Challenge champion: Paula Spurr

At Talent Is Timeless, we run Monthly Songwriting Challenges to help keep our members writing, sharing, and connecting. Each month, we spotlight some of the incredible songwriters who placed in these challenges — inviting them to share a bit more about their lives, their creative journeys, and the stories behind their songs.

This month, we’re featuring Paula Spurr, a 59-year-old songwriter based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who joined Talent Is Timeless in January 2025. Though new to the community, Paula’s relationship with songwriting has spanned decades — beginning with piano, evolving through hardship, and culminating in a renewed creative freedom.

“I tried writing songs as a young teenager,” Paula says, “but only knew piano, and I was classically trained. I didn’t like anything I composed — it didn’t measure up to Mozart,” she laughs. Things changed when she left home and picked up the guitar. “I began writing songs immediately. Then I started performing them solo — just me and the guitar. I loved the audience interaction. I felt so comfortable on stage.”

But what followed was a long detour. Paula spent 26 years in a marriage where her creativity wasn’t welcomed. “I was married to a bit of a narcissist who actively discouraged me in my musical endeavours. My guitar became a guilty hobby.” Financial pressure added to the challenge, often keeping her dreams at arm’s length.

Everything shifted after her divorce. “My songwriting took off again. I was so happy to be free of the negativity,” she says. Songs began pouring out — songs about heartbreak, yes, but also about joy and liberation. The voice that had been stifled started singing again.

Paula’s proudest musical moment might be hard to top — especially considering it happened early in her journey. “Many years ago, when I was young, I got to perform my song Lester on Canadian television — just me and Randy Bachman!” she says. “I felt like a rock star!”

Today, she’s rediscovering the joy of regular writing, helped along by the structure and encouragement of Talent Is Timeless. “The songwriting challenges remind me that I’ve got a job to do, and I’d probably enjoy doing it… so get to it!” she says.

One surprise from Paula’s journey has been the way her songs land with others. “I’m always surprised when someone wants to cover one of my songs,” she says. “It’s happened a few times — and often, it’s for a song I didn’t like that much. I’ve learned not to judge my songs. Just because it’s not for me doesn’t mean it’s not for somebody.”

Her advice to fellow songwriters over 50 is refreshingly direct: “Write a bad song. Write any song. Just do it! And don’t worry about the life of the song. Maybe it’s a hit, maybe it’s a campfire song, maybe it’s a dud… but write it anyway.”

Paula’s journey is a testament to rediscovering what was always there — the love of connection, the magic of performance, and the courage to pick up the guitar again, guilt-free.

Listen to Paula’s winning song here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/jan-25-protest-new/?contest=video-detail&video_id=51291

And Connect with Paula on Talent Is Timeless here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/members/cowpunkmom/