The Nineties were one of the most exciting and original eras in popular music -- new styles, new technologies, new energy and, most importantly, a whole new generation of talent. 

And if any new musical arrival can be said to sum up the promise of the new decade it has to be Paul Lekakis. Vocalist, performer, accomplished entertainer, Paul Lekakis is giving us a glimpse of a fresh, unfettered and instantly accessible new direction in popular music. And the proof is on Tattoo It, his dazzling album for Sire Records and one of the most irresistible new releases of that musical season. 

A native of Westchester County, just north of New York City, Paul set out to entertain from a very early age, singing in church choirs and taking a variety of music and dance courses throughout high school. While still a teenager, he relocated to New York and utilized his stunning good looks to make a living as a model, continuing to polish his dancing and singing skills. “I’ve always been inspired by dance,” he asserts, “and even when I was younger, before I started dancing professionally, I would go out to clubs almost every night. Connecting with a sound on the dance floor was the most immediate way I know of to understand the power and energy of music. To me, dance and music have always been intertwined.” 

Paul’s success as a model led him to Italy and his first real break as a performer. “I’d gone over for a modeling job and after work one night I went to a club in Milan to dance. A couple of Italian record producers happened to see me there and liked the way I was responding to the music. I’d been studying dance for a long time and I think it was the performance quality of what I was doing that attracted them. They asked if I could sing.” 

It was like asking a fish if it could swim. Working closely with the producers, Paul cut a track called “Boom Boom,” a frankly sensual, rhythm-driven song that would quickly propel the young artist into the international spotlight. The dance hit reached number one in Australia and Japan (where the song was named Single Of The Year), made its presence felt in a number of European markets, reached Top Ten on U.S. dance charts and Top 15 on stateside pop charts. 

Quite an accomplishment for a young man whose face was more at home in front of a camera than behind a mike. But it didn’t take long for Paul to become accustomed to his new role as singer and performer. Returning to the States, he embarked on an extensive round of club dates, garnering a fervent following along the East Coast, throughout Texas and in Southern California, among other places. Return trips to Europe, specifically Italy and the U.K., helped to enhance his global standing and, naturally, record offers started coming his way. “My only real choice was Sire Records,” reveals Paul. “I feel very fortunate because I’m with a label that is really into new music and works very closely with their artists on a development level. They really get behind you.” 

Part of that support came in the form of a team of top-notch producers to helm Paul’s debut outing for Sire.  Recorded in New York, Tattoo It boasts a Who’s Who of modern production know-how, including Shep Pettibone, Daniel Abraham, Jeff Vincent (with whom Paul co-wrote the album’s memorable ballad, “I Will Be There,” a song that showcases his gift for song crafting), Tony Moran and The System. 

The resulting collection of sizzling new music features Paul’s hot new single, “Tattoo It,” as well as such standout cuts as “My House,” which is also the subject of a hot video. 

From the opening notes of Tattoo It, it’s apparent that an innovative and electrifying young talent has arrived. Paul Lekakis is a new breed of artist for a brand new millennium.