Paula Dacia DeAnda (born November 3, 1989) is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for the 2006 US Billboard Hot 100 top twenty single "Walk Away (Remember Me)". Her debut album, Paula DeAnda, was released in 2006.
Early life DeAnda was born in San Angelo, Texas, to Mexican-American parents Steven and Barbara Dienda, a restaurant general manager and a registered nurse, respectively. At age six she began taking piano lessons and was soon singing at functions around town at the recommendation of her piano teacher. She also sang the national anthem at local football games. In 2002, DeAnda's family decided to move to Corpus Christi in order to help advance her career in music since Corpus Christi had a reputation as a music hub. She attended Mary Carroll High School.
Career
2006–2009: Debut album Paula DeAnda
DeAnda was the opening act for a concert which featured hip-hop artists, Nelly, Baby Bash and Frankie J. performing in front of twenty thousand people. Her first single, "What Would It Take" was serviced to local radio stations in July, received airplay from ten radio stations across the country. Her next single "Doing Too Much" was released in December. It was then that she got the opportunity to audition for Clive Davis who signed her with Arista Records on the spot.
"Doing Too Much" served as the lead single to her self-titled debut album which was released in the summer of 2006, and charted in the Top50 of the Billboard Hot 100. It was later certified gold in the US in 2007. Paula DeAnda charted at No. 54 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album mainly consists of songs about love and relationships and is of the pop-R&B genre. DeAnda co-wrote four songs on the album, which features production from Happy Perez among others. She was only 16 years old at the time of the album's release. Her second single "Walk Away (Remember Me)" (written by Christina Milian and Ne-Yo) was her biggest hit, reaching the top twenty on the Hot 100. The single was certified gold by the RIAA, becoming her second single to do so. Follow-up singles from her debut included "When It Was Me" and "Easy", the latter featuring rapper Bow Wow. She later appeared in the MTV television film Super Sweet 16: The Movie.
In 2008, DeAnda began production on next effort, initially due in 2009. A buzz single "Stunned Out" was released and garnered some airplay, but the set's lead single ended up being the ballad "Roll the Credits", which was released with a music video was planned. Clive Davis left Arista's parent company at the time, RCA Label Group in 2008 to become the chief creative officer for Sony BMG. DeAnda also parted ways with Arista to become an independent artist following his departure.
2010–2014: Scrapped second album, The Voice and The Voice & the Beats EP After leaving Arista Records, DeAnda's sophomore album was shelved, in addition to a tentative Spanish album. However her Spanish album was leaked to Yahoo Musica, a Latin Music venue that featured her leaked singles from the sophomore album. Following this period, DeAnda began posting a series of covers on YouTube in the summer of 2010. DeAnda released a series of digital singles: "Besos" in 2011 which would later be covered by Jojo, "Your Place" in 2012 and "Shut Up and Love Me" in 2013.
Following her digital releases in 2013, DeAnda was selected to perform the National Anthem live on television at the Canelo vs Trout fight.
In 2014, DeAnda auditioned for Season 6 of NBC's singing competition, The Voice. Both Shakira and Blake Shelton turned their chairs but she opted for Blake Shelton. During the Battles, Round 1, she was defeated by fellow Team Blake teammate Sisaundra Lewis after their duet of Lady Gaga's "Do What U Want".
Stage Song Original artist Date Order Result Blind Audition The Way Ariana Grande March 10, 2014 5.3 Shakira and Blake Shelton turnedJoined Team Blake Battles, Round 1 "Do What U Want" (vs. Sisaundra Lewis) Lady Gaga March 17, 2014 8.5 Eliminated
After The Voice, DeAnda collaborated with the Jump Smokers on her first EP The Voice & The Beats, which was released on June 25, 2014, and featured the first single "Horns Blow (Shimmy Shimmy)".
2015–2019: Second EP PDA, Collaborations, etc. In February 2015, DeAnda launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund a new album, which was achieved in a couple of weeks. In May, she announced an EP titled PDA. The project was to be preceded by the song, "Brand New", released on March 23, 2015.
In early 2018 DeAnda was asked to sing the Star Spangled Banner once more for the televised rematch fight Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin II. In April 2019, DeAnda featured on a single titled "Killin' My Vibe" by Waseem Shark and Dub Shakes, which featured her vocals in Hindi and garnered airplay success in Southeast Asia.
By October 3, 2019, DeAnda released Iddi Biddi, which paid homage to Selena and Aaliyah. The song was later followed by lyric visuals and is set to promote the revival of her PDA project. Since December 2019, Paula has been hinting for a possible musical collaboration between her and Nivea. Both singers have shown interest in working together.
Influences DeAnda has cited Christina Aguilera, Jo Dee Messina, Shania Twain, Aaliyah, Brandy, LeAnn Rimes, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Selena as major musical influences.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales US Paula DeAndaReleased: August 29, 2006 Label: Arista Format: CD, digital download 54US: 214,000+
Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected details Title EP details The Voice & the Beats (with Jump Smokers) Released: June 24, 2014 Label: JS Sound Formats: Digital download 4th of July with Hi Jackson & the Country Club Released: July 4, 2019 Label: Audiam Formats: Digital download
Singles
Promotional singles 2006 - "Clap ta This" from Paula DeAnda 2006 - "Back Up Off Me" from Paula DeAnda
Notes A "When It Was Me" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 13 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
Music videos Year Video Director 2006 "Doing Too Much"Diane Martel "Walk Away (Remember Me)" Ray Kay 2007 "Easy" Bille Woodruff"When It Was Me"Ed Oacanas2011"Besos"Happy Perez 2013 "Your Place" Larry Servin 2015 "Brand New" Freddy Dang2019"I Don't Wanna Wait"Potent"Roll It"Mark Amar2020"OG"DX"Mí Droga"H3ctor"Cowboy Boots"Jeff Adair
Guest appearances + List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name Title Year Other artist(s) Album "There's Nothin'" 2007 Sean Kingston Sean Kingston "Supa Chic" Baby Bash Cyclone "As Days Go By (The Love Letter)" "Bubble On" Latino Velvet, Angel Dust The Camp Is Back "Best Friend" 2010 That Dirty Mexican Zoe Mindin My Bizniz "Dreamin'" 2011 MC Magic, Don Cisco The Rewire "Thanks For Looking Over Us" Jay Tee, Baby Bash, Mugzi The Game Is Cold "Get It In" Lucky Luciano Money Bags "Keep The Party Alive" 2012 Enoc Non-album single "Crazy" Baby Jay Luv & Respect "Sittin' In Somethin New" 2013 Jay Tee, Baby Bash, Big Gemini Vallejo Mentality "Butterfly Kisses" Baby Bash, Frankie J. Unsung The Album "Spoiled Lil Bitch" Baby Bash, Mickael, Lucky Luciano "Space City" DJ Go Hi-C, Young Fresh, Slim Thug, Bun B, Killa Kyleon Houston Is Certified "Look Around" 2014 Big Gemini, Yung Blast Deadly Melody "Pray For Me" GT Garza Young Mexico + Brown Funeral "Run Thangs" 2015 Honey Cocaine The Gift Rap EP "Pobre Cancionero" 2016 Sebastien De La Cruz Non-album single "I Don't Know You" Josh-B Non-album single "On Tonight" Lil Rob Da Beats Album Vol. 1 (Compilation) "Body Yo Body" 2017 Baby Bash, Frankie J., Kap G Sangria "Ain't No Sunshine" 2018 Baeza, GT Garza Non-album single "America" 2019 Hi Jackson & The Country Club, Bizness Boi 4th Of July With Hi Jackson & The Country Club "Killin' My Vibe" Waseem Stark, Dub Shakes Non-album single "I Don't Wanna Wait" Rico Rossi, M-Status Non-album single "OG" 2020 Drei, Oplus Origin "Mi Droga" YBE Non-album single "Hopeless" R!OT, Jake Barker Hopeless EP "Cowboy Boots" Hi Jackson & The Country Club Non-album single "Valentine's Kisses" 2021 Baby Bash, MC Magic Non-album single "One More Time" Krystall Poppin Non-album single "Somos Novios" 2024 Tortilla Factory, Gilbert DeAnda "El Coyote" Non-album single"Baddies"Sara Jeihooni Pretty Girl ComplexTus Ojos2025Tortilla Factory, The GameNon-album single
Filmography
Film Year | Film | Role
2007 | Super Sweet 16: The Movie | Alicia
2008 | Paula DeAnda (Video-EPK) | Herself
2012 | Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 | Soundtrack only
References
External links