Star Spot with Paul Long – Award-winning Composer and Pianist
Welcome to Exclusive Star Spot Interview with Paul Long: A Journey Through the Spectrum of Life
Award-winning composer and pianist Paul Long has spent over five decades turning life’s most emotional moments into moving, cinematic music. From spontaneous jam sessions in his youth to releasing his orchestral tribute The Courage of Despair and his 30-year album project The Spectrum of Life, Paul’s musical journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and heart.
In this episode of Star Spot, I sit down with Paul to explore how international music contests, including the InterContinental Music Awards, reignited his passion and opened new doors—proving it’s never too late to share your art with the world. Paul opens up about his self-taught beginnings, his creative process, and his advice for artists navigating today’s ever-changing music industry.
Let’s dive into his inspiring story.
Can you start with a brief biography of yourself for those who are just now joining us?
Sure! My passion for music started over 50 years ago. Back then, my friends and I would jam together on guitars—one of us would play a blues shuffle rhythm while the others improvised leads. Those jam sessions eventually sparked my interest in composing music. I began writing ballads and songs, incorporating my lyrics into the rhythms I played, and my friends would add bass and lead parts.
We got confident enough to perform at the weekly Student Union Lounge concert series. After one performance, a violinist from the university orchestra approached us and asked to join. The next day, he brought a flutist along. That’s when I realized I needed to start writing sheet music for them. When they later introduced a cello professor, I composed a part for the cello as well.
At that time, my only formal music education was playing the tuba in junior high orchestra and singing in the church choir. Writing for a college professor made me nervous—but when we all played together, it sounded just as I had imagined. That moment hooked me on composing and playing music.
How did you transition to playing piano and composing full-time?
Many years after those early jam sessions, I stopped composing and started learning piano. I taught myself by playing songs from my favorite artists like David Lanz, John Williams, and others. I didn’t own a piano, so I practiced whenever I could find one—usually at churches.
In the ’90s, I discovered music keyboard workstations with synthesizers and hundreds of instruments. At the time, I was living in Omaha, Nebraska, and had some downtime due to winter weather. For a month, I did nothing but compose music every day—it was an amazing experience. I kept composing whenever I could until I retired about 10 years ago. Then, I was finally able to dedicate myself fully to music.
What inspired you to release your music and enter competitions?
After retiring, I wondered how my music might resonate with people outside my circle of friends and family. I released my album, The Spectrum of Life, in September 2023. It’s a collection of compositions written over 30 years, each telling a story and taking listeners on a journey.
In December 2023, I created an orchestral arrangement of one of my piano solos, The Courage of Despair: A Tribute to Ukraine, and released it in January 2024. The positive feedback I received encouraged me to enter music contests. At first, I didn’t win, but I kept going. In the summer of 2024, I was honored to win at the InterContinental Music Awards. It was such a huge validation of my work and deeply meaningful to me as an artist.
Your album The Spectrum of Life spans 30 years of your life, which is incredible. How did these impactful moments shape your music, and how do you hope listeners connect with it?
That’s correct! The album represents many impactful moments, some happy and others not so much. For me, composing music has always been therapeutic. Just as talking to a friend about heartbreak or challenges can bring relief, composing allows me to turn those emotions into something joyful and meaningful.
The album is called The Spectrum of Life because it reflects the diverse experiences and emotions I’ve had over decades. Unlike albums that stick to a single style or sound throughout, this one is more like a journey. Each song represents a different phase of my life and explores various genres—Celtic influences, cosmic and atmospheric themes, and even elements inspired by composers like Liszt.
Each song is a different chapter, and I hope listeners hear their own stories and emotions reflected as they journey through the album.
What’s the story and creative process behind The Courage of Despair?
Originally, it was a piano solo inspired by the images of the Ukrainian people facing the harsh realities of war. Every day, the news showed their struggles, courage, and humanity, which broke my heart but also inspired me deeply. I felt a strong need to express the emotions I was experiencing and tell the story I was witnessing through music.
How did the piece evolve from a piano solo into a symphony?
The transformation started with a simple structure inspired by the works of Erik Satie. I used a root note chord progression that created a sense of a labored, walking struggle. This theme later evolved into a march in the third movement, symbolizing the Ukrainian people fighting back.
Throughout the piece, there’s a duality: despair on one side and courage on the other. For instance, when the bass drum enters, it can be heard as both the heavy rhythm of a struggling march and the sound of bombs being dropped. In the third movement, the march becomes stronger, representing the people rallying and resisting.
Finally, the last movement mirrors the first, but with an uplifting and dynamic energy. It transforms the initial despair into an anthem of resilience and hope, celebrating the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people.
How do you feel about the final piece and its impact?
It was a deeply emotional process, and I hope the piece resonates with listeners. My goal was to tell a story that captures both the sorrow and the incredible strength of those facing such adversity.
How did you hear about the InterContinental Music Awards, and what has your experience been like?
I’d love to share! My journey started when I began Googling international music contests. I wanted to explore how people outside of my circle—beyond family and friends—would receive my music. After searching for “international music contests,” social media algorithms started showing me various competitions in my feed.
Winning at ICMA was a huge spark for me, rejuvenating my passion and encouraging me to keep going. The prizes were incredible, too—I’ve already taken advantage of the Elite Music School, which has been a valuable resource. Through it, I’ve started working on sync licensing and getting my music into a library. I’m very grateful for everything ICMA has done for me.
Are you currently working on new music or projects?
Right now, my focus is on sync licensing, which has been quite time-consuming. There’s a lot of work involved in formatting and preparing the music for licensing, but it’s exciting and worth the effort. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities that ICMA has opened up for me.
What advice would you give to aspiring new artists?
The most important lesson I learned early on is to be very careful about how you promote your music. There are so many pitfalls out there. Don’t just Google random promotion services that claim, “For $85, we’ll get you 10,000 listeners on Spotify.” Avoid those kinds of offers entirely.
If you want to promote your music, stick to Spotify’s official promotion tools, and do the same for Instagram and YouTube. These platforms offer reliable services that give you control over your promotion.
Entering international music contests reignited my passion and gave me a sense of purpose. Winning contests, especially the InterContinental Music Awards, felt like a light at the end of the tunnel. It was the motivation I needed to get back on my journey and start creating music again.
Paul Long Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_long_spectrum
Click here to watch Paul Long‘s full interview on Instagram
InterContinental Music Awards Team