I Got The Beat

The avant garde, masterful Pauli the PSM makes an impression on the rhythmically mercurial and inescapably feel good single ‘I Got The Beat’. The LA and London based protege burst onto the scene in the role of musical director for heavyweights such as FKA Twigs and Jamie XX, as well as being the resident drummer for soul frontrunner Sampha. Now branching out as a solo artist, Pauli executes their vision with energy and aplomb, producing this immensely enjoyable offering, complimented by a visual that accomplishes the same vitality and satisfaction.  

The sparse soundscape allows for the listeners focus to fixate on the jaw dropping technical ability. The spoken word/rapped flow merges seamlessly with the drumming pattern, both sonically and rhythmically, becoming more exciting with every passing bar. As the track picks up in its final third, we are rewarded with a catchy synth melody that when combined with the percussion and the laidback, concise delivery is both exhilarating and contagious. 

The lyricism is personal, introspective and often funny, which Pauli highlighted when discussing the track:

“This started off as a one take freestyle in my voice memos. In the first verse, I’m spitting knowledge and empowerment and it ends off with me just catching a vibe. But essentially, I just wanted to remind people that I’m still a badman on drums.”

A showcase of skill and a love letter to their passion, this is an outstanding contribution from an artist destined for great things. Whether Pauli continues their journey into individualism or reigns in their musicality to a more conventional direction, expect to be wowed.