On October 11th, 2024, Paula Carolina performed at Simm City in Vienna, Austria. The evening was filled with positive firsts. Vienna marked the second show of her ‘Willkommen in der Realität’ (English: Welcome to Reality) tour. Despite being sold out, the venue, though packed with people, didn’t feel overcrowded. There was plenty of space to move around and dance later in the night.
Then something truly special happened. Paula Carolina stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand, and greeted the crowd. She shared that throughout her career, she had often been the supporting act, which is why it was important for her to introduce her support act, Carla Ahad.
And what a well-fitting choice Paula Carolina made! Carla Ahad did an amazing job warming up the crowd. Right from the start, she got everyone jumping and dancing. Then she shifted to playing a song perfect for a waltz—very on-brand for Vienna. In fact, there were people actually dancing the Viennese waltz. Carla Ahad also revealed her vulnerable side, and the room lit up with phone flashlights in response. She even encouraged the crowd to start not a mosh pit, but a “walking pit.” That was another unique experience, and it turned out to be a lot of fun.
The wait for Paula Carolina then wasn’t too long. She and her band walked out through a white door dressed in white overalls. Paula Carolina spray painted “Wien” (English: Vienna) with a heart in black on the door. Then, she joined her crew for a small dance choreography to the opener ‘Kein Bock’ (English: Don’t Feel Like It). Also each member had a single letter of the word “Bock” written on their back. What a way to start the show and set the mood for the evening!
The song was followed by safety instructions, that the band also had a little choreography to. First Paula Carolina pointed out that her own crew was 70 percent female. Then, she asked the fans to look out for each other in the mosh pit, help each other up, for the men to leave their t-shirts on and of course: To dance wildly.
At this point it was hard to tell who was more excited for this concert: the fans or Paula Carolina herself. She smiled brightly and gave her everything for this evening’s performance. A couple of party songs followed which the whole crowd danced to. But, “Party-Paula”, as she called herself, is only one side of her. For ‘Alles wieder gut’ (English: Everything alright again) she stepped on the small, raised platform in the middle of the stage. It was a song that she was not sure whether to put on the album, as it differs so much.
Then the lights went out and a single spot shined on Paula Carolina. She stood in a single spotlight while performing ‘Angst frisst Demokratie’ (English: Fear eats Democracy). The song hit even harder that day, as only the week before elections were held in Austria. As a reaction the crowd loudly chanted ‘Nie wieder FPÖ’ (English: Never FPÖ again) when the music ended.
Next Paula Carolina showed off her vocal skills during an acoustic set. It was only her and her guitarist alone facing each other on the raised platform, when she performed ‘Das Ende’ (English: The End). A magical atmosphere spread through the hall and enchanted the crowd. The singer left the stage afterwards and an instrumental started playing. Crew members appeared who tore down the white linen background to reveal her logo artwork. Additionally, the platform changed from white to a green drape.
Then, a phone rang, and Paula Carolina re-entered the stage, this time in a new outfit, leaving behind the all-white aesthetic. It was time for “Otto Normal.” The second part of her set was all about “Party-Paula” music. Along with her own songs, she brought a cover: ‘Das ist alles nur geklaut’ (English: All of that is stolen), originally by Die Prinzen. The crowd erupted, singing along, and the song was even interrupted by a brief guitar solo from Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. This iconic mix fit perfectly with the overall vibe of her concert.
All too soon, it was time for the encore. The crowd gathered their last bits of energy to dance along to ‘Extra’ and ‘Schreien!’ (English: ‘Scream!’). Though it ended quicker than expected, it was a good moment to wrap up, as the energy was spent. While leaving, it was clear that everyone had smiles on their faces.
The setlist had a perfect balance of party anthems and emotional moments where lighters lit up the room. One song missing, though, was the personal favourite, ‘Heiß/Kalt’ (English: ‘Hot/Cold’). However, the set was so well-curated, it would have been hard to choose another to cut. Even though Paula Carolina is still considered a relatively small artist, the production and atmosphere she created were impressive. It feels like she’s destined for big things. If there’s a chance to catch her on this tour, it is highly recommended.
Written by: Wiebke Krause
Photographed by: Wiebke Krause
Edited by: Ilse Muis
