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From accordion to guitar seems like an unnatural leap, but not for Paul Cafcae, whose foray into music began with the unusual instrument in 1984 when he was only 6 years old. Gifted from an early age, Cafcae studied music theory, piano and vocals in the USSR, before deciding to make the guitar his instrument of choice by the time he reached 15, attending high school in Maryland, USA. It was around this time that he began experimenting with writing his own material before touring with several bands across Europe and North America.

In 2009, upon becoming a “Canadian by choice,” as he calls himself, Cafcae returned to his love of songwriting, revisiting his old compositions and reworking them for what would eventually be his debut album, Sophisticated, a collection of diverse songs that serve as a memoir of the different chapters in Cafcae’s life. Inspired by the warm welcome of local audiences of his songs laced with its addictive hooks and laid-back vocals, Paul went on to make his second record, “Miss July,” which firmly positioned him as an artist determined to carve out his own musical niche, – one that’s reflective of his own musical journey and embraces his diverse influences and personal tastes. Juxtaposing upbeat western progressions with Eastern-European lyrical motifs, Paul has become somewhat of a staple in the local scene, having performed at all major indie events in the GTA: The Beaches Jazz Festival, Open Tuning Festival, Winterfolk Roots and Blues Festival, CIUT’s Coronapalooza and others.

Paul cares about many causes: environment, access to healthcare and education, and human rights, but most importantly mental health. As Paul puts it himself: “I started to write and record music because I want to give people hope. We face challenges in our lives every day – work, politics, ecology, social and financial responsibilities, our relationships, even our art and hobbies. It seems that it is harder and harder not to lose sight of what’s important: being happy. I hope that my music will fuel our lives with hope, strength and encouragement.