Brian Paulson Oral History

Brian Paulson is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and visionary digital artist whose creative output spans decades and defies genre boundaries. Based in Westfield, Indiana, Brian has recorded an astounding 53 albums for his own label, Intragalactic Recordings, blending jazz, fusion, world music, and experimental sounds into a body of work that is as prolific as it is distinctive. His skills extend beyond musicianship into digital artistry, creating immersive visual worlds that complement his music.

Over the course of his career, Brian has shared the stage with an impressive roster of world-class artists, including Dizzy Gillespie, Airto and Flora Purim, Spyro Gyra, Kathy Mattea, and Papa John Creach. In December 2008, he was named Unsigned Artist of the Month by Keyboard Magazine, a recognition that highlighted both his virtuosity and his originality. In this oral history interview, Brian reflects on his musical journey, his genre-blending approach to composition, and the personal drive that has fueled such a vast catalog of work.

This oral history interview with Brian Paulson was recorded as part of the Indiana Music History Project’s Amazing Indiana Music Stories series, with generous support from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation. The project presents in-depth interviews with musicians, producers, and cultural figures who have shaped Indiana’s musical landscape. Brian shares personal stories, creative milestones, and cultural insights that offer a deeper understanding of Indiana’s innovative and eclectic music communities. This page features the Complete Interview, a short highlight reel, and a curated selection of images that bring Brian’s story to life.

This short clip from our oral history interview with Brian Paulson offers a glimpse into his story. In it, he talks about the uncanny prediction that he would meet drummer Ron Brinson, the friendship that grew into the band Killer Sponges, and the role Joannie and Wayne Hall played in the formation of Hugo Smooth. He also recalls sharing the stage with Brazilian jazz icon Flora Purim at the Bluebird in Bloomington. The complete interview can be found below for those who want the full conversation.

In this full oral history, Brian Paulson reflects on his decades-long career as a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and digital artist. He recounts the unusual circumstances that led to the creation of Killer Sponges, his collaborations with Joannie and Wayne Hall in Hugo Smooth, and the memorable experience of performing with Flora Purim at the Bluebird. Beyond these formative stories, Brian also discusses the remarkable scope of his solo work: more than 54 albums released on his own label, Intragalactic Recordings, where he blends jazz, fusion, world music, and experimental sounds into a body of work that is both prolific and distinctive. His creative philosophy—seeing himself as a conduit for music rather than its source—emerges as a central theme throughout the conversation.

This in-depth interview preserves his story as part of the Indiana Music History Project archive, showcasing Brian Paulson’s unique contributions to Indiana’s musical landscape and to the wider world of independent music-making.