Model. Actress. The face of Air Madagascar. Somehow adding
“local independent musician” to that list doesn’t
seem to fit, but singer/songwriter Maylin Pultar is full of
surprises.
Pultar, who goes by just her first name on stage, will be
performing a free show at The Mint on Jan. 16 to celebrate the
release of her debut album “On My Way To See You.” The
enterprising singer began her career in modeling and then moved on
to acting, working in both stage and film. She even had the
opportunity to direct a commercial for Air Madagascar, the airline
of her mother’s home country. Despite her success in other
artistic endeavors, it was the creative freedom available in the
world of music that intrigued Pultar.
“Making it in the music industry is much more rewarding
because you’re more independent. You can actually practice
your art on a regular basis whereas as an actress, you depend on a
lot of people to be able to actually act,” Pultar said.
“You have to have a whole film crew or a theater production;
you don’t really act on your own in your plays. You have many
more opportunities as a musician to go out there and do your art
and share (it) with people.”
Pultar sings in three languages on her debut, though she is
fluent in four, having grown up with a rich ethnic and cultural
heritage. Her father has French and German roots while her mother
is a descendent of Malagasy royalty, and the family spent
Pultar’s youth moving around Europe and Madagascar. As part
of this multicultural dynamic (and thanks to a famous godfather),
she was exposed to a wide variety of art and music.
“I learned the classical flute when I was 8 at the
conservatory (of Chatellerault) in France. Also, I studied opera in
my teens,” Pultar said. “My godfather was the Frank
Sinatra of France; his name was Gilbert Bécaud. He’s
made a big impression on me. All the arts I’ve practiced
““ painting, writing ““ they all come together now with
this CD.”
“When I’m on stage, it’s very theatrical.
Doing the CD was the art part ““ doing the CD cover and all
that,” she said.
As a painter, sculptor and writer, in addition to her acting
career, Pultar’s experiences with different forms of art have
been wide-ranging. Her poem “New York” will be
published in an anthology this fall, and the various writings
she’s done over the years have been a source of inspiration
for her music.
“I’ve always written diaries and poems, and
I’m using writings that I’ve written three years ago
(for my songs),” Pultar said. “I remember almost
everything I write, so sometimes I have an idea and I go,
“˜Oh, this is related to something I’ve written a while
back,’ and I go back to the poem I wrote and I adapt it to a
new song.”
Pultar wrote all but two of the songs on her new album, with one
of the exceptions being “La Vie en Rose,” the French
classic made famous by Edith Piaf. The song was a natural fit for
Pultar, whose preferred language to sing in is French. During the
songs of “On My Way To Meet You,” the singer alternates
smoothly between lyrics written in French, German and English,
though the transition is not as easy as she makes it seem.
“Writing in French and writing in English are very
different. It’s easier for me to write in English because I
communicate in English every day, but on the other hand it’s
easier for me to sing in French,” Pultar said.
“It’s harder for me to write in French because the
words don’t come to me, but I force myself because I sing it
better.”
But music is not just a source of artistic expression for the
singer. Pultar was a victim of childhood abuse, and the most
important aspect of the recording of her album was the emotional
release it provided. Spreading awareness about abuse is a priority
for Pultar, whose past contributions include a painting titled
“Molested Child” for a New York City exhibition.
“(Music) has been healing to me and I feel that it’s
important to share with other people. When I was young I
experienced abuse, unfortunately, and music has helped me to build
my confidence and give me an outlet for my emotions,” Pultar
said. “I hope that my music can help other people like other
people’s music has helped me.”
With a diverse sound that stands out in pop/rock-centric Los
Angeles, Pultar’s blend of traditional French music with more
modern influences such as American jazz and blues has already
garnered her an invitation to the annual music industry conference
South by Southwest. As an independent artist unbeholden to
anyone’s expectations, the singer is set on making a name for
herself in her own unique fashion.
“This record is a reflection of who I am because
it’s heartfelt, humanistic and colorful,” Pultar
said.
“Los Angeles is a very musician-friendly town because
there are a lot of clubs that you can play at and it’s not
like New York where the competition is big. But it’s not
always easy to get a gig. Even though there are a lot of people
playing out there, for me, I feel like there are not that many
people who do the music I do.”