Paula Teles: Where Fado Meets Fire

May 9

EntreParedes and the Birth of a New Voice in Metal

Portuguese vocalist and composer Paula Teles is not content to inhabit genres. She breaks them apart, examines their emotional undercurrents, and fuses them back together in bold new shapes. On her latest album, EntreParedes, released April 30th via Ethereal Sound Works, Teles blends the wistful melancholy of traditional Fado with the explosive intensity of progressive metal — and the result is a searing, cinematic, and emotionally fearless work.

The album’s title, EntreParedes (literally “Between Walls”), is more than a poetic gesture — it’s a conceptual battleground. Over seven tracks, Teles explores the emotional constraints of memory, history, and womanhood, often pushing her voice to cathartic extremes. It’s a tribute to the great Portuguese guitarist Carlos Paredes, but also a deeply personal reckoning. “This duality represents my personality,” Teles explains. “On one hand, I am melancholic. On the other, I can be loud, energetic, and intense. These differences create a balance — in music and in life.”

A Voice Rooted in Tradition, Rising Through Metal

The album opens with “Prólogo,” an instrumental homage to Carlos Paredes that sets the tone with haunting Portuguese guitar and a cinematic flair. From there, the emotional arc deepens. “Ventre” and “Pêndulo” introduce us to Teles’ extraordinary vocal range, shifting from gentle introspection to full-throttle anguish, all underscored by progressive arrangements that remain true to Fado’s mournful essence.

“Contra-Regra” is a standout: rich with orchestration, it pits shadow against light in both lyric and structure. “II Acto” feels like a manifesto for survival — “They don’t ask for lukewarm souls / They don’t ask for absent people.” Theatrical, emotional, and unafraid to show vulnerability, the track pushes the boundaries of genre and sentiment alike.

The album culminates in “(Re) Encarnado,” a duet that delivers its emotional thesis with devastating clarity. “I work in a home for elderly women,” Teles shares, “and every day I hear their stories. These are life stories full of strength and courage. It is they who inspire me.” Her voice — joined partway by a male counterpart — climbs through spoken word, melodic spirals, and near-operatic crescendos to deliver a finale as powerful as it is transformative.

A New Hybrid is Born

Though some might be tempted to label this symphonic metal with a Fado twist, Teles insists the fusion is deeper than that: “I don’t want metal to change Fado. I want them to complement each other. I want fans on both sides to experience different worlds while truly feeling what they are hearing.”

It’s this invitation — to feel fully — that makes EntreParedes so powerful. With lyrics written by Teles herself, and music composed alongside Jorge Lopes and Hélder Lopes, the album is a product of emotional vision and careful craft. The production is rich and textured, reminiscent of acts like Within Temptation or early Nightwish, but its emotional DNA is uniquely Portuguese.

And that voice? It doesn’t just impress — it commands. Trained in both classical technique and rock performance, Teles prepares rigorously for the vocal demands of each track. “I'm a vocal technique fanatic,” she says. “I think about the emotion I want to convey, and I use the technique that fits — chest voice, head voice, mix. I take care of my voice like an instrument. I warm up daily, stay hydrated, and try to sing intelligently, as a teacher of mine once said. The more we understand the voice, the better we can serve the music.”

For the Brave, the Broken, and the Beautifully Unfinished

EntreParedes is not background music. It’s not a passive listen. It asks something of the audience — their attention, their openness, maybe even their wounds. In return, it offers 28 minutes of emotional honesty and fearless artistic synthesis. For those willing to sit in discomfort, beauty, and fire all at once, Paula Teles has created a space worth entering.

She is not just singing her own story — she’s voicing the collective memory of women, of survivors, of those caught between the walls of tradition and the urge to transform.

Interview: Paula Teles on Emotion, Technique, and the Soul of Fado-Metal

Q: “EntreParedes” blends Fado’s sorrowful elegance with the raw intensity of progressive metal. What inspired you to bring these two emotional extremes together in one album?
Paula Teles: This duality represents my personality: on one hand I am melancholic, on the other hand I can be loud, energetic and intense. I think these differences create a certain balance that we end up looking for not only in music, but also in our daily lives.

Q: In “(Re) Encarnado,” there’s a powerful duality between pain and transformation. Can you tell us more about the emotional story behind that song?
Paula Teles: I work in a home for elderly women and every day I hear their stories. These are life stories that represent the strength of these women: overcoming difficulties, courage. It is they and their stories that inspire me to create music.

Q: Fado traditionally speaks of longing and fate. How do you feel that legacy might change when delivered through the weight of heavy metal?
Paula Teles: My intention is for the foundations of fado to reach more diverse audiences. I don't want metal to change fado, I want them to complement each other. I want fans on both sides to be able to experience and get to know different worlds while allowing themselves to feel and assimilate what they are hearing.

Q: Your vocal performance shifts dramatically across the album — from delicate ballad to powerful metal cries. How do you emotionally and physically prepare for that range?
Paula Teles: I'm really glad you asked me this question because I'm a vocal technique fanatic. When I'm writing lyrics, I already imagine the vocal approach I’ll use at each moment, so the message comes across the way I want. I alternate between chest voice and head voice, often blending them. I also take great care of my voice: I warm up every day, stay hydrated, and avoid smoking or alcohol. Above all, I try to sing intelligently — as a teacher of mine once said: we use all the resources we have to protect our instrument and enhance performance. The more technique we have, the more expressive we can be.