Biography
Paper People is the project of P. Willem — a drummer of thirty years stepping to the front for the first time. Immersive alt-rock built on live drums, cinematic atmosphere and industrial weight. Debut EP PPR PPL // 01 arrives November 17, 2026, led by the singles “Taller Trees” and “Ache (Hiraeth)” — both out now.
Paper People is a commentary on identity in a world where who someone is on paper isn't necessarily who they are. We're composed of many parts within — and we rush to write our story on the page rather than crafting it from the inside. EP // 01 is about the quiet violence of being reduced to a version of yourself, and the journey to becoming who you are within.
P. Willem is a drummer who stepped to the front. He writes, produces, programs and performs the project's core elements — building songs from the kit outward, in the way a rhythm section dictates a song's emotional temperature. The debut EP was captured at Rare Signals in Cambridge, MA with co-producer and engineer Brian Charles, and mastered by Joe Bozzi at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles. Cinematic atmosphere set against industrial weight — songs that transform from restraint to heaviness and back.
Key Facts
- Artist
- P. Willem
- Project
- Paper People
- Streaming as
- PPR PPL — all platforms
- Single
- “Taller Trees” — released August 28, 2026
- Second single
- “Ache (Hiraeth)” — released October 2, 2026
- EP
- PPR PPL // 01 — six tracks, out November 17, 2026 · pre-order on Bandcamp
- Genre
- Alt-rock / atmospheric rock
- Label
- PPR RCRDS
- Based
- Boston, MA
- RIYL
- Deftones, James Blake, Biffy Clyro, Thrice
- Listen
- “Taller Trees” · “Ache (Hiraeth)”
- Contact
- press@pprppl.com
Coverage
“Six penetrating sonic voyages, full of yearning and emotion.”
— Noah Schaffer, WBUR, “12 albums by New England musicians to listen to this fall” (Aug 25, 2026)
“The all-consuming vocals echo the immense vehemence of the late great Chris Cornell.”
— Turn Up The Volume (BE) · 20 Best Tracks of the Month, August 2026
“Crushes, but in a cathartic way.”
— Rock and Roll Fables
“Moves between atmospheric restraint and explosive heaviness.”
— Blood Makes Noise
“Practically demands a giant sing-along… this song is an epic.”
— If It’s Too Loud
“There are times where this track almost sounds as if it occupies a space of its own.”
— Real Gone (UK), Boston Round-Up, September 2026
“As a first taste of a brand new act, this is certainly impressive.”
— Real Gone (UK)
- Feature
- InterviewBreathing The Core — Interviews: PPR PPL (Sep 2026)
On Air
- The Mark Skin Show
- WMFO Medford, MA
- North of Boston Radio Everything You Know Is Wrong
- Banks Radio AU
- Bumblebee Radio
- Rádio Armazém BR
Playlists: NEW ALT ROCK. “Taller Trees” is FCC clean — broadcast WAV on request.
Photography
All photography by Adam Krauth. Free to use in coverage of Paper People with credit — email press@pprppl.com for hi-res files. Please do not crop the artwork.
The Record
Credits
Co-produced by Brian Charles
Recorded at Rare Signals, Cambridge, MA
Mastered by Joe Bozzi at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
Photography Adam Krauth
Interviews & Premieres
For interview requests, premiere opportunities or anything not on this page.
Email press@pprppl.com