Paulusma's first album, Scissors in my Pocket, was largely recorded and produced by herself at her home.[3] Her second album, Cosmic Rosy Spine Kites (an anagram of the first album's title) features the same tracks, four of which were recorded with a string quartet; the rest at a gig in Manchester, England, where she supported Jamie Cullum.[4] She has supported other artists on tour including; Marianne Faithfull and Coldplay. Paulusma played at the Glastonbury Festival in 2005.[5][6]
In 2004, Paulusma self-produced her first album using her computer.[7] Paulusma and her management used the internet, just as it was becoming widely accessible,[8] and other contemporary methods of distribution to reach a larger audience. Two of Paulusma's tracks, "Over the Hill" and the live version of "She Moves in Secret Ways", were issued as free downloads through Apple'siTunes Store.[9] Paulusma was one of the first musicians to use Myspace, her own website, blogs, and a link to a forum, to connect with them and keep them up-to-date on her touring and recording plans.[10]
Paulusma's third album Fingers and Thumbs was released in the June 2007 with its corresponding sister album Fights and Numbers as an iTunes-only digital download.[11] Paulusma founded a small record label called Wild Sound Recordings Ltd in 2012 and in 2012 released Leaves from the Family Tree with its corresponding sister-album The Small Feat of my Reverie in 2014.[11] Since 2012 Wild Sound has signed nine indie folk artists including Maz O'Connor, Stylusboy, Harry Harris, Matthew The Oxx, Dan Wilde and Mortal Tides.[12]
In 2004, The Guardian described Paulusma on Scissors in My Pocket as, "a voice capable of some unexpected twists".[7]Rolling Stone said Scissors in My Pocket was “an enchanting debut of understated, intelligent folk pop”.[17]Uncut suggested Paulusma could be "a worthy successor" to Joni Mitchell.[18] In 2012, Space City Rock reviewed Leaves From The Family Tree, stating, "this could be a huge album".[19] In 2021, For Folk's Sake reviewed Invisible Music: folk songs that influenced Angela Carter, calling it "a literary, clever, erudite, elegantly crafted offering from Polly Paulusma".[20] In 2022, Folking called Paulusma's The Pivot On Which The World Turns "a record that has an immense heartbeat with an eternal pulse".[21]
Paulusma's first son was born on 10 November 2006 (coincidentally Polly's own birthday) and her second son was born on 1 August 2008.[23]
Paulusma and her husband, Mick Paulusma,[23] lived in the thinnest home in London for 12 years.[24] Located in Battersea, the 7-foot-7-inch-wide (2.31 m) home was where Paulusma recorded her first album Scissors in my Pocket and the demos for Fingers & Thumbs.[25] Since 2010, the couple has lived in Cambridge, England.[23]
^ abColeman, Nick (8 June 2007). "Cultureshock". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
^"Music Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
^Cowen, Nick (12 May 2004). "No clone of voice". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
^Sullivan, Caroline (9 March 2004). "Polly Paulusma". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"2005 Glastonbury first round line-up announced · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^New Releases Now | Polly Paulusma, The Pivot On Which The World Turns…, retrieved 5 March 2023
^ abSweeting, Adam (23 April 2004). "Polly Paulusma, Scissors in my Pocket". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"Yes, 2022 is already the worst. So let's revisit the '00s DIY club scene known as 'bloghouse'". Los Angeles Times. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"Free iTunes 2005". MacRumors Forums. 28 December 2004. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^ ab"Polly Paulusma's latest sister-album is out on 10th Feb - Rock Club UK". www.therockclubuk.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"Wild Sound allies with Proper on distribution | Complete Music Update". Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^Anonymous (14 August 2018). "Polly Paulusma". www.ice.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"Where do the songs come from? Polly Paulusma in interview". Three Monkeys Online Magazine. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"Hippolyta Paulusma". www.uea.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^Spencer, Neil (10 April 2021). "Invisible Music by Polly Paulusma review – a vibrant celebration of Angela Carter the folkie". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"Special Issue: 50th Anniversary of Rock, 50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock & Roll". Rolling Stone Magazine. No. 951. 24 June 2004.
^ abUncut (31 March 2004). "Polly Paulusma - Scissors In My Pocket". UNCUT. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^ ab"SPACE CITY ROCK » Polly Paulusma, Leaves From The Family Tree". Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^Budworth, Quentin (29 April 2021). "Album | Polly Paulusma – Invisible Music – For Folk's Sake". Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^ abc"POLLY PAULUSMA–The Pivot On Which The World Turns (Wild Sound)". Folking.com. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"Professor Jonathan Riley-Smith". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^ abc"The Secret Lives of Lecturers: Polly Paulusma on teaching Shakespeare and playing Glastonbury". Varsity Online. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^Hewitson, Jessie. "Slim pickings". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"Through the keyhole: The places we call home". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 27 August 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
^"Record of the Day - In tune. Informed. Indispensable". www.recordoftheday.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"Cosmic Rosy Spine Kites (2005), by Polly Paulusma". Polly Paulusma. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"Polly Paulusma - Fingers & Thumbs". Life. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
^"ORGAN THING: A rather fine first taste of Polly Paulusma's forthcoming collection of traditional folk songs gracefully recrafted…". THE ORGAN. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2023.