Above & Beyond‘s Paavo Siljamäki releases new double A-side ‘Polar Bears (featuring Spencer Brown) / Thunder & Sunshine‘ under his P.O.S moniker.
On his debut solo album as P.O.S., Paavo reconnected with the dance floor and himself in “Deeper Stories,” putting his trust in the natural world around him.
A songwriter, producer, and DJ, Paavo is one-third of the ground-breaking, record-breaking British dance institution Above & Beyond, founders of London-based label Anjunabeats. The band, which is a double GRAMMY nominee and an RIAA Gold Certified artist, has rocked legendary live venues like the Royal Albert Hall and Madison Square Garden as well as festival stages like Glastonbury, EDC, and Creamfields.
Paavo, however, has had to deal with a number of personal and health-related difficulties during the past five years, including multiple conflicts with Covid.
Basically, I had a burnout. I just couldn’t see what I wanted to do. And after my burnout, I was like: what is dance music to me? I don’t really know even if I like it. I’ve heard – I’ve written – too many build-ups! So I thought: that’s me done – Paavo
Inspiration was rekindled after finding refuge in nature, first with the ambient album “Flow State” by Above & Beyond and subsequently with a return to dancefloor-oriented sounds.
There’s no feeling of freedom like being at sea. When I’m sailing, I synchronize with the sunrise and sunset – we almost always get up at sunrise. So this is like being really aligned with nature. I found that, after my burnout, and Covid, I really found myself in nature. There’s something about being closer with nature that is really healing – and very inspiring. – Paavo
Now living on board the Swedish boat he now calls home, Paavo re-immersed himself into the club culture that had first caught his imagination as a 15-year-old rave kid, from the dance floors of Ibiza to the desert raves of Burning Man. His “Deeper Stories” CD captures his most recent experiences; it contains emotional, heartfelt club songs, many of which made their debuts at last fall’s Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy 500 and Anjunadeep Open Air L.A. events.
The song “Polar Bears” was created in a studio jam in Los Angeles in the latter part of 2021. Spencer Brown is a DJ and producer. The bond between Paavo and Spencer dates back to 2014, when the burgeoning producer drew Above & Beyond’s attention with his debut song, “Chalice,” on Avicii’s label LE7ELS. A versatile talent, Spencer’s impressive portfolio includes two mixed albums on Anjunabeats plus releases on Anjunadeep, mau5trap, and Sasha’s Last Night On Earth. Spencer started his own record company, diviine, in 2022.
Bookending the double A-side is ‘Thunder & Sunshine‘, a fan favorite from Above & Beyond’s Anjunabeats Volume 16 mix compilation from summer 2022. A&B played both songs during their now-famous performance for Cercle atop Piedra del Peol, Colombia.
Anjunabeats will release P.O.S’ “Deeper Stories” this spring. The first leg of the P.O.S. Deeper Stories tour, called Deeper Tales, which includes shows in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami in March, is currently on sale.
Upcoming P.O.S Album Tour Dates:
- March 16th – Toronto, ON @ CODA
- March 17th – Chicago, IL @ Spybar
- March 18th – Los Angeles, CA @ The Patio at Academy
- March 19th – San Francisco, CA @ Midway Patio
- March 23rd – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere
- March 24th – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
- March 25th – Washington D.C @ Soundcheck
- March 26th – Miami, FL @ Anjunabeats Miami
