St. Paul

Paul Peterson, performing as St. Paul, is a central figure in the Minneapolis Sound ecosystem.

Emerging as a teenage prodigy, he was recruited by Prince to play keyboards for The Time, appearing in the film 'Purple Rain'. His sound identity is defined by the intersection of traditional R&B soulfulness and the technological innovations of the mid-80s, specifically the use of the Linn LM-1 drum machine and Oberheim synthesizers. After the dissolution of The Time, he became the frontman for The Family, a Paisley Park project that blended funk with orchestral arrangements and jazz sensibilities. His solo career further refined this approach, leaning into a 'blue-eyed soul' aesthetic that found success on both R&B and Pop charts. Critically, he is respected as a world-class multi-instrumentalist and session player, having contributed to projects ranging from the Spice Girls to Jonny Lang. His work represents the sophisticated, pop-leaning wing of the Minneapolis scene, maintaining a high level of technical proficiency and production value that remains a benchmark for funk-pop fusion.