Above & Beyond's Paavo Siljamäki releases new double A-side 'Polar Bears (with Spencer Brown) / Thunder & Sunshine' under his P.O.S alias.

Putting his faith in the natural world around him, 'Deeper Tales' sees Paavo reconnect with the dance floor, and himself, for his debut solo album as P.O.S.

A songwriter, producer and DJ, Paavo is one-third of the ground-breaking, record-breaking British dance institution Above & Beyond, founders of London-based label Anjunabeats. Double GRAMMY-nominated, RIAA Gold Certified artists, the band has rocked festival stages and iconic live institutions alike, from Glastonbury, EDC, and Creamfields, to the Royal Albert Hall and Madison Square Garden.

However, the last five years have seen Paavo face a succession of personal and health-related challenges, including several battles with Covid. “Basically, I had a burnout. I just couldn’t see what I wanted to do. And after my burnout, I was like: what is dance music to me? I don’t really know even if I like it. I’ve heard – I’ve written – too many build-ups! So I thought: that’s me done,” Paavo says.

Finding solace in nature, inspiration rekindled; first with Above & Beyond’s ambient album ‘Flow State’, and then a return to dance floor-orientated sounds. “There’s no feeling of freedom like being at sea,” he adds. “When I’m sailing, I synchronize with the sunrise and sunset – we almost always get up at sunrise. So this is like being really aligned with nature. I found that, after my burnout, and Covid, I really found myself in nature. There’s something about being closer with nature that is really healing – and very inspiring.”

Now living on board the Swedish boat he now calls home, Paavo re-immersed himself into the club culture that had first caught his imagination as a 15-year-old rave kid, from the dance floors of Ibiza to the desert raves of Burning Man. His 'Deeper Tales' album reflects his experiences of late; soulful, heart-on-sleeve club records with many debuted during Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy 500 and Anjunadeep Open Air L.A. celebrations last autumn.

Born in a studio jam in Los Angeles in late 2021, 'Polar Bears' is a collaboration with DJ and producer Spencer Brown. Paavo and Spencer's friendship stretches back to 2014, when the budding producer caught the ear of Above & Beyond with his debut release 'Chalice' on Avicii's imprint LE7ELS. A versatile talent, Spencer's impressive portfolio includes two mixed albums on Anjunabeats plus releases on Anjunadeep, mau5trap and Sasha's Last Night On Earth. In 2022, Spencer launched his own label, diviine.

Bookending the double A-side is 'Thunder & Sunshine', a fan favourite from Above & Beyond's Anjunabeats Volume 16 mix compilation from summer 2022. Both tracks were played by A&B in their now-legendary set for Cercle atop Piedra del Peñol, Colombia.