Today we’d like to introduce you to Vaughn Paradise.
Hi Vaughn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I always had an interest in music and art. Most of childhood was spent drawing, playing guitar, and planning on getting into video game design. However, the coding class fiasco in high school (I 1000% suck at it) shifted my focus to mental health counseling with a plan on using the knowledge in animation/media.
Undergrad years were divided between music, writing, and psych. I studied Psychology and Philosophy, with secondary in music production and creative writing. In that time, I co-taught English classes, worked as a fiction editor, and interned at a recording studio. It was in that timeline, I wrote 2 fantasy novels and started working on my own music,
When my partner and I moved to MN, I went to grad school for mental health counseling with a focus area of intersection of art and mental health. In that time, I started using songwriting and music production in therapy sessions, community events, and started a metal band, Alice’s Escape. After touring with AE for a few years, I branched off solo in 2024 under the name Paradise Misplacedx and signed to Amunson Audio publishing.
I now do a blend of metal, hip-hop and EDM while pole dancing. I am absolutely in love with my new sound, freedom of movement, and the trajectory my art has come. My performance has synced itself with my community and clinical work, such as producing shows to highlight local artists, connecting creatives to community/mental health resources, and live-interviews on how people take care of themselves in the grind. This fall, we are hoping to restart a podcast exploring these themes! ^~^
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I grew up as a black, metal-hip hop kid in New Jersey in a very Black Baptist community, Later, an all white, traditional Catholic town in the midwest, near Pittsburg. That being said, I was in a music vacuum. Nobody did anything other than acoustic singer-songwriter or Christian worship music. When I started writing, it was a lot of learning new skills, burn out, and trying to rely on people who knew more than me. Thank God for my sister introducing me to Pierce the Veil, Asking Alexandria, and Three Days Grace.
I did not have resources to seriously start learning until I was 18 and moved out. I was unable to perform I moved to MN.
Both within my leadership in Alice’s Escape (2020-2024) as well as non-profit art settings, so many learning curves and hard lessons crashed into me. I’ve played empty rooms (where even bartender left), managed credit card debt, and swam through oceans of paperwork involved in running an LLC and entering art as business.
There were a lot of situations that I did not know what I was doing and trying to force things to work. This applied to settling on creative directions that did not fit, tolerating unprofessionalism and rudeness from bandmates or people in the industry. I let myself learn a lot of expensive lessons (emotionally, physically, and financially) by blinding trusting those who’ve been around longer– even if they did not have my best interest.
A great example of this is when I was younger, I was coming up in a generation of people who did everything themselves, from composition recording every instrument vocals mixing mastering and feeling like I needed to hold myself to that level. There was an expectation to do that too.
However, taking a co-production approach with my current producer has been such a creatively rejuvenating experience to hold a product you really love and because the labor is shared, you can focus on other parts like choreography, storyboarding the videos, etc.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am in love with the fact that I no longer settle or put myself in a box. When I was a kid, I didn’t want to JUST be a therapist, or JUST a musician, or JUST a writer. As an adult, I lost that for a minute, but I am proud to return to that. In a sense, I am meeting my #finalform.
I blend hip-hop, metal, and edm elements with pole dance on stage. I still struggles with my mental health but maintain the skills, supports, and relationships needed to thrive, I carry my skills as a licensed therapist in writing and performing. My work is that aren’t just fun for me, but will hopefully poke the audience to reflect on if they are living their life to the fullest.
My first EP was titled I am Everything. This phrase came to be in a really low place and dragged me out, This phrase is how I want to live my life. This phrase what sets me apart and provides the incredible opportunities to impact lives across the many worlds we live in.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
In March 2026, I am producing my biggest show yet! Pole dancing, Metal, EDM meet on stage with some incredible headliners and local acts. The show, Constellations, will be a fundraiser to provide free therapy to Twin Cities artists via a network of therapists and clinics. Subscribe on my website or socials to hear more! @paradisemisplacedx all platforms
Contact Info:
- Website: https://paradisemisplacedx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paradisemisplacedx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paradisemisplacedx
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@paradisemisplacedx
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@paradisemisplacedx
