that is becoming increasingly fragmented through the infinity of choices offered to us by the digital age. PV describes the album as follows: “It's not just music; it's a statement, a warning, a soundtrack for those adrift in the endless scroll of life's possibilities.” Pack that dystopia up into a digital-age symphony characterized by flashes of pop, tech-noir, coldwave, and post-punk? You’ve got We’ve Already Happened.
After listening to the project, the track that stood out the most to me was “Here’s To You,” a poignant, atmospheric piece that brings a vivid scene to the mind’s eye—one that is steeped in the ever-rising pool of times gone by. The lyrics “Here’s to you / Here’s to us / The kids we were / The games we played” is backed by a dark, nebulous sonic background; one whose sinister overtones belie a deep pain, one brought about by someone mourning the loss of rose-tinted days. An interesting production choice I noted was the inclusion of a soundscape that featured seagulls and the ocean. This soundscape is quietly introduced within the folds of the song’s introduction; just faint enough that you have to strain your ear to hear it.

It might be my imagination, but I think I can hear it again at the end—whether it’s actually there or not doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that it made such an impression on me that I found myself searching for it during the song, attempting to find clues to the meaning behind its presence, a victory for the narrators behind Paultra Violet. Continuing with other production choices I appreciated, a twinkling piano is featured in the bridge, adding a softer, sentimental facet to the song by grounding it with a more traditional instrument. Finally, “Here’s To You” ends with just a hint of electric guitar—again, so quiet that you could miss it quite easily—that trails off into silence. However, the power of the guitar reverberates so intensely that you almost fill in that silence yourself, similar to the effect of the seagull soundscape in the beginning.

I love that Paultra Violet includes sonic elements that enhance their work through encouraging active listener engagement—something that can be said to be lacking in the modern musicscape.

We’ve Already Happened is now available to stream on all platforms, so go give it a listen! You may find something you didn’t know you were looking for.