Paola la Uníca Captures the Joy and Grief of Youth in “Summer of My Life”

New Jersey-based R&B/Soul artist Paola la Uníca is carving out a lane that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. With her latest single “Summer of My Life,” she paints a portrait of being young, queer, and navigating the bittersweet in-betweens of love, grief, and growth.

The song was born from a reflective moment in the park, as Paola contemplated the fleeting nature of relationships and the way people enter and exit our lives in our twenties. While friends and family remind us that “these are the best years of your life,” Paola acknowledges that these years can also feel uncertain, messy, and painful. Yet, within that tension, she finds light. “Summer of My Life” is about grounding yourself in the beauty of the present, feeling the sun on your skin, savoring freedom, and holding onto joy even when life feels heavy.

Sonically, the track blends Paola’s R&B and pop-soul influences with lush production that is both mellow and head-nodding. Her voice carries shades of Amy Winehouse’s rawness with the vulnerability of Frank Ocean, weaving an emotional narrative that is impossible to ignore. The beat is sleek and modern, offering a backdrop of smooth grooves and subtle percussion that feels just as suited to late-night drives as it does to open-air summer festivals.

What makes “Summer of My Life” stand out is its duality. It is a song of celebration and mourning, of reflection and release. Paola does not shy away from the grief of growing up, but she refuses to let it overshadow the joy of simply being young, alive, and in motion. That balance is what makes her artistry so compelling, the ability to hold contradictions in the same breath.

Paola’s journey as a performer has already seen her grace stages across the Northeast, including four festivals this past summer, like Pride in Union, NJ, and Jersey City’s Loud Garden Festival. With a performance at Newark Arts Festival this October and more new music on the way, Paola is proving that her voice is not just heard but deeply felt.

“Summer of My Life” is more than a song. It is a reminder that our emotions are valid, our youth is fleeting, and every moment is worth savoring.

“Summer of My Life” was inspired by a reflection in a park. How did that setting influence the song’s mood and message?

The chord progression sounds very nostalgic to me. It sounds like it’s far away, and then the drums make it more lively. This is a song where the beat was made before the lyrics. The idea of “Summer of My Life” has been a concept I’ve been ruminating on for a long time. This summer especially feels like the balance I’ve talked about in the song. Having so much fun, but then there’s something that still brings the grief up. The park is a peaceful and grounding place for me, so it just felt natural there. The park has so much going on, but every time I go to one, it still feels like I’m in my own world. It’s like I can be alone, but I’m never alone. This song is reflective, and I feel like the park is a peaceful place to reflect and relax.

You speak openly about grief and joy coexisting in your twenties. Why was it important for you to capture both sides in this track?

It was important to me because the world can be seen as black and white to a lot of people. I used to be very guilty of black and white thinking, but it’s not the truth. Most of the world and our experiences live in the gray area. I see grief and joy as that gray area in the way that both can be present at the same time. You don’t need to be happy all the time or be stuck in sadness. Or even feel ashamed to not feel good when you think you’re supposed to be feeling good. It’s okay to make peace with the fact that sometimes you feel multiple emotions at once. It’s human, and it’s a choice to make peace with your experiences. This is my way of doing that.

Your influences range from Amy Winehouse to Bad Bunny. How do you see those inspirations shaping your sound here?

My influences show up in my flow and my writing. Amy Winehouse is one of the best lyricists. Her music is poetry, and that’s the kind of music I strive to write. Bad Bunny has a bouncy flow that can transcend different vibes, and that’s seen in a lot of my music. I love the idea of writing sad or emotional songs that sound more fun. A lot of my favorite artists do that.

You have performed at several festivals this year. How has the energy of live shows impacted how you connect with songs like “Summer of My Life”?

Live shows build more connection to my music. With songs like Summer of My Life, it amplifies the emotion. It’s not just my song anymore; I’m sharing the energy with other people. My song Real is a great example of that. We need more songs that talk about things other than romantic love. People need to hear it to know they’re not alone.

What do you hope fans feel when they play this song during their own “summer of life”?

I hope fans feel peaceful, understood, and connected. This song helped ground me, so I hope people can feel more grounded after listening. Summer will pass, so you have to enjoy every moment you can.